AceShowbiz - During the tenure of Bob Bakish as CEO of Paramount, the company made notable deals by licensing popular series like Yellowstone and South Park to external buyers in multi-year agreements that attracted significant attention.

Following the merger with Skydance last year, David Ellison assumed leadership of Paramount and addressed Wall Street analysts on Monday regarding the company's strategy. He confirmed that Paramount will continue to license select programming rights to third parties for the foreseeable future.

Ellison highlighted that Paramount is not adopting a uniform approach to content licensing. Instead, the company believes that maintaining partnerships with third-party distributors enhances its appeal to creative talent, making Paramount a more attractive destination for content creators.

This strategic stance contrasts with a full internalization of rights and suggests that Paramount values flexibility in its distribution models. By selectively licensing marquee properties, the company balances control with broader market reach.

These licensing practices come amid a broader industry trend where studios weigh the benefits of direct-to-consumer streaming against third-party deals. Paramount’s approach under Ellison aims to preserve valuable relationships and optimize the value of its content portfolio.

Paramount recently reported meeting its Wall Street first-quarter targets, although streaming subscriber growth slightly missed expectations despite key sports content like UFC. The continuation of selective licensing appears part of the company’s broader strategy to sustain growth and creative partnerships.