Skydance TV Unifies Studios, Sports, and News Under George Cheeks

Key points

• George Cheeks announced the new Skydance TV leadership team on October 28, 2026, following the closure of the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger.
• Channing Dungey will lead Warner Bros. TV Studios and oversee the combined 50-plus cable channels, including HGTV, Food Network, TNT, BET, and MTV.
• David Stapf continues to lead CBS Studios, which now houses See It Now Studios as a label, while Matt Thunell remains head of Paramount Television Studios.
• Bryon Rubin has been appointed Chief Operating Officer, expanding his role to include oversight of the CBS Television Stations group and domestic syndication.
• David Berson leads the Global Sports Group, managing rights for the NFL, UEFA Champions League, and other major leagues across CBS, TNT, and WBD Sports.
• Tom Cibrowski continues to oversee CBS News operations, with a focus on strengthening morning and evening news ratings.

Background

The Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, valued at $110 billion, officially closed in early October 2026, creating Skydance. Prior to this announcement, George Cheeks and JB Perrette had been established as co-chairs of Skydance TV, with Cheeks focusing on content and Perrette on business operations. The new structure formalizes the integration of the two companies’ television assets, including the consolidation of cable networks and the unification of sports rights. The company faces significant debt, with net debt estimated at $80 billion, and is pursuing $6 billion in annualized cost savings, which may include layoffs.

How outlets are covering it

The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline both emphasize the retention of familiar faces from Paramount and WBD leadership, highlighting the stability of the new structure. Variety focuses on the broader financial integration, noting that Bryon Rubin’s transition from CFO of TV Media to COO of Skydance Television is part of a larger effort to streamline operations and achieve cost savings. ADWEEK highlights the parallel appointment of Jay Askinasi’s advertising leadership team, indicating a coordinated approach to revenue generation across the merged entity. All sources agree that the new structure aims to maximize the value of the combined portfolio, but they differ in emphasis: THR and Deadline focus on content and studio leadership, while Variety and ADWEEK highlight financial and revenue operations.

Why it matters

The consolidation of Skydance TV’s leadership signals a move toward a unified command structure for the newly merged media giant, aiming to streamline decision-making and maximize the value of its combined assets. The appointment of familiar faces from Paramount and WBD suggests a focus on stability and continuity, while the expansion of roles for executives like Bryon Rubin and Channing Dungey indicates a push for operational efficiency. The new structure also reflects the company’s efforts to integrate its cable, broadcast, and sports assets, which is critical for achieving the projected $6 billion in annualized cost savings and managing the $80 billion in net debt. This move is likely to have significant implications for content strategy, advertising revenue, and the overall competitive position of Skydance in the media landscape.

What to watch

Skydance TV is expected to continue sharing more information about its structure and integration plans in the coming weeks. The company is likely to focus on achieving its projected $6 billion in annualized cost savings, which may include several rounds of layoffs. The new leadership team will work to integrate the combined cable, broadcast, and sports assets, aiming to maximize the value of the portfolio and strengthen its competitive position. The company is also expected to continue its efforts to streamline operations and improve efficiency, as it navigates the challenges of integrating two large media companies.