The Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger closed Tuesday, and David Ellison spoke within hours. At a press event on the Paramount lot, the Skydance CEO outlined the company's plan for its two campuses: one dedicated to film production, the other to television and streaming.
According to Deadline, film operations would likely consolidate at the Paramount lot in Hollywood, while television and streaming would move to the larger Warner Bros. facility in Burbank. Ellison would not confirm the exact assignment publicly, but sources told Deadline that the structure follows existing leadership. Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, co-chairs of the motion picture group, are already based at Paramount. Channing Dungey, who heads Warner Bros. Television Group and Skydance's basic cable networks, is already in Burbank.
The transition will require several executives to relocate. George Cheeks, JB Perrette, Casey Bloys, David Stapf, and Matt Thunell are expected to move cross-town with their teams. Consolidating those divisions would return CBS Entertainment, CBS Studios, and CBS Media Ventures to a studio lot after the group vacated CBS Studios Center in 2022.
Ellison named real estate optimization as one of three pillars of the company's $6 billion synergy target, alongside technology and procurement. A settlement from state attorneys general requires Skydance to keep both lots for at least five years.
"We absolutely will keep both lots," Ellison said.
He and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz will split time between campuses during integration, with more time initially in Burbank.