Paramount’s Ellison underscores his pledge to make 30 films a year when his company buys Warner Bros.

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David Ellison, head of Paramount Skydance, stood by his plan to release 30 films annually after the company merges with Warner Bros. Discovery, despite some in the industry questioning if it’s a realistic target.

During an earnings call on Monday, the head of Paramount stated they aim to maintain their current level of film production, making their goal of releasing 15 movies this year – the same number as Warner Bros. – realistic.

Ellison stated that the companies have currently produced 30 films and see the potential acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery as a way to significantly speed up their plans.

The company expects to complete its acquisition of Warner by the end of September. This $111 billion deal would make Paramount a major player in the entertainment industry, adding popular content like Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, and Euphoria to its existing franchises, such as Yellowstone and Landman. The new company would also control a wide range of well-known TV channels, including CBS, CNN, Comedy Central, Food Network, and HGTV.

The planned merger could leave the new company with $79 billion in debt, raising concerns that Paramount would have to significantly reduce spending to manage it. To help finance the deal, Paramount has already secured temporary funding from banks and investors.

Ellison told analysts they are happy with the progress being made and remain committed to finalizing the deal.

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So, I was reading about CinemaCon, and apparently David Ellison, the head of Paramount, went to really reassure theater owners that he’s committed to releasing a ton of movies – like 30 a year – if that big merger with Warner Bros. Discovery actually goes through. He really wanted to show them he’s serious about keeping the pipeline full if the deal is approved.

Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders strongly approved the agreement late last month, which will give Warner investors $31 per share. Now, the company is working to get the necessary approvals from regulators in the U.S. and other countries, a process that’s already begun, according to Paramount.

Paramount is requesting permission from the Federal Communications Commission to bypass rules limiting foreign ownership of U.S. media companies. This request comes as Ellison’s company anticipates receiving $24 billion in investment from three royal families in the Middle East, who would then become significant owners in the newly formed company. This investment would give them approximately 49% ownership, exceeding the current 25% limit on foreign ownership.

Over 4,000 people in the film industry—including prominent figures like Bryan Cranston, Connie Britton, Kristen Stewart, Jonathan Glazer, and Jane Fonda—have signed a letter urging California Attorney General Rob Bonta and other officials to prevent a deal they fear will leave only four major film studios operating in the U.S.

A small group of consumers filed a lawsuit late last week attempting to stop Paramount and Skydance from completing their deals with Warner Bros. Discovery and, separately, Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount. The lawsuit claims both deals would limit competition in the entertainment market.

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HBO Max and Discovery+ gained some subscribers, but not enough to offset the ongoing losses in viewers for Warner’s traditional cable TV channels.

Paramount reported strong results for the first three months of the year, exceeding what analysts had predicted. The company’s revenue increased by 2% to $7.3 billion compared to the same period last year.

Paramount reported adjusted earnings of $1.1 billion, boosted by the success of its streaming services. Revenue for Paramount+ grew 17% to almost $2 billion, up from $1.7 billion the previous year. The streaming service also gained 700,000 new subscribers, bringing its total to around 80 million.

If combined with Warner Bros.’ HBO Max, the new streaming service would have over 200 million subscribers.

Paramount earned a net profit of $168 million in the first quarter, which translates to 15 cents per share. This is an improvement compared to the $152 million they earned in the same period last year, before the company was acquired by Skydance in August.

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In December, immediately after Netflix finalized its purchase of Warner Bros., the Ellisons and their colleagues started planning how to regain their position.

Company leaders highlighted the strong performance of “Scream 7,” released in late February, which has earned over $200 million worldwide. As a result, the studio’s revenue increased by 11%, reaching $1.28 billion for the quarter.

Television networks revenue declined 6% to $3.7 billion as Paramount’s cable channels continue to contend with the loss of cable cord-cutters, which reduces the company’s collections from pay-TV providers. Nonetheless, Paramount pointed to the strength of Sheridan’s “Landman,” starring Billy Bob Thornton, Ali Larter, Sam Elliott and Demi Moore, and the strength of the CBS television network which currently has 13 of the broadcast industry’s top 20 primetime shows, including “60 Minutes,” “Marshals,” and “Tracker.”

Paramount announced to analysts that it expects $30 billion in revenue and $3.8 billion in adjusted earnings for the year. The company also plans to cut costs by $2.5 billion by the end of this year and by a total of $3 billion by 2027.

Paramount finished the quarter with $1.9 billion in cash but also had $15.5 billion in debt. To cover a $2.8 billion fee owed to Netflix – a fee originally agreed upon by Warner Bros. Discovery in a previous attempt to sell Paramount – the company had to borrow $2.15 billion using its line of credit.

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After years of hard work to reach a leadership position, Zaslav is determined to show people wrong and revitalize the company following three difficult years marked by challenges and budget reductions aimed at paying down a large debt.

Paramount announced its financial results after the stock market closed on Monday. The company’s share price finished the day at $11.13, with little to no change.

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2026-05-05 02:32