Jeff Shultz: Last News

Paramount Global and Walmart have reached a streaming bundle deal that will see Paramount+ offered at no charge to subscribers of 2-year-old loyalty program Walmart+.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Paramount Global is undergoing additional restructuring leading up to its expected merger with Skydance Media in 2025. The media conglomerate is integrating the group that handles distribution for the Paramount+ and Pluto TV streaming services with its U.S. TV networks distribution teams to “create one unified distribution team that is optimized for growth across our portfolio,” Ray Hopkins, president of U.S.

The drumbeat of departures from Paramount Global is continuing, with high-level streaming exec Jeff Shultz heading for the exits.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Jeff Shultz, who has served as chief strategy officer and chief business development officer of Paramount Global‘s streaming division, is leaving the company at the end of the year. Paramount Global and controlling shareholder Shari Redstone have clinched a deal to merge Paramount with Skydance Media, a transaction expected to close in the first half of 2025. In the meantime, Paramount has engaged in layoffs and restructuring in its U.S.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Sean Gupta, who has served as senior VP of strategy for Paramount Streaming for more than two years, is exiting the company, Variety has confirmed. Gupta reported to Jeff Shultz, Paramount Streaming’s chief strategy officer and chief business development officer. Gupta took on the role in the fall of 2021 (when Paramount Global was known as ViacomCBS), tasked with helping shape the media conglomerate’s approach to developing and growing its Paramount+ subscription-streaming property and the Pluto TV free, ad-supported streaming TV service.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Paramount Global’s streaming division has elevated two content execs to new leadership positions: Jeff Grossman is now EVP of programming for Paramount+ and Amy Kuessner, EVP of programming for Pluto TV, the company’s ad-supported streaming service. Grossman will oversee a “holistic” content strategy for Paramount+ globally. He most recently was EVP of content and business operations for Paramount Streaming.

Paramount Combines Streamers Pluto & My5 In UK

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor For the first time, rival streaming services Netflix and Paramount+ are coming together in a price-discounted bundle, exclusively for Verizon wireless customers in the U.S. The limited-time deal, through Verizon’s +play subscription-aggregation hub, offers the carrier’s mobile customers a price point of $25.99/month for Netflix Premium and Paramount+ With Showtime — a 19% discount ($5.99 off) the regular monthly price of the two services sold separately. (You’ll still need two separate apps to watch each of the streamers.) Netflix Premium, the streamer’s priciest plan that includes up to four simultaneous streams and content in up to 4K Ultra HD, is regularly $19.99/month. Paramount+ With Showtime will cost $11.99/month when it officially becomes Paramount Global’s top-tier, ad-free streaming plan later in June.

William Earl Variety is pleased to welcome thought-leaders at the forefront of the global TV industry to share their strategies for success. Angela Colla, Head of International Sales, Globo; Carol Hanley, President, Whip Media; Lisa Holme, Group SVP of Content and Commercial Strategy for Discovery, Inc.; Miquel Penella, President, Streaming Services, AMC Networks; Rodrigo Mazón, EVP & GM of SVOD, Univision; and Jeff Shultz, Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer, Paramount Streaming, sit down with Variety International Editor, Manori Ravindran, for the panel discussion “Have Content, Will Travel: Strategies for Building a Global TV Audience,” airing March 29 in the Variety Streaming Room.  “Today’s streaming age is creating new possibilities for content to gain traction worldwide. In this highly competitive market, being armed with data capable of determining what titles have the strongest appeal — and why — is a major competitive advantage,” said Carol Hanley, President of Whip Media. Streaming has upended the business in a way no one ever imagined, but these companies are learning and creating strategies that will allow their businesses to expand in the years to come.