Paramount's Africa leads Monde Twala and Craig Paterson told the teams in Johannesburg and Lagos that their roles could be impacted as the firm "evaluates its pay TV strategy and local channel footprint."
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| Paramount Global headquarters | Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images |
Paramount Global‘s Africa offices may close, local channels may be shuttered, and staffers’ roles could be impacted, company executives told employees in the region on Tuesday, July 22, sources familiar with the situation have told The Hollywood Reporter.
The company has been prioritizing investments in its growing streaming business and core global content as it navigates shifts in audience behavior and the macro-economic environment. As part of that, it is reviewing its international pay TV strategy and considering adjustments to its linear channel portfolio in international markets, with a focus on cable brands. Management has also signaled a focus on businesses and regions with the most opportunity for revenue growth.
As part of the restructuring, several Paramount channels are already known to be closing internationally by the end of the year, including: Nickelodeon channels TeenNick and NickMusic, along with MTV channels MTV 80s, MTV 90s, MTV 00s, MTV Hits, MTV Live, Club MTV, we well as Polsat Comedy Central Extra in Poland; and Teen Nick, Nick Music, Comedy Central, Paramount Network, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, MTV 00s, MTV Hits, MTV Live HD, and Club MTV in Hungary. Nickelodeon wise, this will leave Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and Nicktoons in these regions. However, in New Zealand, Nickelodeon and Nick Jr., along with MTV 80s, MTV Hits, and Comedy Central, are expected to shutter by the end of the year, as Paramount's programming partnership with Sky TV is set to expire.
In Africa, Nickelodeon channels available include Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., and Nicktoons, the latter of which carries a localised NickMusic programme.
Tuesday’s news comes as Paramount continues to wait for FCC approval of Skydance Media’s deal to acquire it, which has included a $16 million lawsuit settlement with President Trump. THR understands that Paramount has fewer than 100 employees in Africa between its offices in Johannesburg, South Africa and Lagos, Nigeria.
“We are at a point in our journey where we are facing immense industry disruption,” Monde Twala and Craig Paterson, co-general managers of Paramount Africa, said in a staff memo obtained by THR. “Our team is not immune to potential changes as our organization evaluates its pay TV strategy and local channel footprint here in Africa.”
In June, Paramount unveiled further U.S. workforce cuts to the tune of 3.5 percent, following a 15 percent reduction last year. As of the end of 2024, Paramount Global had 18,600 employees worldwide. Co-CEOs George Cheeks, Chris McCarthy and Brian Robbins said in a June memo that the focus was on U.S. headcount but the moves “may also result in some impacts to our workforce outside the U.S. over time.”
Twala and Paterson acknowledged in their staff memo: “Today was incredibly difficult. We want you to know your greatness is seen. We reach out with a heavy heart, but also with immense pride. Your dedication to excellence, creativity and passion for leveraging the power of our content have been the driving force behind our many accomplishments.”
They concluded: “We understand the coming weeks may be tough and feel unsettling. Through it all, please know your efforts are valued beyond measure.”
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Originally published: July 23, 2025.
H/T: Special thanks to @prsdube16 for the news!
