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July 27, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Money & Work • Media Conglomerate

Paramount Global

Paramount Global was an American mass media and entertainment conglomerate that used the Paramount name as its trade name.

Updated July 27, 20261 min readCited sources

Paramount Global was an American media conglomerate that owned major film, TV, and streaming brands. It operated under the Paramount trade name until merging with Skydance Media in 2025.

What it is

Paramount Global was formed in December 2019 through the merger of CBS Corporation and Viacom. It was renamed from ViacomCBS to Paramount Global in February 2022. The company was controlled by National Amusements, the Redstone family holding company, until its 2025 merger with Skydance Media created Paramount Skydance Corporation.

Key businesses and brands

Its portfolio included Paramount Pictures, CBS, Nickelodeon, MTV, BET, Comedy Central, Showtime, and Simon & Schuster. It also operated streaming services Paramount+ and Pluto TV. These assets spanned filmed entertainment, television networks, and digital streaming.

Why it matters

Paramount Global was a major force in entertainment, controlling iconic film and TV properties. Its 2025 merger with Skydance Media reshaped the industry, and its streaming services remain widely used in Canada and beyond.

In short

  • Formed in 2019 from CBS-Viacom merger.
  • Renamed Paramount Global in 2022.
  • Owned Paramount Pictures, CBS, Nickelodeon, and more.
  • Merged with Skydance Media in 2025.
Canadian angle

Canadian readers may know Paramount mainly through Paramount+ streaming access, Paramount Pictures films, and television channels such as CBS-related and Nickelodeon-branded content distributed in Canada.

Quick questions

What is Paramount?
Paramount is the trade name used by Paramount Global, a former U.S. media conglomerate that owned film, TV, streaming, and publishing businesses.
Who owns Paramount?
Paramount Global was formerly controlled by National Amusements. In 2025, it merged with Skydance Media to form Paramount Skydance Corporation.
Is Paramount a streaming service?
No. Paramount was the parent company. Its streaming services included Paramount+ and Pluto TV.

Sources

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/money/Paramount-Global
    Supports: Founded by the CBS-Viacom merger, former name ViacomCBS, ownership by National Amusements, major holdings, and 2025 merger with Skydance Media.
  2. Paramount — https://www.paramount.com/about
    Supports: Company description, business focus, and Paramount as a media and entertainment company.
  3. Paramount Investor Relations — https://ir.paramount.com/news-releases/news-release-details/viacomcbs-unveils-new-company-name-global-content-slate-and
    Supports: Announcement that ViacomCBS would become Paramount Global and that Paramount+ and the company’s brand portfolio were part of the business.
  4. Paramount — https://www.paramount.com/home
    Supports: Description of Paramount+ as a subscription streaming service and Paramount Pictures as a film studio with a large library.
  5. World Economic Forum — https://www.weforum.org/organizations/viacomcbs/
    Supports: Film brands and television/streaming business segments, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount+ and other labels.