Paramount Skydance (NASDAQ: PSKY) has announced plans to make programming investments exceeding $1.5 billion in 2026 as part of a strategic effort to grow its streaming video business and renew its film studio’s vitality. This investment represents a major commitment to developing a robust content pipeline across streaming and cinematic experiences following its recent $8.4 billion merger, offering a glimpse into how the company is shaping its next phase.
CEO David Ellison, heading the combined enterprise, emphasized the need to revitalize Paramount Skydance’s entertainment assets after a film slate earlier in the year that fell short of expectations. The incremental investment is aimed at strengthening programming through new projects and exclusive deals, reflecting a strategy that acknowledges both the competition streaming platforms face and the evolving preferences of audiences.
The $1.5 billion investment will target original programming as well as strategic partnerships. Recent moves include securing exclusive rights to promising projects such as a James Mangold-directed heist film starring Timothée Chalamet, a multi-year exclusive agreement with the creators of the animated series South Park, and a partnership to bring the Call of Duty video game franchise to the big screen. These initiatives underline the company’s focus on a diverse slate to attract and retain a broad subscriber base.
Alongside content investments, Paramount Skydance is working on digitizing and unifying its streaming infrastructure. The plan is to integrate Paramount+, Pluto TV, and BET+ platforms onto a shared technology stack to reduce costs and improve the user experience. This move is expected to make platform management more efficient and offer seamless cross-service features, which are crucial in an increasingly competitive streaming environment.
The investment plan forms part of a broader financial outlook projecting a total revenue target of $30 billion by 2026, supported by improved profitability in streaming segments alongside efficiency improvements within the company’s operations. Though recent quarterly revenue slightly missed analyst expectations, the company’s forward-facing strategy, boosted by this programming investment, seems to have reassured investors and underscores confidence in long-term growth.
This programming focus is seen as a key element in Paramount Skydance’s efforts to regain momentum as a content provider, balancing the challenges of intense streaming competition with high-quality, differentiated offerings. The company’s decisions also hint at a deliberate push to capitalize on valuable intellectual properties and exclusive content, marking an effort not only to create but to own compelling stories and franchises.
