ViacomCBS is restructuring its streaming business, naming Tom Ryan, CEO of Pluto TV, president and CEO of ViacomCBS Streaming. In the new role, Ryan will oversee CBS All Access which will rebrand to Paramount Plus in 2021, along with the company’s free streaming service Pluto TV.
Ryan will replace Marc DeBevoise as he steps down from his role, effective immediately. DeBevoise will continue on as an advisor for the rest of this year.
“ViacomCBS has a unique opportunity to combine the best of our brands in a seamless ecosystem of must-watch, direct-to-consumer services for audiences around the world,” said Bob Bakish, President and CEO, ViacomCBS. “As we plan for the launch of Paramount+, bringing together the leaders of our streaming platforms to create a unified global organization will enable us to execute a holistic strategy across both free and pay. We will draw on the breadth and depth of ViacomCBS’s franchises and branded IP to deliver an extraordinary collection of diverse content with the convenience consumers want.”
The shakeup in leadership comes as ViacomCBS prepares to relaunch CBS All Access as Paramount Plus in early 2021. The streaming service will include content from the company’s portfolio, including broadcast, news, sports, and its popular entertainment brands, like MTV, BET, Comedy Central, CBS, Paramount Television Studios, Nickelodeon, and Smithsonian Channel. The service will also include movies from Paramount Pictures.