Bob Bakish Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Paramount Global is making moves in its advertising division. Jo Ann Ross, a 30 year veteran of the company, has been named chairman of Paramount advertising – an advisory role, with John Halley assuming her previous role as President in the division. As part of Halley’s new role, he will report to Bob Bakish, president and chief executive officer of Paramount.“Jo Ann is a true trailblazer in our industry and a dominant force behind the success of CBS, ViacomCBS, and now Paramount Global,” Bakish said in a statement.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Jo Ann Ross, the TV industry’s first female ad-sales chief, will take a new chairman role at Paramount Global, while John Halley will take on the position of president, overseeing U.S. sales — a major transition at the media company that aims to merge Ross’ close contact with clients with Halley’s expertise in new forms of digital advertising. Halley will report directly to Paramount Global’s CEO, Bob Bakish, while Ross will “provide her expertise and experience in a strategic advisory role to ensure a smooth transition,” the company said in a statement. Ross has been a trailblazer in the TV industry, taking over ad sales for the former CBS Corp. after the departure of Joe Abruzzese in 2002, when he exited to join Discovery Communications. Since that time, Ross has formed one of the most durable ad-sales teams in TV, with executives like Chris Simon, John Bogusz, Linda Rene and Joe Mina staying with her for years. That team is expected to stay at the company at present, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Paramount Pictures chief Brian Robbins wants to boost the studio’s annual theatrical output to 12 to 15 releases, up from its current Covid-affected level of eight this year and 10 to 12 in 2023.

“The Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert” will honor the late Foo Fighters drummer and stream live on Paramount+ in the U.S. and globally on Youtube on Friday, Sep.

Paramount+ will livestream the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert, honoring the late Foo Fighters drummer.

Good afternoon Insiders. We have truly entered holiday season but in TV and film Land things simply don’t slow down. I’m Max Goldbart and here’s your list of the week’s biggest headlines.

Paramount+ is performing “above expectations”  in the UK, Ireland and South Korea, according to Bob Bakish, who forecast a “big year” for Western Europe to come and talked up local language content.

the continued loss of subscribers for the quarter for Netflix earlier this quarter, as well as the Peacock subscribers that stayed flat for the quarter.Though the studio didn’t provide specific viewership figures, it said that “Halo,” “1883,” “The Lost City,” “Sonic the Hedgehog 2,” “Jackass Forever,” “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” and the UEFA Champions League generated strong acquisition and engagement as both domestic and international hours watched per household grew year-over-year. And on the earnings call, CEO Bob Bakish specifically touted “Halo” as a top driver globally for subscribers and acquisitions.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorEven Tom Cruise can’t fly past the costs of making great content.Despite seeing strong revenue gains from its streaming operations and from the success of the sequel to Cruise’s “Top Gun” in theaters, Paramount Global saw profit drop in its second fiscal quarter as it increased investment in new content while seeing decreases in advertising and affiliate fees at its main TV businesses.The owner of the CBS broadcast network, the Nickelodeon cable channel and the Paramount movie studio said operating income fell by 33% in the period, down to $819 million, compared with more than $1.2 billion in the year-earlier period. Revenue during the quarter increased 19% to nearly $7.8 billion, compared with nearly $6.6 billion a year earlier.

Paramount Global said Top Gun: Maverick powered a 126% surge in filmed entertainment revenue last quarter, surpassing Titanic to become the studio’s biggest domestic release of all time.

The mountains are as gorgeous as ever, the deal climate not so much as boutique investment bank Allen & Co. prepares to host its annual Sun Valley retreat. After guests arrive on Tuesday, official activities get under way Wednesday.

As reaction to the Supreme Court’s overturning of abortion rights in America sweeps the nation, Hollywood studios are focusing on the protection of employees’ access to health benefits, including travel. As of yet, they haven’t opined on the controversial decision by the conservative court.

Paramount, Disney, Netflix, Comcast, Sony and Conde Nast will cover the travel costs for employees seeking abortions following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, Variety has confirmed.Disney reached out to employees Friday to state they recognize the “impact” of the Supreme Court’s decision and “remain committed to providing comprehensive access to quality and affordable care” for all Disney employees and their families, which includes family planning and reproductive care, “no matter where they live.”For Disney employees unable to access a medical service, including abortions, in one location, they have a travel benefit that allows for “affordable coverage for receiving similar levels of care in another location.” “Netflix offers a travel reimbursement coverage for full-time U.S.

Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade Friday by informing employees that travel costs to obtain abortions or other reproductive health costs will be covered or reimbursed.

Manori Ravindran International EditorWhatever you do, don’t ask Sylvester Stallone — Mr. Stallone to journalists everywhere — to read off a teleprompter.Stallone stole the show at the Paramount+ U.K.

said in a statement, per Variety.Representatives for Paramount Global did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.Annecchino will be replaced on an interim basis by a collection of Paramount executives, according to the company’s statement. These leaders include JC Acosta (president, International Studios, Streaming and Networks for Southern Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Africa); Maria Kyriacou (president, Australia, Canada, Israel, and U.K.); and Mark Specht (executive VIP and managing director, Central and Northern Europe and Asia).

Paramount Global’s International CEO Raffaele Annecchino has been placed “on leave,” according to an internal note seen by Deadline.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentRaffaele Annecchino, president of Paramount International Studios, Networks and Streaming, is leaving the company.A terse internal Paramount memo obtained by Variety says that JC Acosta, president, International Studios, Streaming and Networks for Southern Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Africa; Maria Kyriacou, president, Australia , Canada, Israel and UK; and Mark Specht, EVP and managing director, Central and Northern Europe and Asia, “will be stepping in as interim heads to lead the international business.”There was no immediate comment from Paramount International on Wednesday.As he rose through the ranks at what is now Paramount Annecchino is known to have had a close rapport with Paramount CEO Bob Bakish, but it appears that this rapport has suddenly gone sour.

“Scale is not about market cap or about how much money you spend on content. It’s about how much money you spend on content that resonate with audiences,” Shari Redstone told Paramount shareholders, promising the company has the scale to compete in a cutthroat media world that’s seen significant M&A over the past year.

Bob Bakish, CEO of Paramount Global, has canceled a scheduled appearance at a media conference this afternoon due to illness. The chief executive had been slated for an afternoon Q&A keynote session at J.P. Morgan’s 47th Annual Global Technology, Media and Communications Conference in Boston.

The strategy to license Yellowstone and other major properties to rival streaming services like Peacock and HBO Max, which Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish has called “unfortunate,” is out the window, according to CFO Naveen Chopra.

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway reported Monday in a securities filing that it has acquired a stake in Paramount Global after acquiring $2.6 billion in Class B shares.

Paramount Global has handed Marco Nobili and Olivier Jollet key new roles as its seeks to turbo-charge expansion of its international streaming services.

It’s Friday again, readers. Jesse Whittock here (for the first time, be gentle), taking you through the week’s top headlines.

Jackass is set to return with a new TV series at Paramount+.The news was confirmed by Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish during an earnings call, according to Variety.“Based off the success of Jackass Forever, we’re working with the creators to continue the partnership with a new series, bringing even more ridiculous antics straight to Paramount+,” Bakish said yesterday (May 3).No further details on returning cast members or potential stunts have been revealed yet, but the project would be hosted exclusively by Paramount+.Next month, Jackass 4.5 will be released on Netflix, featuring unseen footage from Jackass Forever.Like previous film extensions 2.5 and 3.5, Jackass 4.5 will feature behind-the-scenes footage, outtakes, cast interviews and never-before-seen stunts.Johnny Knoxville has previously said he’s retiring from big stunts – a decision influenced by medical advice from his doctor.Speaking to NME, Knoxville said: “I knew going into this movie that this was going to be the last time I was going to do big stunts because I’ve got kids and I’ve had so many injuries. I feel like I could go out good in this film by being my last with big stunts.

Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish said a new Jackass series is in the works based the recent release of the latest film in the franchise.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer“Jackass” is heading back to the small screen, with a new series from the original creators in the works at Paramount+ after to the immense popularity of “Jackass Forever.”“Based off the success of ‘Jackass Forever,’ we’re working with the creators to continue the partnership with a new series, bringing even more ridiculous antics straight to Paramount+,” Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish said Tuesday during the company’s Q1 earnings call Tuesday.“Jackass Forever,” the fourth film in the long-running franchise, debuted at the top of domestic box office in February with a better-than-expected $23.5 million. The film included classic cast members such as Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Dave England, Wee Man, Danger Ehren and Preston Lacy, as well as several new faces, including Rachel Wolfson, Sean “Poopies” McInerney and Jasper Dolphin.

Paramount+ is to launch in the UK and South Korea next month and will be in India next year, Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish has revealed in the past hour.

A new “Jackass” series is in the works for Paramount+, with the show’s original creators working to create the new series, Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish announced Tuesday.No other details were immediately available about the series or whether stars Johnny Knoxville and other original stars would be appearing on screen in the series. “Based off the success of ‘Jackass Forever,’ we’re working with the creators to continue the partnership with a new series, bringing even more ridiculous antics straight to Paramount+,” Bakish said Tuesday during the company’s Q1 earnings call.“Jackass Forever” opened in theaters earlier this year and made $80 million at the global box office.

Paramount+ added 6.8 million subscribers last quarter, as Paramount ended the period with 62 million global streaming subs.

the company, led by CEO Bob Bakish, posted revenue of $7.4 billion and adjusted EPS of $1.52, in part because CBS hosted the Super Bowl in early 2021. Paramount’s stock is down 1% in pre-market trading on the New York Stock Exchange following the results.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorParamount Global said first-quarter profit fell as the company’s investments in content and declines in its traditional business offset gains it made in streaming.The owner of CBS, Showtime and Nickelodeon said revenue for the first quarter fell 1% to $7.32 billion, compared with $7.41 billion in the year-earlier period. Paramount was crimped by comparisons to the year-earlier quarter, which included the broadcast of Super Bowl LV.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterParamount+ and Showtime topped a combined 63 million subscribers at the end of the first quarter, Paramount Global revealed Tuesday. From that new total, 6.8 million are Paramount+ sub additions from Q1.That’s up from the combined 56 million subscribers that the company reported the streamers hit by the end of 2021.

Cynthia Littleton Business EditorParamount CEO Bob Bakish received total compensation last year of $20 million, a drop of nearly $19 million compared to 2020.Bakish took in $3.1 million in salary and another $16.8 million in bonuses.

Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish made $20 million in 2021, a drop from when he made $38.9 million the year prior.Bakish’s pay was disclosed in an SEC filing on Friday for Paramount Global, formerly ViacomCBS. Bakish did not receive a bonus in 2021 or receive any new stock awards, and his total pay came from $3.1 million in salary and $16.8 from a non-equity incentive plan. Unlike other media conglomerates, ViacomCBS did not cut the salaries of its executives in 2020 as the pandemic took hold, though most of his earnings that year came from stock awards in what was ViacomCBS’ full first year.

Paramount Global is raising $1 billion in fresh cash through a bond sale expected to close March 29.