After Losing Taylor Sheridan, Paramount Shifts Its Focus on South Park & ‘Reinventing’ MTV

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Paramount is navigating a new phase following the departure of Taylor Sheridan. After the TV creator – whose shows like Tulsa King, The Madison, and Lioness were key to building Paramount+’s content library – reportedly signed a five-year deal, the streaming service, owned by Paramount and Skydance, made an announcement.

Paramount is focusing on breathing new life into its most well-known brands like Nickelodeon, MTV, BET, and Comedy Central. In a recent memo to employees, TV Media Chair George Cheeks explained the company’s goal is to strengthen these brands through great storytelling in entertainment, news, and sports. This will involve highlighting what makes each brand unique and leveraging its existing content under the Paramount Skydance banner.

We’re simplifying our cable channel lineups to focus on shows that really connect with viewers, and we’ll be putting more marketing effort behind those hits,” Cheeks explained. “This includes popular franchises like SpongeBob, PAW Patrol, RuPaul’s Drag Race, South Park, Ms. Pat, and The Daily Show. We’ll also keep developing new shows and finding better ways to reach and engage our audience.

As part of a company restructuring, Shari Redstone appointed several new leaders, including Laurel Weir, who will now oversee programming for MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and other cable networks, as well as all TV media acquisitions. Despite recent layoffs, CEO Bob Bakish commended employees for their strength and encouraged them to be open to new approaches and prioritize work that drives meaningful results.

Cheeks emphasized the importance of focusing on what matters most and being deliberate with our actions. He also stressed the need for teams to openly acknowledge what isn’t effective. Ultimately, he believes our success relies on collaboration, sharing knowledge, and supporting both each other and our audiences.

Inside Taylor Sheridan’s Shocking Move

The news from Cheeks follows Sheridan’s recent deal with NBCUniversal, a rival to Paramount. While Sheridan won’t officially leave Paramount until January 1, 2029, his frequent partner, David Glasser, and his production company, 101 Studios, are moving to NBCUniversal next year, as soon as Sheridan’s current contract with Paramount ends in 2028.

Given how well Sheridan’s shows have performed, some believe recent surprising decisions were influenced by the positive feedback he’s received this year, particularly from his superiors at Paramount, including CEO David Ellison.

Last August, when discussing a possible contract extension for Sheridan, Ellison said they were happy to support him for as long as he wanted to continue creating. He praised Sheridan as a uniquely talented and consistently successful artist.

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2025-11-04 23:36