Paramount is planning to lay off about 1,000 workers on Wednesday, October 29, with an additional thousand to follow at a time still being determined, sources familiar with the plans have told Deadline.
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The vast majority of the affected employees will be based in the U.S., with international divisions also planning cutbacks in the coming weeks.
The long-expected cuts come two-plus months after the close of the $8.4 billion merger of Paramount and Skydance. Executives at the merged company have promised Wall Street they would deliver $2 billion in cost savings, with part of that target amount being achieved by workforce reductions.
Bloomberg reported earlier Monday on the timing and amount of this week’s reductions. Deadline earlier had been the first to report that the layoffs had been shifted up to this week from an initial November target.
In a press conference last August following the merger’s completion, president Jeff Shell told reporters that the cuts would be implemented as efficiently as possible. “We don’t want to be a company that has layoffs every quarter,” he said.
The previous regime at Paramount had already shrunk the company’s workforce pretty significantly, initiating three waves of layoffs in the latter months of 2024 that reduced the rolls by about 15% in the U.S.
Layoffs are never an easy part of a post-merger integration process in terms of employee morale, but for David Ellison and his Paramount management team there is also the matter of the company’s next M&A conquest. The ink had barely dried on the long-gestating Paramount-Skydance merger before Ellison offered (not once, but three times) to acquire rival Warner Bros. Discovery. Last week, word emerged that those overtures had been rebuffed, but WBD announced it had initiated a review of its strategic alternatives. Its goal is to convene an auction after saying it received interest in a potential acquisition from “multiple parties,” with Comcast and Amazon atop the list of those believed to be kicking the tires.
In terms of Paramount’s corporate divisions, CBS Sports has come through recent waves of cutbacks relatively unscathed. Most other units have been affected by secular pressures on theatrical moviegoing and linear TV viewing. The post-merger executive map is just starting to come into focus, with former co-CEOs Brian Robbins (who also served as the president of Nickelodeon) and Chris McCarthy leaving the company just as the merger officially closed last August. The decline of viewing and advertising spending on linear TV has put pressure on many parts of the portfolio, especially legacy cable.
John Dickerson, co-anchor of CBS Evening News, has given notice that he will leave at the end of the year, it was reported Monday. Two other major departures from Paramount also came into view as the week was beginning: Taylor Sheridan, architect of the Yellowstone universe, is moving to NBCUniversal under a rich film and TV deal set to take effect in 2029. David Glasser, Sheridan’s close collaborator, is also relocating his 101 Studios to NBCU in early 2026.
Update (10/30) - As reported, Paramount today (Oct. 29) made significant staff cuts. Below is a selection of articles about today's news.
From Deadline:
Paramount Layoffs Begin; CEO David Ellison Says Cuts Are Key To Building “Strong, Future-Focused Company”
Paramount began significant layoffs Wednesday morning, with about 1,000 U.S.-based workers being let go in the first round, and roughly another 1,000 soon to follow.
The 2,000 layoffs represent about 10% of Paramount’s employee base.
CEO David Ellison confirmed the cuts were underway in a memo to employees. (Read it in full below.)
“When we launched the new Paramount in August, we made clear that building a strong, future-focused company would require significant change – including restructuring the organization,” he wrote.
The memo continued, “We want to be as open and direct as possible about the reasons behind these changes. In some areas, we are addressing redundancies that have emerged across the organization. In others, we are phasing out roles that are no longer aligned with our evolving priorities and the new structure designed to strengthen our focus on growth. Ultimately, these steps are necessary to position Paramount for long-term success.”
The long-expected cuts come nearly three months after the close of the $8.4 billion merger of Paramount and Skydance. Executives at the merged company have promised Wall Street they would deliver $2 billion in cost savings, with part of that target amount being achieved by workforce reductions. The company is also looking to trim its real estate portfolio and unload some businesses. It sold Argentinian broadcast network Telefé last week in a deal reportedly worth $100 million, a fraction of the $345 million paid by predecessor company Viacom in 2016.
Along with the belt-tightening, the company has made a number of splashy deals, locking up exclusive rights to the UFC for $7.7 billion. The $1.5 billion re-upping of South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone happened two weeks before the official merger close but with the go-ahead from Ellison & Co
The previous regime at Paramount had already shrunk the company’s workforce pretty significantly, initiating three waves of layoffs in the latter months of 2024 and reducing the rolls by about 15% in the U.S. As of the end of 2024, total global headcount was 18,600, but Skydance added about 1,300 workers to the mix via the merger.
Layoffs are never an easy part of a post-merger integration process in terms of employee morale, but for Ellison and his management team there is also the matter of the company’s next M&A conquest. The ink had barely dried on the long-gestating Paramount-Skydance merger before Ellison offered (not once, but three times) to acquire rival Warner Bros Discovery. Last week, word emerged that those overtures had been rebuffed, but Ellison is expected to maintain his pursuit, and WBD initiated a review of its strategic alternatives. Its goal is to convene an auction, citing “unsolicited interest” in a potential acquisition from “multiple parties,” with Comcast and Amazon atop the list of those believed to be kicking the tires.
Paramount is hardly the only U.S. company in streamlining mode. This week alone, Amazon, Target and United Parcel Service have announced tens of thousands of layoffs, joining major employers like Booz Allen Hamilton and General Motors. Many companies have embraced AI, seeing it as a more efficient way to perform tasks previously handled by white-collar office workers.
Here is Ellison’s full memo:
Dear All,When we launched the new Paramount in August, we made clear that building a strong, future-focused company would require significant change – including restructuring the organization. As part of that process, we must also reduce the size of our workforce, and we recognize these actions affect our most important asset: our people.We want to be as open and direct as possible about the reasons behind these changes. In some areas, we are addressing redundancies that have emerged across the organization. In others, we are phasing out roles that are no longer aligned with our evolving priorities and the new structure designed to strengthen our focus on growth. Ultimately, these steps are necessary to position Paramount for long-term success.That said, today we begin the difficult process of informing impacted team members across the company. These decisions are never made lightly, especially given their effect on our colleagues who have made meaningful contributions to the company. To this end, we are committed to supporting all employees through this transition. Members of our HR team will be working closely with business unit leaders to share detailed information on benefits and transition services. Additional questions can be directed to [HR email].We are deeply grateful for your hard work, professionalism, and resilience during this period of transition. We remain confident that Paramount’s best days are ahead, and we’re committed to building a strong foundation for the future.Thank you,David
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From Deadline:
Paramount Layoffs Hit CBS News: Morning And Evening Streaming Shows Canceled, Saturday AM Hosts Out Amid Overhaul, Johannesburg Bureau Closed
UPDATED with more details: Paramount’s cuts across the company hit CBS News on Wednesday, with the streaming editions of CBS Mornings and the CBS Evening News canceled and CBS Saturday Morning in for an overhaul, according to a source familiar with the plans.
The network also is closing its bureau in Johannesburg.
In all, the layoffs are impacting close to 100 CBS News staffers, according to sources familiar with the extent of the cuts. They are part of a round of layoffs impacting about 1,000 across Paramount following Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount Global. Another round of 1,000 job cuts is expected in the coming months.
“People are very on-edge,” said one staffer, describing the mood as “depressed and unhappy” and “a very tough day at the network.”
The cuts were in the works before Bari Weiss was named editor in chief of the news division this month.
The two hosts of CBS Saturday Morning, Michelle Miller and Dana Jacobson, will be departing, according to a source familiar with the cuts. Jeff Glor, the previous host and former anchor of CBS Evening News, was laid off in a previous round of cuts last year, as Paramount Global slimmed down in preparation for a sale. The weekday CBS Mornings team will now oversee the Saturday show.
Also impacted by the cuts were correspondents Nikki Battiste and Janet Shamlian, the source said. Senior foreign correspondent Debora Patta, who has been reporting on the war in Gaza, has been based in Johannesburg. The Los Angeles Times reported that she was laid off as well, but a network spokesperson has declined to comment.
CBS Mornings Plus debuted last year as a streaming third hour of the network’s morning program, hosted by Adriana Diaz and Tony Dokoupil. CBS Evening News Plus was anchored by John Dickerson, who announced this week he was leaving the network at the end of the year.
The layoffs are said to be spread throughout the news division. They are only the latest cuts at a legacy media outlet this year. NBC News announced layoffs of about 150 staffers as it prepared for the split from sister network MSNBC, which is being spun off along with other Comcast cable networks into a new company, Versant. There were significant layoffs to teams devoted to diversity verticals, such as NBC Out and NBC Blk, although those online sites will continue.
The Writers Guild of America East, which represents employees in the news division, issued a joint statement with the Writers Guild of America West on the Paramount cuts. “Today, we once again see the toll on media workers and the news industry caused by unfettered corporate consolidation. The WGAE and WGAW are working with impacted members to ensure our collective bargaining agreements are enforced and labor law is followed in these layoffs at Paramount Skydance.”
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From Deadline:
Paramount Layoffs Impact TV Executives Across CBS, MTV, BET & Distribution; George Cheeks Reflects On “Incredibly Difficult” Decisions
A number of television executives have been affected by the major round of layoffs at Paramount, the first since the company was established by the $8.4 billion merger of Paramount Global and Skydance in August.
With Paramount Global’s headcount at 18,600 globally as of the end of 2024, dwarfing that of Skydance (about 1,300), the vast majority of the cuts are coming from the Paramount side. In addition to TV, names are already emerging in the motion picture division and at CBS News.
As has been the case with legacy companies over the past several years, the linear networks and marketing/distribution are heavily impacted. In a memo sent out late Wednesday afternoon, Paramount’s TV Media chair George Cheeks, who oversees CBS and Paramount Media Networks, acknowledged the emotions staff were feeling at the end of what he called “one of the most difficult days.” (Read the email in full below.)
Among those leaving is Teri Fleming, EVP and head of marketing for Paramount Global Content Distribution. She is a company veteran who previously spent more than a decade as SVP Marketing for CBS Studios International.
Veteran CBS current executive Pamela Soper is exiting after more than 20 years at the network. Soper, most recently SVP, Current Programming, CBS Entertainment, has overseen series including The Neighborhood, Bob Hearts Abishola, Mom, The Good Fight and Your Honor.
Also in current, Amanda Palley is leaving. Palley, who is SVP, Current Programming, CBS Entertainment, has been with the company for over 11 years. She has worked on series including The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
Creative executive Rose Catherine Pinkney, who has been with BET for nearly 10 years, is impacted. Pinkney was most recently SVP, Scripted Programming and Development, working on series including Average Joe, The Ms. Pat Show, and Real Husbands of Hollywood.
Also at BET, leaving is Robi Reed, SVP, Talent & Casting, Original Programming, after over 20 years. An Emmy Award and NAACP Image Award-winning casting director, she cast such series as Diarra from Detroit, First Wives Club, Ms. Pat Show, Boomerang, and the miniseries The Bobby Brown Story.
As rumored over the past few weeks, MTV is putting its music video legacy in the rear-view mirror, with the network’s music team disbanded and Wendy Plaut, SVP and Head of Music & Celebrity Talent, departing. She has been at Paramount for almost more than 27 years and was the executive in charge of celebrity talent for the company’s Video Music Awards.
Amanda Culkowski, VP, Music Program Development and Documentaries at MTV/Paramount+, is also impacted. Culkowski has been with the company for over six years, having joined from AMC Networks. She was responsible for developing original music and talent-driven series for MTV’s networks and Paramount+ and has worked on projects including Hip Hop My House and Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza.
Elsewhere at the cable group, Margaret Comeaux, who is SVP, Music and Events Production for CMT, is exiting. Comeaux has been with the company for nearly 25 years and oversees tentpole events and music specials including the CMT Music Awards.
Paramount+ has also been hit. Jeff Grossman, who is EVP, Programming, is exiting after around 15 years at the company. He led content, planning, scheduling, acquisitions, merchandising and operations for the streamer. He was promoted in 2023, having previously been EVP, content and business operations for Paramount Streaming. Patricia Kollappallil, who was SVP, Corporate Communications, is also out, having held the role for the last two and a half years, after a similar time spent at Showtime. Additionally, leaving is Gregory Heller, VP, Brand and Program Marketing for Paramount+. He spent nearly 14 years at the company across Paramount+ and Showtime, overseeing marketing campaigns for such series as the Dexter franchise, Yellowjackets, The Chi, Shameless, Ray Donovan and Twin Peaks: The Return.
Amy Campbell, Chief Marketing Officer, Paramount Media Networks & MTV Entertainment Studios, is also leaving. Campbell worked across brands such as MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, Comedy Central, Paramount and Smithsonian Channel, and told colleagues last week that she had decided to “step away” from her role.
Among those departing is Rob Brofman, EVP, Paramount Kids & Family and Paramount Global Content Acquisition Business & Legal Affairs.
Andrea Ballas, VP, Communications, CBS Entertainment, is also affected. Ballas has been with the company for over 27 years, working on shows such as Matlock, Ghosts, NCIS, Two and a Half Men, Mom, Mike & Molly, Bob Hearts Abishola, 2 Broke Girls and CSI. Recently, she was also instrumental is getting Paramount+ to board The Children of October 7, bringing the project to the attention of Shari Redstone after she met activist and dancer Montana Tucker.
“To everyone impacted: your contributions have left a lasting imprint on our company. You’ve made us better, and we are deeply grateful,” Cheeks said in his memo, noting that “while these decisions are incredibly difficult, they are part of the changes needed to help Paramount move forward as a strong, future-focused company as we navigate a rapidly changing industry.”
We will update the story with more exits when they are confirmed.
Paramount Skydance predecessor Paramount Global went through multiple waves of layoffs in preparation for the merger.
The most recent in June cut 2.5% of the overall Paramount workforce. The many areas affected across the company included Comedy Central, MTV, BET, kids and adult animation, business development operations, franchises and consumer products as well CBS Studios casting.
The previous one in August 2024, which reduced Paramount Global’s U.S. staff by 15%, included the shutdown of Paramount Television Studios, with the majority of its team laid off. (The moniker was revived after the merger with a new streaming-focused production unit.)
Paramount is laying off about 1,000 staffers today, with an additional thousand to follow. The vast majority of the affected employees are based in the U.S., with international divisions planning cuts in the coming weeks.
“In some areas, we are addressing redundancies that have emerged across the organization. In others, we are phasing out roles that are no longer aligned with our evolving priorities and the new structure designed to strengthen our focus on growth,” Paramount CEO David Ellison wrote in a memo about the layoffs this morning. “Ultimately, these steps are necessary to position Paramount for long-term success.”
The cuts, come as the leadership of the merged company promised Wall Street after the transaction that they would deliver $2 billion in cost savings, including through workforce reductions.
On the spending side, Paramount Global on the eve of the transaction spent $1.5 billion on South Park streaming rights and its creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, Paramount post-merger committed $7.7 billion for exclusive rights to the UFC, made a mega deal with the Duffer brothers and has been bidding for Warner Bros. Discovery.
Here is Cheeks’ email:
Team,Today has been one of the most difficult days, and I want to take a moment to acknowledge the emotions we are all feeling. We are saying goodbye to many valued colleagues, some of whom have been part of Paramount Media Networks or CBS for decades, helping shape the culture, creativity, and legacy we all share. To everyone impacted: your contributions have left a lasting imprint on our company. You’ve made us better, and we are deeply grateful.While these decisions are incredibly difficult, they are part of the changes needed to help Paramount move forward as a strong, future-focused company as we navigate a rapidly changing industry. This means making tough decisions, including reducing the size of our workforce – choices that affect people who have contributed meaningfully to our success. We recognize the weight of this moment and remain committed to supporting our colleagues through this transition.Please take the time you need to process, reflect, and support one another. This team has always shown resilience, compassion, and strength. I have no doubt you will continue to do so in the days ahead.Thank you for your continued dedication and your care for each other as we navigate this together.George
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From Deadline:
Paramount Layoffs Hit Motion Picture Execs In Production, Marketing, Music & More; Studio Co-Chairs Say, “Today Has Been A Difficult One”
EXCLUSIVE: Paramount‘s motion picture divisions, including production, literary, marketing and music, were impacted Wednesday by the wider company layoffs, with many Melrose Ave lot vets exiting. The new David Ellison-run conglom is handing out about 1,000 pink slips as it looks to achieve $2 billion in overall savings. We understand that some of those savings aren’t in job cuts alone.
Among those departing, we hear, are President of Worldwide Music Randy Spendlove who has been at the studio since 2006. Spendlove arrived at Paramount as a Grammy winner for Best Soundtrack Album for the Miramax Best Picture Oscar winner Chicago. He started at A&M Records as VP of Promotions where he worked with Janet Jackson, Sheryl Crow, Soundgarden and Bryan Adams. In 1998, he became President of Motion Picture Music at Miramax Films, where he worked on Chicago, Shakespeare in Love, Cold Mountain and Finding Neverland. While at Paramount, he co-supervised the music and co-produced the soundtrack album for Dreamgirls, which was nominated for three Best Song Oscars.
Other executive departures include Bryan Oh, SVP of Production, who most recently was shepherding a K-pop music drama starring Ji-young Yoo and singer-songwriter Eric Nam; Geoff Stier, EVP of Production who was formerly with Showtime Original Programming and a previous Paramount vet overseeing such titles as World War Z and True Grit before coming back in July 2024; Andres Alvarez, EVP of Home Entertainment; Rachel Cadden, EVP of International Theatrical Marketing; Christine Benitez, SVP Multicultural Marketing; and Phil Cohen, SVP of Literary Affairs, who arrived to the studio in 2022.
In a note to staff today, Paramount Pictures co-chairs Dana Golberg and Josh Greenstein took a knee, expressing how “difficult” today is and how “we want to take a moment to acknowledge the departure of valued colleagues and express our deep gratitude for their contributions, dedication, and the impact they’ve made on our studio.” The duo also emphasized the new Skydance-owned Paramount’s plan of “right-sizing our organization” which aims to “refocus our energy, and align our efforts with the endless opportunities ahead.”
There are 1,000 more expected to be cut from the roughly 20,000-employee count of the combined Paramount and Skydance. The next wave is hitting offshore offices. As Deadline previously reported, Paramount television and marketing/distribution were effected today.
Below is the internal email from Goldberg and Greenstein.
Team,We recognize that today has been a difficult one as our workforce changes take effect. We want to take a moment to acknowledge the departure of valued colleagues and express our deep gratitude for their contributions, dedication, and the impact they’ve made on our studio.This restructuring marks a pivotal step in shaping the path forward. We’re right-sizing our organization to ensure Paramount Pictures remains not only the iconic studio built on more than a century of storytelling, but also the leading destination for creators and innovators who will define the future of entertainment. Please know that we’re making these changes as comprehensively as possible to ensure we can move forward decisively, refocus our energy, and align our efforts with the endless opportunities ahead.As we set our sights on the future, our goal is to create clarity and momentum as we begin this next chapter. Your managers and HR business partners are here to support you—please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns. What makes this place exceptional is the spirit of collaboration and kindness you show one another every day. We know that same generosity will carry us through this transition.We will be sharing more around our strategy and structure in the coming weeks and appreciate your continued commitment and focus.Thank you for everything you bring to this team. We’re confident that, together, we’ll build an even stronger future.Dana and Josh
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Originally published: October 28, 2025.
Update H/Ts: Kidscreen, @KeydalisColo2.
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