George Cheeks Expected to Lead Combined TV Operations at Skydance Following Paramount-Warner Merger

Paramount TV media chair George Cheeks is reportedly positioned to take on an expanded television oversight role within the newly formed Skydance entity, which will result from the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, Variety has learned.

The combined organization, revealed Friday under the Skydance name, has sparked significant speculation regarding its leadership structure. While Skydance declined to comment on the reporting, Cheeks has long been viewed as a key lieutenant managing Paramount’s television properties since Skydance assumed control of the company last August. He is also the only one of Paramount Global’s three former co-CEOs to transition into the new corporate hierarchy.

Interest in the organizational chart has intensified following recent decisions on streaming leadership, which placed HBO head Casey Bloys at the helm while Paramount direct-to-consumer chief Cindy Holland exited the company. Observers have been debating how traditional television networks and studios, a major revenue source, will be managed under the new regime.

Attention is focused on what Skydance chairman David Ellison plans for both Cheeks and Warner Bros. Television Group chairman Channing Dungey. Both executives are highly regarded and command substantial operations. One leading theory suggests Cheeks could assume control over the entire television portfolio of the merged firm.

A final structural announcement is not anticipated until next week. If Cheeks secures oversight of the full television business, the pivotal question will be whether Dungey chooses to stay and report to him. Insiders indicate the two share a positive professional relationship, bolstered by years of Warner Bros. TV supplying hit series to CBS, including the popular comedies from Chuck Lorre.

Dungey’s tenure at Warner Bros. Television Group has been marked by significant success. Her division produces over 80 original series for more than 20 platforms, including HBO, Max, and various cable networks. Her slate includes hit shows such as “Ted Lasso,” “Abbott Elementary,” “The Bachelor” franchise, “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage,” “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” “The Pitt,” “Running Point,” “Shrinking,” “Rooster,” “The Voice,” and the upcoming “Harry Potter” series. This year alone, the division has secured 13 new series orders and 13 renewals. Additionally, “The Pitt” recently won six Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series.

In 2025, Dungey also assumed responsibility for WBD’s U.S. networks, a vast collection 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, TruTV, and Turner Classic Movies.

Last month, Dungey told Variety that her meetings with Ellison were primarily introductory. She expressed a strong desire to remain with the company, stating, “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.”

Some industry observers have floated the idea of splitting responsibilities between networks and studio operations. However, if Cheeks takes the top TV role, questions remain about how Warner Bros. TV, led by president Brett Paul and creative affairs president Clancy Collins White, CBS Studios, led by president David Stapf, and Paramount TV Studios, led by Matt Thunell, will be integrated.

CBS Studios is a substantial producer of more than 60 series, while Paramount TV Studios maintains a heavy lineup featuring Taylor Sheridan projects. Currently, Stapf and Thunell report to Cheeks, while Paul and Collins White report to Dungey. It remains possible that the three studios could operate as separate labels under the new structure.

Cheeks previously served as president and CEO of CBS before joining Paramount in March 2020. This marks his second period with the company; he initially joined MTV Networks, a Viacom unit, in 1998, later serving as executive vice president of business affairs and general counsel for Viacom Music and Entertainment Groups. Prior to returning to Paramount, he spent several years at NBC, holding roles as president of business operations and late-night programming, co-chairman of NBC Entertainment, and vice chairman of NBCUniversal Content Studios.