CBS could broadcast more live sports under new ownership by Paramount Global

Assuming Skydance Media’s acquisition of Paramount Global goes through next year, longtime media executive Jeff Shell will take over Paramount, with potentially massive implications for CBS and the sports world.

Shell comes from NBC Universal, where he was CEO from 2019 to 2023, and placed a focus on sports across all parts of the company’s portfolio. According to CNBC’s Alex Sherman and Lillian Rizzo, Shell is expected to maintain that focus when it acquires Paramount, giving it control of CBS and Paramount+.

Shell could use Sports to drive a revamp of the 10 p.m. time slot. At NBC, Shell openly considered giving this slot to local affiliate programs and thus saving production costs. Executives there rejected the idea because the station was still making money from such shows law and orderwhich also served as an introduction to his signature Tonight’s show.

Now Shell could revive this strategy at CBS as part of a cost-cutting dictate. While CBS has hits like NCIS And FBIShell may have broader power to restructure than he did at NBC.

This is where sports come into play.

CNBC reports that no CBS Sports employees were involved in the layoffs at Paramount in September. Based on its collection of college basketball and football, golf and NFL rights, “it would not be surprising to see Shell move away from CBS entertainment programming and toward sports programming, even in prime time when those opportunities arise.” , CNBC reported.

Sports remain one of the only draws when it comes to live television, and Shell’s potential plans at Paramount would only reinforce that trend.