Paramount+ is undertaking a significant strategic restructuring following the 2024 merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media. Under the direction of Jane Wiseman, the streamer’s head of originals, the platform is working to diversify its content portfolio beyond its previous reliance on Taylor Sheridan productions, which have dominated the service since its 2021 rebrand from CBS All Access.
The streaming service, which reported over 81 million subscribers in its latest earnings report, is positioning itself to compete more effectively in the crowded streaming landscape. With new original content expected to begin rolling out in early 2027, Paramount+ is pursuing what executives describe as “destination series” designed to broaden appeal. A key focus involves developing female-forward programming, with recent greenlit projects including the legal thriller Discretion starring Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning, the true-crime limited series Fear Not with Anne Hathaway, and a Clueless sequel featuring Alicia Silverstone. The platform has also greenlit unscripted projects including a dating series from the creators of Love Is Blind and a youth baseball reality show with Kim Kardashian as executive producer.
Beyond female-targeted content, Paramount+ is actively seeking what executives call “grounded genre” projects—science fiction, fantasy, and supernatural stories with strong character development. The streamer appears to be looking for properties comparable to Silo, Severance, and Stranger Things to appeal to international audiences and fans of serialized drama. This represents an effort to diversify beyond Sheridan’s Western-heavy slate while maintaining some continuity with existing viewer bases through projects like the Kenneth Branagh drama Laird and the Jeremy Strong legal drama 9/12.
Paramount+ has greenlit 25 new series over the past 10 months according to studio statements, though industry observers note the platform is maintaining a selective approach rather than pursuing the massive spending strategy some expected when Cindy Holland joined as direct-to-consumer chair. Sheridan’s exclusive television deal moves to NBCUniversal in 2029, giving Paramount+ several years to transition away from the creator’s shows while retaining his existing series on the platform.
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