Paramount Plans Cost Savings Moves as Streaming Finally Hits Small Profit

Paramount Plans Cost Savings Moves as Streaming Finally Hits Small Profit

As a seasoned gamer with a knack for deciphering financial reports and a soft spot for blockbuster movies, I must say this Paramount earnings report leaves me both intrigued and puzzled. On one hand, it’s impressive to see the company’s DTC segment (that’s streaming for those not in the know) raking in profits and leading the industry in domestic subscriptions. The release of hits like “IF” and “A Quiet Place: Day One” seems to have boosted their numbers significantly.


Paramount is persistently progressing with its aim to save $500 million and achieve long-term profitability through streaming by 2025, as stated in their initial financial report following the announcement of the Skydance agreement.

In their Q2 financial report, Paramount announced a significant increase of 13% in direct-to-consumer earnings compared to the previous year, amounting to $1.8 billion. Additionally, they reported an adjusted profit of $26 million, contrasting last year’s loss of $424 million. This shift in profits is primarily due to higher revenues and reduced expenses related to marketing and content production.

I noticed a drop in my Paramount+ subscriber count by about 2.8 million during the past quarter, leaving us with approximately 68 million active users. This significant decrease, as stated by the company, is largely due to our strategic withdrawal from a bundled subscription agreement in South Korea.

In summary, Paramount recently reported an operating loss of approximately $5.3 billion, compared to a loss of $250 million last year. This significant change is primarily due to a “goodwill impairment” charge totaling $5.98 billion for their cable networks division. This charge arises at a time when Paramount’s estimated market value is being assessed in relation to the Skydance offer, and there’s been a drop in pay TV services.

Last year, the company’s overall revenue decreased by 11% compared to the previous year, amounting to approximately $6.8 billion. The TV Media division experienced a significant drop of 17%, and filmed entertainment saw an 18% decrease. Most notably, the decline in TV revenue was primarily due to a 48% fall in licensing revenues, as well as a downturn in the linear advertising market.

Despite the successes of “IF” and “A Quiet Place: Day One,” box office earnings fell short when compared to the previous year’s release of “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.”

As a passionate follower, I’m thrilled to share that the streaming segment of our beloved company has witnessed a substantial growth! Subscription income surged by 12%, primarily fueled by an increase in yearly subscribers and price hikes for Paramount+, alongside a 16% rise in advertising revenue. This growth is attributed to the expansion of Paramount+ and Pluto TV platforms. Remarkably, Paramount+’s revenue has soared by an impressive 46% compared to last year!

On the 7th of July, Shari Redstone reached an agreement to transfer control of Paramount Global to a group primarily consisting of Skydance (David Ellison’s production firm) and RedBird Capital, led by Gerry Cardinale.

The company currently has a 45-day period where its special board committee, from Paramount, can examine existing offers or look for better ones. According to Paramount’s recent financial announcement, they will not share updates about this process unless they deem it necessary or legally obligated to do so.

Should a genuine contender arise, the go-shop period may be prolonged until September 5th, as stated in the filing. But if Paramount decides against accepting the offer from Skydance, they would be obligated to pay a $400 million termination fee. If this deal gets approved, it is anticipated to be finalized during the first half of 2025.

“The exceptional performance we’ve shown in Q2 underscores our ability to execute our strategic goals. We’re thrilled with our outcomes, particularly the impressive increase in earnings mainly attributable to our DTC sector. Notably, Paramount+ has been at the forefront of the industry for four consecutive years in terms of domestic subscriptions, a feat achieved through our popular TV series and box office movies. The DTC segment’s profit growth over the past year amounts to nearly $900 million, and we anticipate reaching profitability for Paramount+ within the United States by 2025,” stated the company’s co-CEOs, George Cheeks, Chris McCarthy, and Brian Robbins in a communique.

“As we move forward, we’re committed to carrying out our strategic plan, which centers on boosting profitability through enhanced streaming, restructuring our company to achieve at least $500 million in annual savings, and enhancing our financial position by increasing free cash flow and fine-tuning our asset composition. We are optimistic that this plan will foster long-term growth by capitalizing on our extensive library of popular content as we reshape Paramount for the future.”

More to come.

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2024-08-08 23:25