David Ellison to Lead Paramount Global

David Ellison, CEO of Skydance Media, will take over Paramount Global with plans to increase film and television production, promising more content for the creative community. The $8 billion deal, largely financed by his father Larry Ellison and RedBird Capital Partners, involves complex transactions including the acquisition of Shari Redstone's National Amusements. Ellison faces significant challenges, such as declining box office revenue, a struggling streaming business, and the impact of cord-cutting on cable networks. He aims to transform Paramount into a 'media and technology' company, emphasizing improvements in streaming algorithms and leveraging cloud technology to boost efficiency. The merger is expected to close in the first half of next year, with Ellison becoming CEO and Jeff Shell named president. Despite the challenges, Ellison sees valuable assets in Paramount's historic properties and popular networks, which he believes haven't been managed well.