EXCLUSIVE: The new, post-Skydance merger Paramount has two major TV studio units: the existing CBS Studios, led by David Stapf and overseen by Paramount Chair of TV Media George Cheeks, and the newly formed Paramount TV Studios, headed by former Skydance TV President Matt Thunell and overseen by Dana Goldberg, Co-Chair of Paramount Pictures and Chair of Paramount Television.
In an encouraging sign for their future interactions (and possible collaborations), on Day 1 of the two studios existing alongside each other when the Skydance acquisition closed August 7, they had already agreed on how to split the majority of overlapping existing series and projects in development.
As Deadline reported last week, CBS Studios’ primary focus will remain supplying the CBS broadcast network while still being able to do streaming series for Paramount+ and outside streamers when an opportunity presents itself, especially extensions of existing franchises like the NCIS: Tony & Ziva offshoot the studio has coming up on Paramount+. CBS Studios’ shows for CBS include the NCIS and the Fire Country franchises as well as popular titles Matlock, Ghosts, Watson and daytime soap Beyond the Gates.
Meanwhile, Paramount TV Studios, which combines the assets of Skydance Television and Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios, will be focused predominantly on streaming series for Paramount+ but also for outside platforms.
The delineation raised questions about the fate of streaming series — on-air and in development — that CBS Studios had inherited from PTVS’ previous incarnation, which was shut down a year ago. Those included three shows that were originally co-productions between Skydance TV and PTVS and subsequently between Skydance TV and CBS Studios for the past year — Prime Video’s flagship drama Reacher, renewed for Season 4; its upcoming spinoff Neagley; as well as Cross, renewed for Season 2.
These series will stay with the new PTVS as the single studio and be part of its slate that also includes Skydance TV’s Foundation for Apple TV+, as well as Showtime/MTVE’s Dexter: Resurrection, Emily in Paris and the Taylor Sheridan universe on Paramount+.
Meanwhile, two streaming series originally developed by the former PTVS that CBS Studios took over after the former’s demise — Apple TV+’s Murderbot, renewed for Season 2, and the upcoming Little House On the Prairie for Netflix — will remain at CBS Studios, as will CBS Studios’ homegrown streaming projects including the Star Trek universe on Paramount+.
There is also a general agreement on the development of the now-defunct PTVS, which had moved to CBS Studios. The majority of the slate, dominated by Paramount Pictures IP, will revert back to PTVS, which will develop series based on Paramount film titles going forward, along with shows based on IP from the library of Miramax, 49% owned by Paramount.
There are a handful of exceptions; projects in active development to which CBS Studios has attached talent including Galaxy Quest and Flashdance, will stay put.
CBS Studios also is keeping the Clueless sequel series with Alicia Silverstone, which is in the works at Peacock. While Clueless is a Paramount movie title, CBS Studios had been looking to crack the IP for TV over the past seven years or so, going through multiple incarnations.
Additionally, CBS Studios will continue with international co-productions, which includes titles such as the upcoming King & Conqueror for the BBC, and Colin From Accounts for Binge/Paramount+.
While PTVS is designed to be a streaming player, it has the ability to produce occasional broadcast shows like the upcoming CBS drama series Y: Marshals and reality series The Road, which will stay with the new label. The Yellowstone spinoff and the music competition series come from Sheridan and David Glasser’s 101 Studios. The duo’s streaming-dominated slates, which are shifting from MTVE Studios, where Sheridan’s overall deal was set, to the new PTVS, include the Yellowstone universe and shows like Tulsa King, Landman and MobLand.
With the basic perimeters of CBS Studios and PTVS’ current slates and programming focus established, conversations among Goldberg, Thunell, Cheeks and Stapf continue as the CBS Studios and PTVS teams are holding meetings across studios to work out the details.
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