Paramount Global to Merge with Skydance Media: A $28bn Deal

Paramount Global, one of Hollywood’s oldest companies, has made headlines with its recent agreement to merge with independent film studio Skydance Media. The deal, worth approximately $28 billion, will see Paramount’s non-executive chair Shari Redstone sell her family’s controlling stake in the company in a complex transaction.

This merger signifies the end of an era for the Redstone family, known for transforming a chain of drive-in cinemas into a vast media empire that includes popular television networks like CBS, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and MTV.

In a statement, Ms. Redstone expressed her hope that the Skydance transaction will enable Paramount’s continued success in the rapidly changing entertainment landscape. The company boasts a global reach of over 4.3 billion subscribers across more than 180 countries through its TV channels.

The agreement will combine Paramount, known for classic films such as Chinatown and Breakfast at Tiffany’s, with Skydance, its financial partner on recent blockbuster releases like Top Gun: Maverick and Star Trek Into Darkness. Skydance will invest around $8 billion in Paramount as part of the deal.

Despite its storied history and successful film franchises like the Godfather, Star Trek, and Mission: Impossible series, Paramount Global has faced challenges in recent years. The company’s shares have fallen by more than 75% in the last five years.

The announcement of the merger comes after months of negotiations, during which Redstone explored potential partnerships with companies like Sony and private equity firm Apollo. The deal is expected to close by next summer, signaling a new chapter for both Paramount and Skydance in the ever-evolving entertainment industry landscape.