Paramount has initiated its first major round of layoffs following the company’s merger with Skydance, and the David Ellison regime has cut a number of executives across its television divisions. Paramount’s linear broadcast and cable networks were hit hard, with marketing, communications/PR, business affairs and programming departments all seeing major cuts in personnel.
Variety has confirmed that the cuts have impacted Teri Fleming, executive vice president and head of marketing for Paramount Global Content Distribution. Multiple executives in the current department at CBS Entertainment have also been laid off. Those include Pamela Soper and Amanda Palley, both of whom were senior vice presidents of current programming.
In communications/PR, CBS’ New York team was hit hard; among those exiting are VP of entertainment communications. Elsewhere, CBS Media Ventures senior vice president of communications Leslie Ryan has been let go, as has Jennifer Weingroff, the senior VP of communications at Paramount Global Content Distribution.
In streaming, Paramount+ executive vice president of programing Jeff Grossman was laid off, as was Patricia Kollappallil, senior vice president of corporate communications at the streamer.
The cable networks within Paramount have also been hit hard. MTV, which was already a shell of the powerhouse it once was, has seen a range of layoffs within its comms and talent teams. Wendy Plaut, the senior vice president and head of music & celebrity talent at MTV, is now gone. Likewise, Amanda Culkowski, vice presidnet of music program development and documentaries for MTV/Paramount+, is out.
Amanda Culkowski, VP, Music Program Development and Documentaries at MTV/Paramount+, is also impacted, as is Margaret Comeaux at CMT. Comeaux most recently served as senior vice president of music events and production at the country music network.
The cuts at networks like MTV and CMT come as Paramount continues to sunset a once vibrant talent division, back when those networks were much more focused on original music series production.
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As Variety previously reported, CBS News saw around 100 layoffs layoffs, which included the shuttering of the CBS News bureau in Johannesburg, South Africa. The division is also scaling back some of its units while also canceling some of its programs, including streaming companion shows to “CBS Evening News” and “CBS Mornings.” CBS News’ Saturday morning program has also largely been gutted.
Around 1,000 employees were affected by this round of layoffs, with another round of approximately 1,000 expected in the coming weeks. That second batch is believed to be more focused on international operations, as Wednesday’s layoffs cut many of Paramount Skydance’s domestic operations to the bone.
“It’s a bloodbath,” one Paramount Skydance exec told Variety on Wednesday. “I don’t know who’s going to be left to do the work.”
As Wednesday wore on, much was still uncertain in terms of how remaining staff might be reallocated around the company. New organizational structures are expected to be drawn up in the coming weeks inside both Paramount Skydance’s linear and streaming TV operations.
Paramount Skydance chairman and CEO Ellison sent a memo to staff on Wednesday regarding the layoffs, which read in part:
“In some areas, we are addressing redundancies that have emerged across the organization. In others, we are phasing out roles that are no longer aligned with our evolving priorities and the new structure designed to strengthen our focus on growth. Ultimately, these steps are necessary to position Paramount for long-term success.”
From Variety US