Group 1 - Paramount Skydance Corp (NASDAQ: PSKY) experienced a surge of over 20% on August 13 after being labeled a "meme stock" by CNBC's Jim Cramer, with shares trading at $12.85 at the time of the comment [1] - By the time of publication, shares of Paramount Skydance were up 22.34%, trading at $13.42, after reaching a peak increase of 27% earlier in the session [1][2] - The stock rally followed the completion of a high-profile merger with Skydance Media, combining Paramount's content library and distribution network with Skydance's production capabilities, now trading under the ticker "PSKY" on Nasdaq [2] Group 2 - Paramount announced a seven-year, $7.7 billion media rights agreement with TKO Group Holdings, making it the exclusive distributor of UFC events in the U.S. starting in 2026, with all events streaming on Paramount+ [3] - The deal is expected to more than double the reported $550 million per year that ESPN currently pays for similar rights [3] - Leadership changes include David Ellison being appointed as Chairman and CEO, supported by a board of ten directors with expertise in media, technology, and finance [4] Group 3 - Seaport Global Securities initiated coverage of the stock with a Neutral rating, highlighting the transformative potential of the Skydance integration [4]

With the merger with Skydance now officially closed , Paramount Global has become Paramount Skydance Corporation (NASDAQ: PSKY ), and new CEO David Ellison hasn't wasted any time in making some big waves. While the details of the promised $2 billion Analyst's Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of PSKY, AMZN either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than ...

Core Insights - Paramount has secured a $7.7 billion deal with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) for streaming and broadcasting rights, shortly after merging with Skydance [1] - The deal is valued at $1.1 billion annually over seven years, starting in 2026, and includes rights to 13 marquee events and 30 "Fight Night" events [2] - This agreement concludes UFC's previous streaming deal with ESPN, which was worth $550 million per year, and eliminates ESPN's pay-per-view model for UFC events [2] Company Developments - The deal was facilitated by David Ellison, who made concessions to appease former owner interests, including those related to Donald Trump and the FCC's approval process [3] - Trump's association with UFC President Dana White and his attendance at UFC events may have influenced the negotiations [3]

Core Insights - Paramount has acquired U.S. rights to TKO Group's UFC for seven years starting in 2026, paying a total of $7.7 billion, averaging $1.1 billion per year [2][3][6] Group 1: Deal Structure and Financials - The deal includes 13 marquee events and 30 "Fight Nights," with streaming available on Paramount+ and select events simulcast on CBS [2] - Payments are structured to be lower in the early years and increase over time [2] - Paramount's previous deal with ESPN averaged $500 million for five years, expiring at the end of 2025 [3] Group 2: Strategic Implications - The elimination of the pay-per-view model is seen as a significant shift, appealing to younger audiences who prefer subscription models [4] - TKO leadership initially planned to sell only "Fight Night" events but negotiated the full package deal rapidly after the merger with Skydance [5] - The acquisition of UFC rights is viewed as a rare opportunity, with limited top-tier sports rights available in the near future [6] Group 3: Market Position and Future Plans - UFC events are attractive for streaming platforms due to their year-round schedule, providing consistent subscription revenue [7] - Paramount is also interested in acquiring international rights to UFC, with a 30-day exclusive negotiation window for each country's rights upon renewal [8]

Core Viewpoint - Paramount Group reported significant leasing activity in its second-quarter earnings call, highlighting a major unreported lease and the overall strength of its New York portfolio, despite some omissions regarding vacant properties [1][4]. Leasing Activity - Paramount leased 690,000 square feet of offices in New York and San Francisco year-to-date, with 52% of these leases occurring in Manhattan [3]. - The starting rents for the leases signed by Piper Sandler and Adler & Stachenfeld were above $90 per square foot [3]. Portfolio Performance - The New York portfolio is currently 88.1% leased, the highest level since early 2022, indicating a strong demand for quality office space in the city [4][7]. - The reported leasing figures do not account for the vacant 60 Wall St., which has 1.6 million empty square feet, potentially skewing the perceived strength of the portfolio [4][7]. Debt and Refinancing - The largest upcoming maturity for Paramount is an $860 million loan on 1301 Sixth Ave., which is backed by high-performing assets that are over 97% leased [8]. - The company is on track to refinance this asset and plans to provide more details in the next earnings call [8]. Future Outlook - Showtime Networks is set to move out from 260,000 square feet at 1633 Broadway next year, but the building has been solidly leased for over 10 years, with active showings currently taking place [8]. - Asking rents at 1633 Broadway range from $70 to $90 per square foot, with positive activity noted in the leasing market [9].

Core Insights - Skydance Media has successfully merged with Paramount Global, creating a new publicly traded entity named Skydance Paramount Corp, valued at $8 billion, despite previous political and shareholder concerns [1][5][10] - The merger aims to revitalize Paramount's legacy brands and streaming services by leveraging Skydance's production and technological expertise [1][4] Company Structure and Leadership - David Ellison, the CEO of Skydance, will lead the new company and has outlined a vision to transform Paramount into a technology-driven organization [2][4] - The company will be restructured into three divisions: studios, direct-to-consumer, and TV media [4] - Jeff Shell, former NBCUniversal CEO, will serve as president, while George Cheeks will oversee the TV Media division [12][15] Financial Aspects - Skydance's acquisition includes a $2.4 billion payment for the Redstone family's controlling 77% stake in Paramount Global, alongside $4.5 billion to non-National Amusements shareholders and an additional $1.5 billion for debt reduction [10][11] - Shari Redstone will receive $180 million in severance and benefits, in addition to her stock holdings [10][17] Strategic Focus - The new leadership emphasizes enhancing streaming services, with plans for Paramount+ and Pluto TV to operate on a unified technology platform by 2026 [16] - The company aims to reinvent its TV Media brand portfolio to adapt to a non-linear viewing environment, focusing on maximizing cash flow for reinvestment [18]

Executive Compensation - The new Paramount has established employment contracts for its executive team, including chairman-CEO David Ellison and President Jeff Shell, with five-year contracts featuring an annual base salary of $3.5 million, a target bonus of $1.5 million, and a one-time restricted stock grant valued at $75 million each [1] - Andrew Brandon-Gordon, EVP, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Operating Officer, will receive a base salary of $2.8 million, a target bonus of $1.2 million, and a one-time restricted stock award valued at $60 million [2] Severance Payments - Outgoing Paramount Global executives Brian Robbins and Chris McCarthy will receive severance payouts, with previous SEC filings indicating payments totaling $18.3 million for McCarthy and $18.6 million for Robbins upon termination and other events [2] - The trio of George Cheeks, McCarthy, and Robbins collectively earned $22.2 million, $19.5 million, and $19.6 million, respectively, for the previous year [3] Merger Completion - The merger between Paramount and Skydance has officially closed, marking a significant transition for the company [3]

Getty Images The media company owned by David Ellison announced the deal over a year ago, but only received FCC approval in July. Skydance Media has closed their deal to purchase Paramount for $8 billion, CEO David Ellison announced Thursday—capping off a tumultuous bid to win regulatory approval and two weeks after the FCC finally greenlit the deal announced in July 2024. Topline ...

Core Insights - Brian Robbins has officially departed from his roles as co-CEO of Paramount Global and President and CEO of Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon, marking the end of a significant tenure that began in 2017 [1][9] Company Performance - During Robbins' leadership, Paramount Pictures achieved 17 No. 1 box office releases, including six in 2022, contributing to one of the studio's most successful years, highlighted by "Top Gun: Maverick," which grossed nearly $1.5 billion globally [1][12] - The studio expanded its franchises, including "Sonic the Hedgehog," "A Quiet Place," "Mission: Impossible," and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," with the latter two generating over $2.5 billion in consumer products revenue in 2023 [1][12] Production and Development - Robbins' administration secured production deals with notable filmmakers and talent, including John Krasinski, Ryan Reynolds, and Damien Chazelle, enhancing the studio's creative output [2] - Upcoming projects include a variety of films such as "A Quiet Place Part III," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem" sequel, and a biopic of Evel Knievel starring Leonardo DiCaprio [4][5] Nickelodeon Achievements - At Nickelodeon, Robbins oversaw the successful anniversaries of "SpongeBob SquarePants" and "Dora the Explorer," while expanding the franchise with new shows and films [7][13] - The network innovated its relationship with sports, introducing AR-driven NFL broadcasts and achieving significant engagement with younger audiences during major sporting events [8][13] Future Outlook - The company is positioned for continued success with a strong pipeline of projects and leadership transition, as Robbins expressed confidence in the incoming team from Skydance [14]

Future directors comprise world-renowned, accomplished leaders from media, technology, and global business LOS ANGELES, Aug. 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Skydance Media today announced the full slate of director designees for Paramount Skydance Corporation ("Paramount"). The directors will be elected and begin serving on the Paramount Board effective at the closing of the proposed merger with Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA, PARAA). The Paramount Board will consist of 10 directors, including three independen ...