Prime Highlights
- Paramount is considering closing its Africa offices in Johannesburg and Lagos as part of a worldwide review of its linear TV operation.
- The decision follows the company aligning its focus on streaming platforms and positioning itself for a groundbreaking merger with Skydance Media.
Key Fact
- Paramount Africa now operates 10 regional channels across more than 100 million viewers in 50 countries.
- The changes would impact fewer than 100 workers in South Africa and Nigeria.
Key Background
Paramount Global is in the midst of a strategic overhaul to help it cope with the fast-evolving media world. A large component of this overhaul involves a dramatic worldwide review of its pay-TV business. As part of this, the company is reviewing the possible closure of its Johannesburg, South Africa, and Lagos, Nigeria, offices—two of its most important bases for its African operations. These possible closures may have the additional effect of ending a number of local channels, transforming the entertainment landscape for African viewers.
The move is a sign of the wider industry-wide shift away from linear broadcast TV towards digital and streaming-first platforms. Paramount Africa already runs a suite of channels, including BET, MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and others, that reach over 100 million people across nearly 50 countries. With less than 100 employees in the region, though, the business seems to be focusing on scale and efficiency rather than presence.
The action is part of Paramount’s already announced worldwide cost-cutting program designed to trim more than $500 million. It comes on the heels of previous reductions, including a 15% reduction in staff and the shutdown of Paramount Television Studios. The restructuring pre-empts the company’s $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, which should create substantial operating synergies and refocus the company’s content strategy around streaming.
As Paramount’s positioning with its streaming aspirations continues, at the front is Paramount+, the fate of other international broadcasting assets hangs in the balance. Decisions on markets such as the UK and Australia remain outstanding, though it is the African market that is likely to be the first to suffer from this international reshuffling. Regulatory approval for the Skydance transaction is imminent, and Paramount’s international presence is poised to undergo a profound transformation—one that is weighted in favor of scalability, efficiency, and digital expansion.
