Paramount Global (NASDAQ:PARAA), formerly known as ViacomCBS prior to its rebranding in early 2022, is a publicly traded media and entertainment company that develops, produces and distributes content across multiple platforms. Headquartered in New York City, the company operates a diverse portfolio of businesses spanning film, television, streaming services, live sports and news. Its film division, Paramount Pictures, is one of the major Hollywood studios, while its television assets include the CBS broadcast network and a suite of cable channels such as Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central and BET.
The company’s streaming efforts are anchored by Paramount+, a subscription video-on-demand service that offers original scripted series, movies, news and sports programming. In addition to Paramount+, the company provides free, ad-supported streaming through Pluto TV, which features live channels and on-demand library content. Paramount Global also maintains a strong presence in live sports via CBS Sports and in news through CBS News and its affiliated local television stations.
Paramount Global was formed in late 2019 through the merger of Viacom and CBS Corporation, a strategic combination aimed at uniting complementary content libraries and distribution networks under one corporate structure. The merger brought together decades of television broadcasting heritage with Paramount’s theatrical film expertise, creating a broad content pipeline for linear and digital distribution. The company is overseen by Executive Chair Shari Redstone and led by President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Bakish.
With operations spanning North America, Latin America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, Paramount Global serves audiences around the world through licensing agreements, joint ventures and wholly owned subsidiaries. Its businesses extend beyond visual entertainment to include consumer products, live events and digital publishing, positioning the company as an integrated media enterprise structured to compete in an increasingly convergent global market.
