David Ellison is building a new company, and George Cheeks may be getting the biggest job on it. The merged Paramount-Warner Bros. entity is expected to be named Skydance, per the company’s reveal Friday, and speculation suggests Cheeks could oversee all of the combined company’s TV holdings. That would put him in charge of the Paramount cable networks, the CBS broadcast portfolio, and the Warner Bros. TV Group.
Since the streaming leadership was settled, the shape of the TV network and studio side has remained a guessing game. Casey Bloys, the HBO boss, sits at the top of streaming, while Paramount’s direct-to-consumer chief Cindy Holland has stepped away. The spotlight now turns to the traditional Hollywood world of TV networks and studios, where Cheeks and Channing Dungey each command major domains.
Cheeks’ Path to Paramount
Since Skydance took control of the company last August, Cheeks has served as a strong lieutenant in charge of the TV properties under Paramount. Before that, he was one of the three co-CEOs of Paramount Global, and among that triumvirate, he was the sole one who made the transition to the new company.
He has spent many years working in entertainment, joining MTV Networks, which was part of the then-Viacom company, in 1998. There he held several positions, including executive vice president of business affairs and general counsel for the Viacom Music and Entertainment Groups. Later he went to NBC, where he served as president of business operations and late-night programming starting in 2012, before moving up to co-chairman of NBC Entertainment and eventually taking on the role of vice chairman of NBCUniversal Content Studios.
CBS was where he served as president and CEO before moving on. He came back to Paramount in March 2020, marking his second run with the company. That experience now places him in a position to manage both the broadcast and cable operations of the combined enterprise.
The Question of Dungey’s Role
Warner Bros. TV Group is run by Dungey, and it produces over 80 original series for more than 20 platforms, among them HBO, HBO Max and other outlets. The slate she oversees includes the “Ted Lasso,” “Abbott Elementary,” “The Bachelor” franchise, along with “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage,” “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” “The Pitt,” “Running Point,” “Shrinking,” “Rooster,” “The Voice”, and the forthcoming “Harry Potter” series.
This season, the division has secured 13 fresh series orders and 13 series renewals, with “The Pitt” collecting six Emmys along the way — including a second for outstanding drama. Dungey now oversees WBD’s U.S. Networks, which she assumed responsibility for in 2025, a portfolio that includes Discovery Channel, Food Network, HGTV, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Adult Swim, Animal Planet, Cartoon Network, Cooking Channel, HLN, OWN, Science Channel, TBS, TNT, Travel Channel, Tru TV and Turner Classic Movies.
Last month, Variety spoke to Dungey, who said she had met with Ellison in a less formal “getting to know you” setting. Dungey told Variety she wanted to stay with the company after the merger: “I love my team at Warner Bros. Television Group. I love our shows, our talent. And I’ve become very happy in my U.S. networks role, which was something that I didn’t see coming almost two years ago. The best-case scenario for me is something that allows me to continue to play around in both of these spaces.”
The question is whether Cheeks assumes command of the whole TV operation, which would put Dungey in the position of reporting to him or stepping away. Those close to the situation point to a solid working relationship between the two, noting that Warner Bros. TV has long supplied many shows to CBS, including the string of Chuck Lorre comedies that have appeared on the network.
The Integration Problem
The matter of integrating Warner Bros. TV, CBS Studios and Paramount TV Studios stands apart from what happens to Dungey. CBS Studios operates on a large scale, producing over 60 series, while Paramount TV Studios carries a heavy slate that includes the Taylor Sheridan shows.
Cheeks oversees CBS Studios president David Stapf and Paramount TV Studios president Matt Thunell, while Brett Paul of Warner Bros. TV and creative affairs president Clancy Collins White report to Dungey. Warner Bros. TV, CBS Studios and Paramount TV Studios might remain separate labels under that arrangement.
Whether Dungey stays on and reports to Cheeks if he takes over the whole TV business remains the biggest unknown. Their relationship works well, though the combined company’s structure has not yet been settled.
The Reporting Chain
The chain of command is complex. Cheeks oversees the Paramount cable networks and CBS through his current role. Dungey runs the Warner Bros. TV Group and the WBD U.S. Networks division. Stapf and Thunell report to Cheeks, while Paul and Collins White report to Dungey.
Should Cheeks take over the entire TV business, the chain changes dramatically, and Dungey’s role would then become subordinate to hers. The speculation centers on whether Dungey wants that arrangement.
The Timeline So Far
Skydance is now the name of the combined company, following the completion of the merger. The streaming side has found its shape, placing Bloys at the summit while Holland steps away. But the TV operation still lacks a clear leader.
Until next week, when a final structure is not expected to be announced, no firm confirmation has come forward, leaving room for continued speculation.
What This Means for the Industry
The television business continues to generate substantial income, and the merged company’s organization will determine how content flows through the industry. Cheeks has worked in broadcast, cable and streaming, and his position may set the course for how the company functions over many years.
As Dungey herself put it, the most hopeful outcome would let her keep competing in both arenas. Whether that actually comes to pass rests on Ellison’s judgment and how Cheeks and Dungey relate to each other.
Key Facts Box
- Company name: Skydance (revealed Friday)
- Streaming lead: Casey Bloys (HBO boss)
- Direct-to-consumer exit: Cindy Holland (Paramount)
- New company reveal: Friday
- TV structure announcement: Expected next week
- Warner Bros. TV series: More than 80, across 20 platforms
- CBS Studios series: More than 60
- Paramount TV Studios slate: Includes Taylor Sheridan shows
- “The Pitt”: Six Emmys, including outstanding drama
The doubt is genuine, yet the arrangement has not been settled. The attention will turn to next week’s statement to determine if Cheeks receives the increased assignment and if Dungey remains or yields his position.
Source material: “George Cheeks May Be Poised for Expanded TV Role at Skydance Post Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger,” Variety.
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