Paramount Leaders Avoid Warner Bros. Questions in Q4 Earnings Call

Paramount Skydance executives avoided discussing their recent bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery as they presented the company’s fourth-quarter 2025 earnings report. The report revealed a decline in the company’s traditional linear TV business but showed growth in Paramount+ and other streaming platforms.

During the earnings call, CEO David Ellison and Paramount president Jeff Shell addressed questions from analysts about the studio’s performance in the fourth quarter. Ellison acknowledged that Paramount’s film slate had underperformed in 2025 and emphasized the importance of revitalizing the studio’s operations.

Dennis Cinelli, Paramount’s new CFO, discussed the 2026 projections for the film business, anticipating a down year overall despite an increased number of theatrical releases. He highlighted the studio’s focus on cost management and licensing deals to drive profitability in the future.

Ellison, who took over Paramount Global last August, expressed confidence in improving the profitability of the film slate in the coming year. He emphasized the need for technological upgrades and indicated plans to significantly increase investment in engineering talent to drive operational improvements.

The executives were also questioned about the growth and profit forecasts for Paramount+ and the company’s Pluto TV platform, which offers free ad-supported streaming channels. Ellison expressed optimism about the growth of the ad-supported streaming space globally and highlighted efforts to enhance monetization on Pluto TV.

Regarding the NFL, Shell reassured analysts that Paramount’s CBS would continue to be a key player in the league’s distribution strategy for games. He expressed confidence in the long-term partnership with the NFL and the regionalization opportunities that CBS offers for Sunday game coverage.

In conclusion, Paramount Skydance’s leadership team remains focused on driving growth and profitability in the face of challenges in the traditional TV business. The company is committed to investing in technological advancements and content to strengthen its position in the evolving entertainment landscape.