Paramount Skydance leaders avoided discussing their recent bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery as they revealed their fourth-quarter 2025 earnings report. The report showed a decline in the company’s traditional linear TV business but a positive momentum for their streaming platforms, including Paramount+.
CEO David Ellison and Paramount president Jeff Shell fielded questions about the company’s performance in the fourth quarter, the first full quarter under Ellison’s ownership. Ellison admitted that Paramount’s film slate had underperformed in 2025 and discussed the potential renegotiation of the NFL TV rights deals in 2029. He also expressed optimism about investing more in engineering talent to revitalize the studio.
Dennis Cinelli, Paramount’s new CFO, projected a down year for the film business in 2026 despite an increase in theatrical releases. He emphasized the importance of cost management and licensing deals to drive profitability in the future.
Ellison, who took over Paramount Global last August, acknowledged the challenges inherited from the previous regime but promised significant improvements in the profitability of the film slate. He highlighted ongoing technological upgrades at the studio and hinted at further developments in the future.
The executives were also questioned about the growth and profitability of Paramount+ and the Pluto TV platform. Ellison praised the potential of the ad-supported streaming television channels (FAST) and emphasized the need to enhance monetization on Pluto TV.
Regarding the NFL, Shell expressed confidence in Paramount’s CBS remaining a key player in the league’s distribution strategy. He reassured investors that they had factored in potential impacts of renegotiating the NFL deals in their forecasts.
Overall, Paramount’s leadership remains optimistic about the future of the company, with a strong focus on streaming platforms and technological advancements. The company is positioning itself to be a leader in the industry and drive growth in the coming years.
