From: George Cheeks
To: All Skydance TV Employees
Team,
As we look to the future, our priorities are clear: deliver great storytelling, maximize the value of our programming, franchises and brands and strengthen our connection with audiences. The excellence and scale of our entertainment, news and sports businesses, combined with the talent and expertise across our organization, position us well for the road ahead.
While each of us has a distinct role to play, our success will depend on all of us working together at every level, sharing expertise and leveraging the full strength of our portfolio. I’m a firm believer that a collaborative culture generates strong creative and business results.
Today, I’m excited to announce the Skydance TV leadership team. Reporting to me, these accomplished leaders will work together to advance our strategy and help shape the next chapter of our division.
Skydance TV Studios
- Channing Dungey will continue to lead the Warner Bros. Television Group and its portfolio of scripted, unscripted and animation studios. Warner Bros. TV Studios is home to the Emmy Award-winning series THE PITTand an impressive slate of acclaimed series. She will also oversee the combined Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery cable roster of 50+ brands such as HGTV, Food Network, TNT, BET and MTV. For cable channels outside the U.S., Channing will report to me for programming and to JB Perrette for operations.
- David Stapf will continue to lead CBS Studios, which is home to NCIS, the world’s #1 television franchise, including the recently launched NCIS: NEW YORK, the #1 new series of the broadcast season. The Studio also produces hits such as SHERIFF COUNTRY and popular streaming series like “Little House on the Prairie” and “Murderbot.”See It Now Studios will operate as a label within CBS Studios.
- Matt Thunell oversees Paramount Television Studios, home to premium series for streaming and broadcast, with blockbuster franchises including “Reacher,” its spin-off “Neagley”and the Taylor Sheridan universe that spans DUTTON RANCH, LANDMAN and LIONESS on Paramount+ and MARSHALSon CBS.
- Skydance Sports Entertainment will be part of the Skydance TV Studios Group with details to follow.
Global Sports Group
David Berson leads Skydance’s Global Sports Group, with oversight of our live sports portfolio, led by CBS Sports, TNT Sports and WBD Sports, across all platforms and in partnership with JB and the International team for outside the U.S. Combined sports rights for the new division include the NFL, UEFA Champions League, NHL, MLB, March Madness, PGA Tour, The Masters, WNBA, NASCAR and college football, among many others.
Entertainment
Amy Reisenbach leads CBS Entertainment, a cornerstone of our multiplatform strategy and home to the most-watched primetime schedule on television that consistently delivers the biggest new hits year after year – including this season’s Rotten Tomatoes 100% Certified Fresh drama CUPERTINO.
News
Tom Cibrowski will continue to oversee operations across CBS News’ broadcast, streaming and digital businesses, while leaning into his deep experience in morning television to bolster CBS MORNINGS, and sustain the ratings momentum at CBS EVENING NEWS.
Skydance TV
The following leaders will support our broader Skydance TV organization as we bring together and grow our group:
- Bryon Rubin will be our Chief Operating Officer (COO) working with all divisional leaders on strategic and operational matters while maintaining his leadership of CBS’ domestic syndication. Bryon will expand his remit to include oversight of the CBS Television Stations group, working closely with division president Jennifer Mitchell, who will also have a dotted reporting line into me and will be part of my Skydance TV SLT.
- Laurel Weir will oversee research and programming insights across Skydance TV broadcast, cable and studios. She will work closely with creative and marketing leaders in all areas to help shape our strategy through a deep understanding of audience insights and consumption trends. Laurel will continue to oversee her content strategy, scheduling and content acquisitions teams for the Paramount cable networks while we work through integration planning.
- Mike Benson will lead marketing across our portfolio, bringing our talented teams together to strengthen our brands, elevate audience discovery and eventize and promote our programming launches through all forms of traditional and emerging media. Mike will have a dotted reporting line to Rebecca Mall, Chief Marketing Officer, Skydance.
- Chris Ender will oversee all communications and publicity. He will serve as the spokesperson for Skydance TV and lead best-in-class comms teams in each division that will shape our narrative, elevate brands and programming and help define the voice of our combined group. Chris will have a dotted reporting line to Melissa Zukerman, Chief Communications Officer, Skydance, and support JB Perrette on any Skydance TV business and operations topics.
What happens next
I know many of you have questions about our structure and what comes next. We will continue to share more information when possible.
We’re still early in this journey and process, but I’m confident in the strength of this team and in the extraordinary talent and capabilities across our business. As I’ve said, the work ahead is significant, and so is the opportunity. Together, we’ll build on our strengths and shape an even stronger future.
Thank you for everything you do.
George
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