George Cheeks, newly appointed to the role of Skydance TV co-chair and chief content officer, laid out his vision to staffers Tuesday, as the $111 billion merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery officially closed.
Hours after Skydance chairman and CEO David Ellison and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz sent a memo to employees at the combined company outlining their operating philosophy and goals for the new company, Cheeks sent his own email to TV staffers across studios and networks.
That note started didn’t spell out a structure just yet, but it’s understood that divisional bosses who will report to him include Warner Bros. TV Group and U.S. networks chairman/CEO Channing Dungey, CBS Studios president David Stapf and Paramount TV Studios topper Matt Thunell. Alongside Cheeks, JB Perrette (previously WBD’s CEO/president of global streaming and games) serves as co-chair of Skydance TV, as well as chief business officer. Perrette additional holds those roles for the Skydance DTC streaming division.
“The work ahead is significant, and so is the opportunity,” he said in the note. “I am energized by the possibilities. Together, we’ll build on our collective strengths to create an even stronger future.”
Cheeks’ ascension at Skydance was a huge vote of confidence from Ellison, who had previously tapped the exec to serve as Paramount TV media chair last year when Skydance first took control of Paramount. Prior to that, Cheeks was one of the three co-CEOs of Paramount Global (previously known as ViacomCBS) — and was the only one of that triumvirate to make the transition to the new company.
Here’s his note:
Team,
Today is the start of a new chapter. By bringing together Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, we’ve assembled a remarkable collection of television brands, networks and studios, backed by some of the most talented teams in the industry.
I want to acknowledge the hard work, creativity and dedication you each bring to this historic moment. Thank you for playing through the noise this past year. I am excited to move forward together and shape our future as one team.
Our Skydance Television group
This newly formed Skydance Television group is an unmatched mix of networks, studios, platforms and programming genres.
- Our three television studios — Warner Bros. Television Studios, CBS Studios and Paramount Television Studios — will continue to create franchises, premium originals and unscripted hits that entertain viewers of all ages and interests and power our platforms and partners around the globe.
- CBS remains a cornerstone, underpinning our multiplatform strategy to deliver entertainment, news and sports to audiences at scale.
- CBS Sports, TNT Sports and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports together form an enviable and expansive global sports portfolio.
- CBS News is one of the most important brands in journalism, delivering national and worldwide news across broadcast, streaming and digital. At the local level, our 27 CBS stations serve 17 markets with best-in-class community journalism.
- Our cable portfolio features more than 50 channels globally, connecting viewers with culture-defining entertainment, kids and family programming and leading lifestyle brands.
There are too many standout shows to name individually, but one thing is clear: the breadth and quality of programming across this group is unrivaled, spanning some of the most watched, most acclaimed and most award-winning in the industry.
Our team
This next chapter will be defined by the strength of our people. I know you’re eager to hear more about leadership, structure and strategy. More details will be shared as soon as we can.
What happens next
This is a moment of transition. With that comes uncertainty. The stress of this is not lost on me. Expect to hear more on our structure and priorities in the weeks ahead. Please continue to reference our Integration Hub.
The work ahead is significant, and so is the opportunity. I am energized by the possibilities. Together, we’ll build on our collective strengths to create an even stronger future.
Thank you for everything you do.
More to come.
-George