Paramount Television Studios
A Paramount Pictures television production studio developing and producing scripted programming for broadcast, cable, streaming, and international markets.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Paramount Television Studios is the television production division associated with Paramount Pictures. The present studio was established in 2013, when Viacom revived Paramount's television-production activities at a time when the industry was being reshaped by streaming services, international platforms, and the growing value of intellectual property that could move between film and television. Its creation represented a return to television for Paramount Pictures after the earlier Paramount television operation had become part of the CBS corporate structure following the 2005 split of Viacom and CBS Corporation. The studio's role has generally been to develop, finance, package, and produce scripted television projects, often drawing on Paramount Pictures film properties, outside production companies, and relationships with broadcasters or streaming platforms. Its work has included projects for cable networks, broadcast outlets, and digital services. Paramount Television Studios has also used first-look and overall agreements to work with producers and production companies, including Anonymous Content, Chapter Eleven, Compari Entertainment, Federation Entertainment, and Brillstein Entertainment Partners. These arrangements gave the studio access to writers, directors, producers, and intellectual property while expanding its development pipeline beyond Paramount's existing film library. The unit was distinct from CBS Studios for much of the period between its formation and the 2019–2020 recombination of Viacom and CBS. Paramount-produced programs were associated with Paramount's own television and home-entertainment infrastructure, whereas the earlier Paramount Television library remained connected to CBS because that library had moved with CBS Corporation in 2005. After Viacom and CBS recombined to form ViacomCBS, the revived Paramount Television operation was branded Paramount Television Studios in January 2020. Paramount Global adopted its current name in 2022. The studio grew during the late 2010s as Paramount sought a larger television presence. Company commentary indicated that the unit had generated substantial revenue and had multiple series in production or development. Leadership changed in 2018 when president Amy Powell departed and Nicole Clemens became president. The business was subsequently integrated more closely with Paramount's wider television operations. In 2024, management was transferred to CBS Studios, and Paramount announced that the Paramount Television Studios label would be closed after staff reductions, with active and developing projects moving to CBS Studios. Following the 2025 merger of Paramount Global and Skydance Media, the studio was revived within the newly formed Paramount Skydance Corporation. The relaunched operation was described as a home for television production assets brought together from Paramount, Skydance Television, and other affiliated production operations. Matt Thunell was identified as president, with Dana Goldberg serving as co-chair and Keith Cox leading scripted programming. The revived studio also incorporated additional youth and entertainment production capabilities, including operations associated with Nickelodeon Productions and Awesomeness. Its strategic position is therefore that of a centralized, multi-platform television producer with access to Paramount's film brands, television properties, streaming relationships, and affiliated production companies.
History
Paramount Television Studios is the second major Paramount television operation to use the Paramount name. Its direct predecessor was created on March 4, 2013, when Viacom announced that Paramount Pictures would return to television production. The move reflected the increasing commercial importance of television, particularly as cable networks and streaming services created more demand for original scripted programming. Paramount also saw television as a way to extend film properties and diversify the studio's revenue base when theatrical performance was uncertain. The revived operation followed the corporate separation of Viacom and CBS Corporation. Paramount's earlier television division had become part of CBS Corporation on December 31, 2005, while the newly separated Viacom retained Paramount Pictures. Because the two companies continued to have licensing arrangements involving the Paramount name, CBS Paramount Television was later renamed CBS Television Studios in 2009 and eventually CBS Studios in 2020. The revived Paramount television business therefore operated separately from CBS for much of the 2010s, with its programming connected to Paramount's own distribution and home-entertainment activities rather than to the CBS Studios library. Amy Powell became president in July 2013. Early development included a proposed series based on School of Rock for Nickelodeon and Ashecliffe, a planned HBO prequel to the 2010 film Shutter Island. Although development announcements did not necessarily result in completed series, they showed how the studio intended to use Paramount's film library as a source of television concepts. The studio also expanded through partnerships. Anonymous Content received a three-year first-look agreement in 2014, followed by a deal involving Kyle Killen and Scott Pennington's Chapter Eleven. Robert Zemeckis, Jack Rapke, and Compari Entertainment entered a separate first-look arrangement, and Federation Entertainment later signed a similar agreement. These relationships formed an important part of Paramount Television's strategy for sourcing premium scripted projects. Leadership and corporate expectations changed during the late 2010s. In July 2018, Paramount dismissed Powell after reports that colleagues had raised concerns about comments she made in a professional setting. Powell disputed the reports and considered legal action. Nicole Clemens replaced her as president in September 2018. Viacom subsequently described Paramount Television as a growing business, reporting significant revenue and several series in production in its 2018 year-end review. In 2019, Paramount leadership said the unit was expected to expand its production slate and increase profitability. The December 2019 recombination of Viacom and CBS changed the organizational context. On January 14, 2020, the revived Paramount Television operation was renamed Paramount Television Studios. The parent company became ViacomCBS and changed its name to Paramount Global in February 2022. During this period, the studio continued to use producer partnerships and overall arrangements, including a 2021 agreement involving Auriel Rudnick and a multi-year first-look deal with Brillstein Entertainment Partners announced in 2023. Paramount Global later consolidated its television operations. In 2024, management of Paramount Television Studios was transferred to CBS Studios. After two rounds of corporate layoffs, Paramount announced on August 13, 2024 that the studio would shut down by the end of that week. Existing series and projects in development were shifted to CBS Studios, effectively ending the label's second incarnation for a period. The studio was revived in August 2025 after Paramount Global merged with Skydance Media and the combined company became Paramount Skydance Corporation. The relaunch brought together television production assets associated with Paramount, Skydance Television, and other affiliated units. Matt Thunell became president, Dana Goldberg became co-chair, and Keith Cox took responsibility for scripted programming. The restructured operation also absorbed production activities associated with Nickelodeon Productions and Awesomeness. Additional appointments included Drew Brown as head of production, Shelley Zimmerman and Carolyn Harris in development leadership, Arturo Reyes in production finance, and Mel Rauch in finance. The revived studio's role is consequently broader than the 2013 operation: it functions as a centralized television-production platform intended to develop and deliver scripted and youth-oriented programming across Paramount's broadcast, cable, streaming, and international ecosystem.
- 2025
Studio relaunch under Paramount Skydance
[1]Paramount Television Studios is revived following the Paramount Global–Skydance combination.
- 2024
Studio closure and project transfer
[1]Paramount closes the studio after layoffs and transfers current and developing projects to CBS Studios.
- 2023
Brillstein first-look deal
[1]The studio signs a multi-year first-look agreement with Brillstein Entertainment Partners.
- 2020
Rebranded Paramount Television Studios
[1]The revived Paramount television operation adopts the Paramount Television Studios name after the ViacomCBS merger.
- 2018
Nicole Clemens becomes president
[1]Nicole Clemens succeeds Amy Powell after Powell's departure.
- 2014
Producer partnership expansion
[1]Paramount establishes first-look or related development relationships with Anonymous Content, Chapter Eleven, and Compari Entertainment.
- 2013
Paramount returns to television production
[1]Viacom announces the formation of a revived Paramount television-production operation.
- 2013
Amy Powell appointed president
[1]Amy Powell is named president of Paramount Television.
Products and positioning
A premium, IP-led television production studio serving broadcast, cable, streaming, and international buyers.
Television production · 2013
Scripted television series
The studio's core output is scripted television developed for broadcast networks, cable channels, streaming platforms, and international buyers. Its production model can involve Paramount-owned intellectual property, original concepts, outside producers, co-productions, and platform-specific commissions.
Television adaptation · 2013
Film-property adaptations
Paramount Television Studios develops television projects based on Paramount Pictures films and other screen properties. Publicly announced examples included a School of Rock series and Ashecliffe, a proposed prequel to Shutter Island.
Premium television · 2013
Limited series and streaming programming
The studio participates in the premium and streaming television market, where limited series, event programming, and serialized dramas can be developed for services with global distribution. Specific titles and release slates vary as projects move among Paramount-affiliated units and external platforms.
Youth television · 2025
Youth and family television production
Following its 2025 relaunch, Paramount Television Studios assumed production activities associated with Nickelodeon Productions and Awesomeness, giving the studio a broader role in youth-focused and family-oriented content in addition to adult scripted programming.
Controversies
2018
Amy Powell departure
Paramount dismissed president Amy Powell after reports that colleagues had concerns about comments she made in a professional setting. Powell disputed the characterization and considered legal action. The episode resulted in a leadership transition, with Nicole Clemens appointed president.
Brand decisions
2025
Relaunch the studio under Paramount SkydanceM&ABackground
Paramount Global and Skydance Media combined to form Paramount Skydance Corporation, prompting a reorganization of television production assets.
Action taken
Paramount Television Studios was revived and positioned to house television assets associated with Paramount, Skydance Television, and related production operations.
Aftermath
The relaunched studio expanded its remit and subsequently absorbed production activities linked to Nickelodeon Productions and Awesomeness.
2024
Close the studio and transfer projects to CBS StudiosStrategyBackground
Paramount Global undertook restructuring and layoffs, including cuts affecting much of Paramount Television Studios' staff.
Action taken
Paramount announced the closure of the studio and moved current and developing projects to CBS Studios.
Aftermath
The Paramount Television Studios label was discontinued until its revival following the 2025 Paramount-Skydance merger.
2020
Adopt the Paramount Television Studios nameStrategyBackground
The merger of Viacom and CBS reunited corporate assets that had been separated since 2005.
Action taken
The revived Paramount Television operation was rebranded Paramount Television Studios.
Aftermath
The label continued as a Paramount-affiliated television production studio within ViacomCBS and later Paramount Global.
2013
Re-enter television productionStrategyBackground
Streaming services and expanding demand for original programming were increasing the strategic value of television production.
Action taken
Viacom revived Paramount Pictures' television-production activities and created a new Paramount television operation.
Aftermath
The operation developed projects, formed producer partnerships, and later became Paramount Television Studios.
Recent events
- 2025
Paramount Television Studios relaunched after Paramount-Skydance merger[1]
M&A
The studio was revived after Paramount Global and Skydance Media combined to form Paramount Skydance Corporation, with television production assets reorganized under the Paramount Television Studios banner.
- 2025
Paramount Television Studios absorbs Nickelodeon Productions and Awesomeness operations[1]
M&A
The relaunched studio took on production activities and future slates associated with Nickelodeon Productions and Awesomeness.
- 2024
Paramount Television Studios operations transferred to CBS Studios[1]
Other
Paramount Global transferred management of Paramount Television Studios to CBS Studios as part of a broader restructuring.
- 2024
Paramount Television Studios shut down after corporate cutbacks[1]
Bankruptcy
After layoffs that eliminated much of the unit's staff, Paramount announced that the studio would close and that current and developing projects would move to CBS Studios.
- 2023
Paramount Television Studios signs Brillstein first-look agreement[1]
Other
The studio entered a multi-year first-look arrangement with Brillstein Entertainment Partners.
- 2021
Paramount Television Studios signs Auriel Rudnick[1]
Other
Auriel Rudnick entered into an overall deal with Paramount Television Studios.
- 2020
Paramount Television becomes Paramount Television Studios[1]
Leadership change
Following the ViacomCBS merger, the revived Paramount Television operation adopted the Paramount Television Studios name.
- 2019
Paramount Television expands production pipeline[1]
Other
Paramount leadership said the television operation was expected to increase its number of series in production and improve profitability.
- 2018
Nicole Clemens appointed president[1]
Leadership change
Nicole Clemens succeeded Amy Powell as president of Paramount Television.
- 2014
Paramount and HBO develop Shutter Island prequel[1]
Product launch
Paramount Television and HBO announced development of Ashecliffe, a proposed prequel to the Paramount film Shutter Island.
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