BET remains in Paramount Skydance fold

Paramount Skydance confirms BET will stay in the group and outlines a streaming driven growth plan.

BET Networks No Longer for Sale

BET Networks will remain within Paramount Skydance as executives said the unit will not be sold to third parties. The new leadership group, led by David Ellison, described BET and its franchises as core assets that will be kept intact in the newly formed company.

Ellison outlined a growth strategy that focuses on investing in Paramount Pictures, CBS and the Paramount+ streaming platform, while also consolidating Pluto TV with Paramount+. He said the goal is to operate the big brand portfolio as one enterprise to cut costs and broaden reach, with Nickelodeon and family content highlighted as central to that effort.

During the Q&A, Cindy Holland, who leads streaming operations, signaled that the programming budget for Paramount+ will rise to stay competitive with rivals, while she added that made for streaming movies are not a priority. The finance side of the deal was underscored by Gerry Cardinale of RedBird Capital, who praised the team and warned that the investment will be substantial and long term. The overall message from the regime is clear: bet on scale and on a unified streaming strategy rather than asset divestitures.

The decision to keep BET within the fold reflects a broader shift toward asset consolidation in a streaming dominated era. By tying Pluto TV to Paramount+, the new leadership is betting on bundled reach and cost savings rather than chasing quick asset sales. This approach could reshape how the company competes with tech driven platforms that prize scale and data advantages. Yet big bets come with risk: financing, projected returns and the cultural alignment across a large, multi brand portfolio will face intense scrutiny from investors and analysts. The coming quarters will test whether a unified strategy translates into meaningful growth for subscribers and advertisers.

Highlights

The market will judge whether the new regime can turn bold bets into durable growth.