The group hosted its traditional screening at its studios in Los Angeles to showcase all of their new productions, featuring big franchise renewals, brand new series, major blockbuster films, entertainment formats, kids’ shows and more.
*With production by Luis Cabrera, from Los Angeles
Kicking off the majors’ screenings in Los Angeles, Paramount Global Content Distribution hosted its traditional screening at the beautiful Paramount Theatre on the Paramount Pictures lot, to showcase a vast list of new and returning titles for the upcoming season.
Lisa Kramer, the groups’ President of International Content Licensing, kicked off the presentation with a few words to emphasize the power of Paramount’s brands and franchises, stating: “CBS Studios is the top producer of successful scripted content for the global marketplace. Its portfolio includes massive franchises, powerhouse procedurals, compelling dramas and fan favorites, that audiences love the world over”.
As an example, the executive highlighted two character-driven procedurals that premiered this past season on CBS, Matlock and Watson, both of which broke viewership records and became the most watched series, not only in the US, but internationally in key countries.
On that same note, another show that continues to shine and is, as Kramer emphasized, “the most watched show in the world”, the original NCIS series saw two spinoffs –NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Sydney– become fan davorits this past fall. And on this occasion, Paramount Global Content Distribution offered a screening of the first episode of NCIS: Tony & Ziva, starring Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo, who were present at the event.
The 7th installment in the NCIS franchise, Tony & Ziva picks up after Ziva’s (de Pablo) supposed death when Tony (Weatherly) left the NCIS team to go raise their daughter. Years later, Ziva was discovered alive, leading her to complete one final mission with NCIS before she was reunited with Tony and their daughter in Paris.
The other screening offered by the group was the first episode of the upcoming comedy series DMV, produced by CBS Studios, and starring Harriet Dyer and Tim Meadows. Based on award winning author Katherine Heiny’s short story, it’s a single camera workplace comedy set at the place everyone dreads going most: the DMV. The quirky and lovable characters are making minimum wage, doing a thankless job where customers are annoyed before they even walk in the door. Good thing they have each other.
The group also highlighted the new upcoming series Boston Blue, produced by CBS Studios in association with JBTV, and starring Donnie Wahlberg, who was also in attendance and shared a few words with the audience. “Boston Blue is a universe expansion of Blue Bloods, which ended its run after 14 years as a success”, said Kramer. Wahlberg will reprise his role as NYPD officer Danny Reagan as he takes a position with Boston PD. Once in Boston, he is paired with detective Lena Peters, the eldest daughter of a prominent law enforcement family.
And on the crime drama side, the distributor presented the upcoming series CIA, which will premiere soon to CBS and was ordered straight to series, produced by Dick Wolf. “Dick Wolf is the legendary producer behind the FBI franchise, the top 5 most watched series globally and it’s been renewed for two more seasons”, Kramer explained. CIA is a one hour crime drama centered on two unlikely partners – a fast-talking, rule-breaking loose cannon CIA case officer (Tom Ellis), and a by-the-book, seasoned and smart FBI agent who believes in the rule of law. When this odd couple are assigned to work out of CIA’s New York Station, they must learn to work together to investigate cases and criminals posing threats on U.S. soil, finding that their differences may actually be their strength.
Continuing with the genre, Kramer announced Sheriff County will premiere this year in the US. The crime drama stars Morena Baccarin as straight-shooting sheriff Mickey Fox, the stepsister of Cal Fire’s division chief Sharon Leone (Diane Farr of Fire Country), who investigates criminal activity as she patrols the streets of small-town Edgewater while contending with her ex-con father and a mysterious incident involving her wayward daughter.
In terms of series, Kramer shared the long list of titles premiering or returning with new seasons this season, such as Ghosts, Crutch, Happy Face, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: Star Fleet Academy, or Colin from Accounts; as well as international productions such as King and Conqueror, Black Crews, Can we Keep a Secret, and Band of Spies, among others.
And undoubtedly one of the group’s biggest hit series, currently standing as Paramount+’s number one show, is Yellowstone, from MTV Entertainment Studios, will continue its success with two spin-offs currently in development: The Dutton Ranch will premiere later this year on Paramount+, and Y: Marshals will premiere on CBS in the US. In addition, the Yellowstone prequel series, 1923, starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, is the second most watched series on Paramount+; and the next Yellowstone prequel series, 1944, will premiere next year.
Other MTV Entertainment Studios highlights are new seasons of Mayor of Kingstown and Tulsa King, Lioness, The Maddison, MobLand, The Agency, Average Jo in South Africa, and the upcoming series M.I.A., which was just announced and will premiere on Peacock in the US.
In terms of formats, the group highlighted cooking competition America’s Culinary Cup, musical competition The Road, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Drew Barrymore Show, the new Hollywood Squares; and unveiled two new game shows: The Perfect Line and Am I the Asshole?.
Lastly, Kramer highlighted the group’s investments in the FAST universe, and announced the launch of two FAST channels for the international market: “FAST global revenues have doubled in the past five years and are expect to grow another 48% by 2029. Paramount Global Content Distribution is producing a portfolio of FAST channels in the US with third-party brands. New for 2025 we are rolling out FAST channels to the international marketplace. The first two: Tony Robbins Network and Wrestling Central”.
Dan Cohen, Chief Content Licensing Officer at Paramount Global, shared the group’s new premieres on the feature film side, starting with titles from Republic Pictures. “The team and I are film lovers at heart and we love to be able to champion independent film-making through the Republic brand”, he said, highlighting two titles: Trust and Friendship.
And from Paramount Pictures, which he said provide “huge IPs and top talent, something powerful for every moviegoer”, he highlighted the upcoming Gladiator 2, Sonic The Hedgehok 3, Novocaine, Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning -which the group will host a special screening of on Monday-, The Smurfs, The Naked Gun revival, Regretting You, The Running Man, and Spongebob Movie 4 for 2025. And in 2026, the group will see the premieres of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Scream, Scary Movie, and Paw Patrol. “We have a lot more in store and can’t wait to share more”, he said.
Lastly, on the kids’ content side, Lauren Marriot, SVP, Content Partnerships & Brand Strategy at Paramount Global Content Distribution, listed what’s in store for the group, including new seasons of Spongebob Squarepants and its spin-off The Patrick Star Show, new episodes and a live-action film for Dora the Explorer, smash-hit Paw Patrol and Rubble and Crew have been renewed for new seasons, as well as a Christmas Special; and new productions for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In terms of brand new titles, she listed Tim Rex in Space (preschool), The Thundermans Undercover (live-action), Super Duper Bunny League, and Wild Pack. And last but not least, she revealed Nickelodeon’s Avatar Studios is producing Avatar: Seven Havens, a new series developed by the original creators of Avatar: The Last Airbender.
To close the event, Lisa Kramer took the stage once again to thank colleagues and partners, and share some words of encouragement in these troubled times for the industry.
“This season we have four new dramas and one new comedy. Our new dramas are all extensions of proven franchises, so while we are all swimming in choppy waters, we offer you the statistically closest thing to safe harbor. We have the right IP, the right producers, and the right talent in place. And we have every confidence that our 2025 slate is going to perform here on CBS and we can’t wait to share that success with you on networks and platforms around the world”, she said.
