International set-up expected to be outlined in call with co-chief execs David Ellison and Ynon Kreiz later today
Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery staff around the world will hear how the $111bn deal will affect them via a Skydance townhall at 6pm BST today, Broadcast International understands.
The call will involve all Paramount and WBD teams, and comes with the deal to create Skydance set to close later today.
It will be hosted by Skydance chief exec David Ellison and co-chief exec Ynon Kreiz, who will outline the structure and plans for the US studio giant.
Ellison revealed his C-suite team earlier this week, with HBO veteran Casey Bloys confirmed as co-chair and chief content officer at Skydance DTC, and Paramount’s George Cheeks appointed co-chair and chief content officer.
There has been no news yet on how the international side of the business will fit into the new-look structure, with questions around leadership structures for units including Ronald Goes-led Warner Bros International TV Productions, Reemah Sakaan’s 5 in the UK and Network 10 in Australia.
It is expected that the call will address whether Paramount’s president of international and global content distribution, Kevin MacLellan, will oversee operations outside of the US, having joined Paramount from NBC Universal last year.
MacLellan reported into Ellison at Paramount and was hired by fellow NBCU alum Jeff Shell, who has since departed the company, but he did not oversee international streaming for Paramount.
He was also not named on the senior team revealed by Ellison earlier this week and sources have suggested a broader rejig of operations outside the US could be on the cards.
One name that is in Ellison’s top circle is JB Perrette, who was named co-chair & chief business officer for Skydance TV and co-chair & chief business officer.
Several insiders have suggested Perrette - who is set to pocket north of $140m following Paramount’s WBD acquisition - could take on some form of oversight of the international streaming and TV business, having played a key role in the expansion of HBO Max around the world.
His recently expanded role at Skydance will see him take on global oversight of DTC strategy, as well as distribution and content sales, advertising and marketing.
Gerhard Zeiler, WBD’s president of international, is among senior execs likely to depart, having revealed plans to move into politics.
He intends to make a run for leadership of Austria’s ruling Social Democratic Party.
Other confirmed execs of an international flavor include Mark Thompson, who is chairman and editor-in-chief of CNN Worldwide.
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