Paramount Is Exploring Potential Partnerships In Reviving MTV

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The Paramount CEO is keen to revive the once-iconic brand, and is talking to major companies and music industry figures about strategic partnerships, including an economic stake in MTV, per Bloomberg. Such a strategic deal could give it expanded access to music rights or artists.

When MTV launched 45 years ago, it debuted with a music video of The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star.”

It was a statement about the state of the music business, with MTV carving out a niche as the home for music on TV sets, and helping to create the music video format, which dominated its lineup (alongside other music-related programming) for the next few decades.

Now, of course, music videos are as popular than ever, but their home is YouTube (and to a lesser extent, TikTok, Instagram, Spotify, and Apple Music), while MTV shut down MTV News, and has more recently been a repository for aging reality TV shows like Jersey Shore, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Catfish and Ridiculousness.

With Paramount canceling Ridiculousness last year, the brand has been preparing for a wholesale reboot, and now we have a sense of what Ellison has in mind: Bringing back the music.

The music, of course, never left entirely. The MTV Video Music Awards remain one of the few cultural touchpoints for the music industry, and attracts the biggest stars in the business (even if the viewership has largely migrated to its simulcast on CBS, and Paramount+ on streaming).

But other than that, the music has mostly been silenced, and that appears poised to change. That is a big reason why, around New Year’s Eve, posts went viral on Instagram, TikTok, X and LinkedIn about MTV shutting down. It wasn’t (the company was just shutting down a few ancillary music-only channels in the U.K.), but the reaction from people underscored what everyone seems to realize: The brand’s best days were in its past.

Ellison seems to be heeding the call by Tom Freston, the legendary media executive who helped build MTV to be the powerhouse that it was at its peak.

Freston told The Hollywood Reporter in November that he had dinner with Ellison and some of his senior executives to discuss the brand.

“I had a meeting with David and Jeff Shell and a couple people,” Freston recalled. “They had a lovely dinner — me and [former colleagues] Judy McGrath and Doug Herzog and Jason Hirschhorn just before they made the purchase. It was due diligence on their part. They were like, ‘You guys were there in the golden age. We don’t know what’s happened?’ I said, ‘First of all, when they sawed the ‘music television’ off the bottom of the logo, they lost me.’ But all the music people had left and MTV didn’t have any real value as a music brand. I don’t know if you can resurrect it, but I think you might be able to.”

MTV the cable channel may or may not survive the entertainment business’ perilous transition to streaming, but MTV the brand has a shot.

“One, they have a huge library of shows. The Unpluggeds and some of the reality shows were pretty good,” Freston added. “They also have a huge library of music videos and MTV News — everything that happened from 1980 on. So, why couldn’t you do some kind of digital curation thing? Anyway, I’m really happy to see Ellison there. I mean, if someone was going to buy Paramount, the Ellisons got my vote.”

And bringing a music publisher like Warner Music Group or Universal into the fold, or perhaps even a streaming player like Spotify or Amazon Music, could help resurrect a cable brand that had seemingly been left for dead.

Executives at NBCUniversal frame Bravo as a brand that represents a particular type of lowbrow-highbrow reality TV, and that even if the channel vanished, the brand could live on. Paramount executives clearly think they can pull those same levers at the former MTV Networks cable channels.

But the exact strategy, and what partners might want to buy in, will determine that trajectory.

Sky New Zealand Launches Two New Channels To Replace Paramount's Offering And Cartoon Network

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Sky New Zealand is launching two new self-branded channels to replace Paramount’s Nickelodeon, Nick Jr, Comedy Central and Cartoon Network, which are ceasing transmission from early December.

The new offerings, Sky Comedy and Sky Kids, will carry programming from the expiring channels in addition to new shows from a range of studios and locally commissioned content.

“Kids and comedy programming are at the heart of Sky’s entertainment offering. By bringing these important channels ‘in-house’ we can choose and curate the content that we know our customers enjoy and engage with, combining Paramount fan favourites with content from other studios,” said Fiona Murray, Sky NZ’s head of entertainment.

Sky Comedy will feature Comedy Central content including the final season of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, South Park, The Daily Show and Beavis & Butt-Head, in addition to retro classics including Cheers, Reno 911!, Nathan For You and Key & Peele.

Sky Kids is being pitched as offering educational programming for preschoolers through to primary school-age children. Former Nickelodeon and Nick Jr content will be included alongside “a strong slate of local programming.”

The new outlet will complement the existing CBeebies channel, providing local content including Katie’s Kuri and The Last Moa, as well as multiple seasons of home-grown hits such as Kiri & Lou, The Drawing Show, Extreme Cake Sports and Secrets at Red Rocks.

Sky NZ said some content from the axed channels will continue to be available via on-demand on the new Sky Experience service across the Sky Box and Sky Pod platforms. Cartoon Network content will continue to be available on-demand through the HBO Max hub via the Sky Entertainment package.

The broadcaster has also partnered with Mood TV to bring two new local music channels to its channel line-up, Juice TV and J2, which effectively replace MTV Hits and MTV 80s. In line with the global shutdown of the MTV brand, the music channels will no longer be available via linear in New Zealand.

In October, it was announced that MTV linear channels would progressively shut down in the UK, Poland, France and Brazil. In Australia, the MTV brand has suffered a similar fate, with its channels having been shut down weeks ago by OTT provider Fetch TV. Paramount owned Australian channels MTV 80s, MTV 90s, MTV 00s, MTV Club and MTV Hits which were previously carried by Foxtel in a deal that was not renewed.

All changes to Sky NZ programming take effect from December 2.

Ridiculousness Cancelled On MTV After 46 Seasons

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“Ridiculousness” has been canceled at MTV after 14 years and 46 seasons.

The comedy clip series, hosted by Rob Dyrdek, will continue into 2026 with previously shot first-run episodes, but no new episodes will be produced moving forward. Season 46 will be the last installment of the series as reruns continue to air on MTV and select seasons stream on Paramount+.

According to a source familiar with the decision, the cancellation comes as MTV (which is under the Paramount umbrella) looks to feature “a more curated slate of content” that “embraces its experimental DNA” and represents “different creative voices” and a “refreshed programming.”

What that means is unclear, including whether this is a sign MTV will pull back from its over reliance on “Ridiculousness” in its schedule.

With more than 1,700 episodes, “Ridiculousness” is one of the longest-running series in MTV history. Its reruns have long dominated MTV’s linear programming, as the network pulled back from original content and eliminated any remaining music-oriented fare. As Variety reported in 2020, the series has taken up as much as 113 hours (or more) a week out of the network’s 168-hour lineup. To many, the show became a symbol of the zombie-fication of MTV and its lack of original programming.

One day before news of the cancellation broke, Bloomberg reported that MTV was paying Dyrdek, a former professional skateboarder, at least $32.5 million per year, according to court documents reviewed by the publication.

Per Bloomberg, that paycheck includes bonuses, a $21,000-per-episode executive producer fee and an escalating $61,000-per-episode on-camera fee. (Those fees add up when the network orders hundreds of new episodes per year.)

“Ridiculousness” debuted in August 2011 and was co-hosted by Chanel West Coast and then Lauren “Lolo” Wood. The series showcases viral videos of failed stunts and “Jackass”-style buffoonery, as Dyrdek and co. deliver comedic analysis and mockery.

Killing “Ridiculousness” marks a big cutback for the network as Paramount restructures its brands after its $8 merger with David Ellison’s Skydance.

Catfish: The TV Show Currently Seen On MTV And eReality Has Been Cancelled After 9 Seasons

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“Catfish: The TV Show” is dead in the water.

The reality show that investigated deceptive online relationships has been canceled at MTV after nine seasons. The network is allowing the producers to shop the series elsewhere.

Hosted by Nev Schulman, “Catfish” helped people discover the truth about their suspicious digital romances — and sometimes come to terms with the person on the other side of the computer screen. The series is based on Schulman’s 2010 documentary of the same name, which coined the term “catfish” for someone who uses a false identity or stolen photos to deceive others on the internet.

Developed by Schulman, Ariel Schulman and Max Joseph, “Catfish: The TV Show” debuted in 2012 on MTV and ended with Season 9 in July 2024. Nev Schulman and Joseph co-hosted the show for its first seven seasons. In 2018, Joseph was replaced by a rotating list of presenters, including Elle King, Nick Young and Machine Gun Kelly. Eventually, Kamie Crawford joined as a permanent host, joining Schulman for 96 episodes.

“Catfish” not only gave a name to the phenomenon of digital deception. The series also spawned international spinoffs in Colombia, Chile, Brazil, Mexico and the United Kingdom. Its legacy continues on-screen: a recent episode of “The Paper” centered on an employee being catfished by someone impersonating a celebrity, and the current No. 1 documentary on Netflix is titled “Unknown Number: The High School Catfish.”

Since the end of Season 9, the status of “Catfish: The TV Show” was up in the air, as it had not received a renewal or cancellation from MTV amid the restructuring of the Paramount merger. Last month, Schulman announced he had earned his real estate broker’s license and would be helping people buy and sell homes in New York.

MTV Entertainment Studios, Home To Ridiculousness And Catfish: The TV Show Is Shutting Down

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A year ago, Paramount Television Studios was shuttered in a cost-cutting move as its parent company prepared to merge with Skydance.

With that deal on the verge of closing, the new Paramount is reviving the Paramount TV Studios name — which will in turn absorb one of the company’s two remaining studio operations as well as the formerly independent Skydance Television.

Skydance TV president Matt Thunell is set to lead Paramount TV Studios, reporting to Dana Goldberg, the newly named co-chair of Paramount Pictures (with Josh Greenstein) and chair of Paramount Television.

The reconstituted Paramount TV Studios will house productions currently under Showtime/MTV Entertainment, the home of prolific creator Taylor Sheridan (the Yellowstone-verse, Landman et al), key Showtime series like the Dexter franchise and Yellowjackets, and Netflix’s Emily in Paris, among others. It will also be home to Skydance productions including Prime Video’s Reacher and Cross — which were co-productions with the former Paramount TV Studios.

Paramount announced in August 2024 that PTVS, then led by Nicole Clemens, would shut down. Its productions — including the aforementioned Reacher and Cross and Apple TV+’s Murderbot — moved to CBS Studios. The shutdown was part of a wave of cost-cutting moves, which included hundreds of layoffs, in the year-plus leading up to the merger, which is set to formally close on Aug. 7.

Former Paramount co-CEO Chris McCarthy previously headed Showtime/MTV Entertainment but will not remain with the merged company after the deal closes. Keith Cox, head of scripted at Showtime/MTV Entertainment, is expected to stay on; Cox has a long working relationship with Sheridan and David C. Glasser, the head of 101 Studios which co-produces Sheridan’s shows and Showtime’s The Agency.

Thunell became president of Skydance TV in late 2022 after nearly eight years at Netflix, where he oversaw development and production of series in the U.S. and Canada.

Former Paramount co-CEO George Cheeks will have CBS Studios in his portfolio as the merged company’s chair of TV media, which also includes the CBS network and the company’s cable channels.

Skydance Media Plans To Merge Their Operations With Paramount Global, Could This Have An Everlasting Affect On Nickelodeon And MTV?

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As some readers are aware, Shari Redstone is looking to sell her shares in Paramount Global home to MTV and Nickelodeon. Currently, Skydance Media and Sony Pictures Television in a joint bid with Apollo Global Management are battling it out.

The Sony-Apollo deal has garnered a lot of media scrutiny as insiders report a possible dismemberment of their linear portfolio. With Paramount Studios being merged onto Sony Pictures Television current offering and studio lots auctioned off.

Skydance Media proposal is said to be favorable because unlike Sony-Apollo they wouldn't go through any regulatory hurdles for foreign ownership. Their plan would be to merge their operations with Paramount Global of course the finer details haven't been outlined. 

From what several sources uncovered, Skydance Media is planning to merge/bundle Paramount+ with another streaming service. It is no secret that Netflix and Disney+ have been edging out the competition so it's likely they're looking after Paramount’s interests. 

Skydance Media has worked with Paramount Global on several projects such as Mission: Impossible, Transformers, Top Gun, Jack Reacher and Star Trek.

If anything, we presume a possible merger between Skydance Media and Paramount Global could lead to a reduction of content or at least for its linear portfolio. As mentioned, Skydance wants to merge Paramount+ with another streaming service. 

On top of that they've got several projects in development and with Paramount Pictures they'll expand on that. Prior to acquisition talks, Netflix had licensed various content from Nickelodeon like Saving Bikini Bottoms: The Sandy Cheeks Movie and Fairly OddParents: A New Wish.

Although Sony-Apollo would lead to the purging of TV channels outside of regulatory confinement. These channels could lose credibility under Skydance Media and serve as second fiddle to the endeavors licensed to Netflix or even Apple TV+.

Byron Allen Looking To Make MTV, Nickelodeon And Comedy Central "Cost Efficient", How Does This Impact Paramount Global's Linear Channels?

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Last year, Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global were reportedly in talks for a potential merger. Fast forward to the present, Shari Redstone is looking to sell her shares at Amusement Park with Skydance that has collaborated with the company on various films making their bid with Byron Allen topping them.

As reported sometime ago, Allen Media Group made a proposal to acquire Paramount Global for $30 billion (R562 billion) part of which helps them cover up pending debts. Should this deal move forward, they would keep TV channels and the Paramount+ streaming service intact while selling off film studios and other intellectual properties.

The impact on TV channels in the United States

Byron Allen, the founder of Allen Media Group is looking to make these brands cost effective. Selling off "film studios and other intellectual properties" is another way to minimise expenses. It's not really known whether Allen will look to retaining various content from Nickelodeon and MTV.

Similar to CW, it's likely that we'll be seeing Nickelodeon and MTV relying more on third party content and possibly distributing even lesser originals. As mentioned, he was looking to run them on a more "cost-efficient basis". Nickelodeon has garnered popularity for shows like SpongeBob SquarePants and The Loud House, MTV on the other features shows like Teen Mom and Ridiculousness.

The impact on TV channels on a wider spectrum

With Nickelodeon and MTV getting less content, Paramount will likely look into closing channels across the country. This was likely implied when they mentioned selling off "film studios and other intellectual properties" I mean the company in question doesn't have much international presence.

There's always chances that they could retain a portion of channels such as Comedy Central and BET while secondary networks like Nicktoons and MTV Base cease to exist as they won't be much content to supplement the existing line-up of channels.

But then again Sony once offered linear services across the country before closing down most feeds while a few such as the UK were put under different management. Disney had been reducing the carbon footprint for Disney Channel while it continues to operate in the United States.

The future of SpongeBob SquarePants and Ridiculousness

As mentioned, Allen is looking to sell their film studios and it's possible that they could retain the more relevant brands such as Nickelodeon Animation Studios and sell majority of Paramount Pictures. There's been various companies that had their eye on their studios such as Netflix, Skydance, Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney perhaps one of them could look into acquiring.

As for the content in general, Paramount's remaining offering could be licenced to various local broadcasters I mean should these channels not have much of a presence globally.

Paramount, Home To MTV And Nickelodeon Reportedly Up For Sale or Merger

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Recently, Paramount, the parent company of Nickelodeon and Paramount+, has been looking to sell some of its assets and make cuts to others. Now, according to a report from CNBC, Shari Redstone, president of National Amusements and controlling shareholder of Paramount Global, is open to a merger or selling the company if the price is right.

Shari Redstone owns roughly 80% of Paramount Global voting stock and was reportedly the main force behind merging CBS and Viacom back in 2019. That merger resulted in the company we now know as Paramount.

Paramount holds a lot of assets that would attract many potential buyers. Its local affinities and the CBS network alone are highly attractive, especially for their NFL contract. However, the company has a lot more to offer, including Nickelodeon, Paramount+, MTV, Pluto TV, Comedy Central, Showtime, and more. This also includes popular shows and franchises like SpongeBob SquarePants, Star Trek, South Park, and more.

In recent years, most media companies, including Paramount, have been struggling with the growth of  cord cutting. Paramount’s market capitalization has reportedly dropped to $7.7 billion as 2023 hit many media companies hard. That is the lowest level it has been at since the 2019 Viacom and CBS merger. That drop could make the company a target for a merger or a sale.

According to CNBC’s sources, any potential deal for Paramount would have to be at a good price or the Redstone family wouldn’t accept it. Exactly what that price is was not disclosed in the report.

Paramount has a lot going for it right now, with Paramount+ hitting 61 million subscribers, a number that other major streaming services could only dream of. It also has very lucrative sports deals, including the NFL, March Madness, and a new deal with the Big Ten that will see more college football and basketball games on CBS. This could help Paramount outlast any further drop in the market, but it also makes it very attractive to potential buyers.

Some outsiders have said they believe Paramount is too small in the long run, though, to compete with Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, NBCUniversal, and a growing number of streaming companies like Amazon along with Apple. Even with its large catalog of shows and networks Paramount is facing massive companies like Disney and the newly merged Warner Bros. Discovery.

For years we have heard predictions that there would be consolidation in the market because of cord cutting. Disney’s deal to buy 21st Century Fox was likely only the start of what could be a number of big mergers. We also saw Discovery and Warner Media merge recently. Now, there are rumors that Warner Bros. Discovery and even NBCUniversal could be interested in buying up some or all of their competitors. Could that mean they are looking at Paramount? For now, we will have to wait and see.

Foxtel To Close Down MTV In Australia Amidst Streaming Shift

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This development follows the recent news that viewers will also miss out on children’s favourites, Nickelodeon and Nick Jr.

MTV has been a beloved destination for fans of reality TV series such as Geordie Shore, Teen Mom, and The Hills New Beginnings. The distribution of all three channels to Foxtel was overseen by Paramount ANZ.

A Foxtel spokesperson explained the decision, noting the drastic shifts in viewing patterns over recent years.

“With audiences flocking to on-demand and streaming options, and an increasing array of third-party apps now a part of Foxtel, our channel offerings have been adapting to reflect these new habits,”

While MTV’s reality content may be departing, music enthusiasts can take solace. MTV’s musical channels will continue to be accessible to Foxtel subscribers, with MTV Classic set to undergo a rebranding as ‘MTV 80’s’ from the start of August.

The departure of MTV reality programming from Foxtel comes at the same time industry speculation is indicating Channel 10 is preparing to add a dedicated MTV to its 10play streaming platform.

A spokesperson told sources,

“All the MTV content that audiences know and love will now have a home across all Paramount’s owned and operating platforms.

Further details will be made available soon.”

The reduction in channels at Foxtel comes as the pay-tv platform looks to offset its significant programming costs by moving toward an aggregation model.

Such moves underscore Foxtel’s approach of embracing third-party services, allowing them to forego the need for exclusive content investments. In a telling statistic, over two-thirds of Foxtel subscribers also use at least one other streaming service.

The company’s data highlights a shift from traditional channels to an increasing preference for On Demand.

“A diverse pipeline of content is slated for on-demand, from our international studio partners, as well as a burgeoning array of Australian originals.

Foxtel’s IQ set-top boxes now offer 14 integrated apps, reflecting this trend, with more additions anticipated soon. The seamless incorporation of services like Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and ABC Kids, among others, demonstrates Foxtel’s commitment to keeping pace with the ever-evolving entertainment sector.

Paramount Division Run By Chris McCarthy Lays Off 25% Of Domestic Staff; MTV News Among Units Shut Down

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In the latest wave of industry layoffs, the recently combined Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios as well as Paramount Media Networks, overseen by the division’s President and CEO Chris McCarthy, is reducing its domestic team by 25% today. McCarthy addressed the cuts, which he called a “very hard but necessary decision”, in a company memo.

According to sources, the basic cable networks were most heavily impacted, with a number of units being shut down as part of consolidation, mostly on the operations side.

Also folding is MTV News, the news production division of MTV, which was launched in the late 1980s. The unit already had undergone significant downsizing over the last six years. MTV News staffers took to social media to share the layoff news.

Among the senior-level executives impacted are Jessica Zalkind, SVP, Talent and Series Development, MTV Networks, and Todd Radnitz, SVP of Original Unscripted Series at MTV Entertainment Group and Paramount+, we hear. East Coast casting is being folded into the West Coast operation.

Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios, has been largely spared this time, I hear, after it was hit hard in February when the two studios were combined, with Showtime taking the brunt of the cuts.

“This is a tough yet important strategic realignment of our group,” McCarthy said. “Through the elimination of some units and by streamlining others, we will be able to reduce costs and create a more effective approach to our business as we move forward.”

The new wave of cuts comes on the heels of Paramount Global falling way shy of Wall Street forecasts last week when the company reported a loss of $1.1 billion for Q1, leading to a 25% stock price drop.

Here is McCarthy’s full note:

Team,

As we finalize the integration of SHOWTIME and continue to transform our business for the future, we have set a great foundation for continued success by consolidating our group into two functions:

• Studios – integrating SHOWTIME and MTV Entertainment Studios into one powerful studio team
• Networks – combining nine separate teams into one portfolio group

This combination has resulted in an incredible track record of hits including Yellowstone, 1883, Tulsa King, South Park, The Challenge, Teen Wolf, 1923, Drag Race, Mayor of Kingstown, Your Honor, George & Tammy and Yellowjackets – which, taken together, drove record subscribers across Paramount+ and Showtime and helped Paramount+ lead the industry in new subscriber growth.

However, despite this success in streaming, we continue to feel pressure from broader economic headwinds like many of our peers. To address this, our senior leaders in coordination with HR have been working together over the past few months to determine the optimal organization for the current and future needs of our business.

As a result, we have made the very hard but necessary decision to reduce our domestic team by approximately 25%. This is a tough yet important strategic realignment of our group. Through the elimination of some units and by streamlining others, we will be able to reduce costs and create a more effective approach to our business as we move forward. Today we will notify employees whose positions are being impacted with leaders communicating the news directly to those teams/or individuals. These meetings will be followed by individual 1:1s with our HR partners.

I realize these decisions will be very hard for everyone, most of all, those who will be leaving. It’s not something we take lightly. We have some of the most passionate and dedicated team members, who bring their full selves to drive our brands and business forward. This is why it’s so difficult to say goodbye to our friends and colleagues. To those impacted, we deeply appreciate the passion and creativity you have brought every day. I want to thank you for your many contributions.

Our leadership team and HR partners are committed to ensuring this process is done with empathy and respect.

Sincerely,
Chris

Rumour: Paramount Global To Be Closing More MTV Feeds Internationally

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Paramount Global has been active across the market for almost a year. Prior to the time it was known as ViacomCBS, they have been various adjustments and now that we've managed to wrap up 2022 we can finally see the extent and the justification to all that.

For those who watch MTV and Nickelodeon (or in this case Nick Jr.) may have noticed some a number of changes. For starters, MTV became a music channel once more with a bit of Catfish and Ridiculousness while as the preschool hotspot Nick Jr. has learnt a number of new languages.

As mentioned sometime ago, Paramount is cutting back on costs for their linear offering and these two were a result of that. My guess has to do with Paramount+ I presume they want to get as much fresh content onboard to attract potential clients.

Although there has yet to be confirmation of a closure, I wouldn't be surprised if we got to that position already Nickelodeon has been scrapped in most of Asia and i have seen various MTV channels mostly irrelevant close in various parts of Europe.

According to sources, Paramount might be looking into closing down MTV in the coming future (2023/4). Not sure whether this would affect their music portion but I don't see why it should as it's more like what NBCUniversal got with Peacock and it's linear offerings - variations.

As mentioned, I wouldn't be surprised if it were true especially with various local feeds merging which was the case for Disney XD before closing down. In the end, I do feel shows like Ridiculousness would make a perfect fit on Comedy Central and BET.

Compared to MTV, these two function in a way that doesn't collide with Paramount+ I mean one has The Nanny And Modern Family on repeat while the other offers All Of Us and plays second fiddle with The Neighborhood and Martin.

Paramount Is Moving Around A Number Of Its Unscripted Shows From VH1 To MTV

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VH1 series including Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, Couples Retreat and Caught In The Act: Unfaithful are moving to MTV.

The company said it was looking to find new audiences for these shows, which are all being produced by Lashan Browning’s Antoinette Media, which Paramount recently invested in. The move comes as it is exploring a sale of BET Media Group, which now includes VH1, meaning that it will keep a number of its biggest titles on its other network.

The biggest move involves Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, which is going in to its 11th season. It premiered on VH1 in 2012.

Season 11, which will air this summer, is being rebooted and will follow a more “docu approach to storytelling” as it documents the lives of women who have built their empires in Atlanta.

The series is now produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and Antoinette Media, which the company recently invested in and is exec produced by Sitarah Pendelton and Jubba Seyyid for MTV Entertainment Studios and Lashan Browning, Donna Edge-Rachell, Paris Bauldwin, Daniel Wiener, Alissa Horowitz, Mimi Adams, Gavin Lee Jones, and John Crenny for Antoinette Media.

“On the heels of launching Antoinette Media with Lashan Browning, we’re thrilled to continue fueling our robust unscripted slate of hits on MTV and introduce new audiences to the cultural phenomenon Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta as well as fan favorites like Couples Retreat and Caught in the Act: Unfaithful,” said Nina L. Diaz, Chief Creative Officer and President of Content, Showtime and MTV Entertainment Studios.

Kicking off the block later in the year is Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta “Run it Back”, a clip-show, where cast members of the reality show rewatch moments from the first season of Atlanta and share behind the scenes stories.

It will be followed by MTV Couples Retreat, which has previously run for two seasons as VH1 Couples Retreat. The series follows couples attending a retreat, who are putting all of their chips on the table in Vegas, and they will be forced out of their comfort zones to rediscover each other with the help of unconventional, high-octane guest experts. This includes ziplining through the Vegas Strip, survivalist training in the wilderness with an expert ninja survivalist, trapezing with former Cirque du Soleil performers, to herding cattle and untamed bulls.

MTV Couples Retreat is produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and Antoinette Media and exec produced by Sitarah Pendelton- Eaglin and Jubba Seyyid for MTV Entertainment Studios and Lashan Browning, Donna Edge-Rachell, Paris Bauldwin, Daniel Wiener, Mimi Adams, Michael Carrozza, Gavin Lee Jones, Alissa Horowitz, and Michelle Kongkasuwan for Antoinette Media.

Finally, also launching in the year is the second season of Caught in the Act: Unfaithful, which also debuted on VH1. The show follows host Tami Roman as she continues to help suspicious lovers catch their cheating partners in the act. Once the investigation is complete, the suspicious lover can choose to team up with their partner’s other lover or take them both down in an undercover ambush.

Caught in the Act: Unfaithful is executive produced by Sitarah Pendelton-Eaglin, Jennifer Aguirre, and Executive in Charge of production Liz Kim for MTV. Lashan Browning, Donna Edge-Rachell, Alissa Horowitz, Daniel Wiener, Maricarmen Lopez, and Rich Allen are executive producers for Antoinette Media. Tami Roman also serves as consulting producer.

Roundups #98: JimJam Acquired Broadcasting Rights To Mumfie, Brotherhood Brethren Resurfaces On Novela Magic And New Series Queer Of Jozi Launching Soon On MTV Africa

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Mumfie Travels The Globe With New Sales

Mumfie is on the move. After debuting earlier this year in France and Italy, Zodiak’s preschool series about a lovable elephant is now branching out from that starting point, thanks to a raft of new sales brokered by distributor Banijay Kids and Family.

The CG-animated series (78 x seven minutes) has been picked up by ITVBe in the UK; Cartoonito (Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, South Korea); AMC Network International’s preschool channel JimJam (CEE, MENA, Portugal); SVT (Sweden); and ejunior (UAE).

Based on the ’90s series Magic Adventures of Mumfie that was created by Britt Allcroft (Thomas & Friends), Mumfie tells the story of a friendly, optimistic elephant and his best friends—a flying pig named Pinkey and a color-changing jellyfish named Jelly Bean—as they find adventure in daily life.

More entertainment coming to Novela Magic

Action drama Brotherhood Brethren was one of the Nigerian series from Africa Magic that hit television screens in 2019. Also on Showmax, the show has been met with lots of enthusiasm from fans online.

Brotherhood Brethren tells the story of two adopted brothers – Dobara aka Bara (Etim Effiong) and Dagogo aka Dags Kurukeme (Frankincense Eche-Ben). Through Bara, we’re introduced to the men and women of the elite crime-fighting squad, Special Crimes Unit (SCU), and the challenges they face in their quest to rid the city of crime, particularly the notorious Aja Isale Eko gang.

Brethren is produced by ace Nigerian filmmaker, Femi Odugbemi, the brain behind several other successful shows such as Battleground and Tinsel, both on Showmax. Odugbemi has always been known for his penchant to mix veterans and talented newcomers in his cast, and Brethren is no different.

The series premieres 28th September on Novela Magic

The queer community getting more love

MTV, an international reality channel owned by Paramount home to various shows like Catfish, Teen Moms and Ridiculousness alongside award shows and live events is set to introduce a queer centred series, Queers Of Jozi.

Larger than life personalities and the faces of fashion, take on the City Of Gold. Relationships intertwined with drama and tantrums in the ever-evolving life of a Queer.

The series premieres on the 24th October on MTV

 

Digital First: Rebranding Of MTV Asia To MTV 90s

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Paramount is scheduled to roll out their streaming service Paramount+ in Africa alongside various other markets by 2023 and as seen with Disney+ their streaming service has led to a further cutback in channels with questions regarding Paramount's linear offering.

I know Paramount had stated a while back that they weren't planning to halt their linear offering as seen with The House Of Mouse. But that doesn't mean they won't do it eventually as they make some minor changes to the current offering.

In the UK, BET became a digital exclusive and Nicktoons is seen as music channel (NickMusic) in Latin America outside of that Paramount has been eliminating a lot of channels mainly MTV as they're said to carry outdated content or don't have a lot of viewers following them.

Unfortunately this wasn't the case in Asia as Sky announced the rebrand of MTV Asia which will now be MTV 90s a music channel from 1st September. This comes after Nickelodeon exited South Korea a few months ago and that just builds onto further speculation.

Is it possible that MTV and Nickelodeon's future in Asia will be the same fate awaiting consumers around the world. It's possible as evolution is a constant you had your VCR now there's DVD and not a lot of people SMS as there's social media.

Regarding MTV, I can see many reasons for Paramount to let go off the channel one cause compared to other general entertainment channels MTV holds more original content which a company like Disney would want to put onto a streaming service.

Compared to BET and Comedy Central as there's not much on there I mean you get plenty of original content but it doesn't dominate the schedule as seen with MTV. Not saying there's no chance of them going away but the less relevant a brand gets the more easier it will be to miss.

Roundups #57: "Hangman" Adam Page Goes One On One With CM Punk For AEW World Champion In Double Or Nothing On TNT Africa, The 2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards Is Coming To MTV Africa And World Renowned Martial Artist IP Man Makes His Grand Entrance On KIX Africa

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TNT is going all out

Double or Nothing is considered All Elite Wrestling's (AEW) marquee event, having first been held in 2019, which was the promotion's first pay-per-view (PPV) produced. It is held annually around Memorial Day and is one of AEW's "Big Four" PPVs, which includes All Out, Full Gear, and Revolution, their four biggest shows produced quarterly.

Matches confirmed for the PPV event include Hangman Pag vs. CM Punk for the AEW World Championship and Thunder Rosa vs Serena Deeb for the AEW Women’s World Championship.

The event airs Sunday, 5 June at 11:40 CAT, only 1 week after the live US PPV.

 

MTV unveils the slate of content launching next month

MTV MOVIE & TV AWARDS
Live from Los Angeles Barker Hangar honoring the biggest and best in movies and television
90 mins // 6 JUNE 2022

MTV MOVIE & TV AWARDS UNSCRIPTED
Returning for the second time to celebrate all things reality television. Over-the-top, funny and completely fresh, the night will celebrate the jaw-dropping, no-rules, drama-filled moments from our favorite reality shows.
90 mins // 6 JUNE 2022

 

HIP HOP MY HOUSE
In each episode of HIP HOP MY HOUSE Cam’ron will surprise our superfan at their doorstep, tour their home, check out their wardrobe, sample their music collection and find out how hip hop has impacted their life.It could be a single artist, an iconic video or it could be an entire era or moment in hip hop history.
9 x 30 // 24 JUNE 2022

Ip Man biography is coming to KIX

Ip Man is a series of Hong Kong martial arts films based on the life events of the Wing Chun master of the same name. The franchise consists of 5 films 2 of which happen to be spinoffs.

 

Thanks to KIX's team, we were able to recieve confirmation of the first two instalments Ip Man and Ip Man 2 starring Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and XXX: Return Of Xander Cage star Donnie Yen.

The instalments are set to air in the coming months ahead of the channel's expansion to the DStv Family and Access bouquets which was originally for March but delayed for another 2 months now launching on May 31st.

Paramount Reportedly Shutting Down MTV Base And MTV Classic In The UK

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According to a user at Digital Forum, Paramount plans to close down music brands MTV Base and MTV Classic a year after the black based entertainment channel BET with cut off and merged onto the streaming service, Paramount+.

MTV Base and Classic (formerly VH1 Classic) launched in 1999 as part of MTV's digital boutique of music channels and throughout its existence several markets such as France and Africa launched a localised brand for Base while other parts got Classic.

According to some viewers in these regions, the brands have become obsolete especially in an era where a platforms like iTunes and Spotify already exist. Just like Africa, even the UK have begun streamlining their offering.

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Although, MTV Base performed dismally in these regions it doesn't have much affect for viewers in other regions compared to MTV Classic as the brand is considered outdated in this century. It was one of the reasons Paramount Africa opted for MTV Hits (formerly Music24) and not its predecessor.

If anything, the only brand that will likely get phased out at this point would be Nicktoons as Paramount seems more focused on scrapping non and underperforming channels. On top of reducing various local feeds of some of their brands.

Also read: 
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- Could G4 launch on DStv perhaps to replace a channel like Ginx Esports TV?
- Why VH1 Classic was terminated on DStv?
- Could Moonbug Kids replace Disney Junior on DStv and Baby TV on StarSat?
- tvN pushing to become a permanent linear channel in Africa
- Could Nicktoons be discontinued in Africa and likely the rest of the world?

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What Really Happened To VH1 Classic On DStv And Where Is It Now?

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The popular music brand VH1 Classic started out mainly consisting of niche genres which didn't appease the masses at the time which led to its downfall on DStv and the switch to VH1 Classic.

At the time this channel was still around, they were plenty of channels offering international hits mainly modern day music before localising their offering which welcomed a new rail of viewers while others resorted to other means like streaming to cater for their tastes.

In all those eras, VH1 Classic stood out from the rest with their selection of international classic hits while Mzansi Music dealt with the local spectrum.

It wasn't until 2019 that ViacomCBS announced the discontinuation of VH1 Classic and the launch of the European MTV Music24 which therefore killed all their classical tunes for more modernizing.

It wasn't until that period that most channels which had a stack of international hits reduced the lineup for more localised tunes therefore boosting the value of MTV Music24 which doesn't cater for that region as it adapting to a European feed.

MTV Music24 wasn't all rainbows and sunshine aside from not carrying any fragment of VH1 Classic. The offering was very repetitive and they'd repeat the same music in the same order it was arranged and this continued on until last year where it was replaced with the pop based brand MTV Hits.

When VH1 Classic was terminated people pointed the finger toward DStv and when MTV Hits dethroned MTV Music24 there was a lot of silence in the switch as well as the reception. What some don't realise was that there was more to the story.

Tracing back to VH1 Classic, the channel was handled by Europe which used it as an entertainment channel to repeat programs from MTV. Africa got a different feed for some apparent reason.

In 2016, the owners of VH1 being announced that VH1 Classic would rebrand to MTV Classic as it was suspected that VH1 was being terminated internationally seeing that it was a property of MTV. Of course, this switch wasn't applicable to viewers in South Africa.

VH1 Classic was initially discontinued in 2016 so the feed in South Africa was just on autopilot for the past 3 years as they tried sourcing out the major reject MTV Music24.

MTV Music24 vanished two years later and if you google the channel. It appears that the brand was phased out likely as part of the initiative for MTV Global formerly MTV Europe which is limiting the localised feeds probably due to the launch of Paramount+.

Disney plans to close 100 international channels in the near future following the successful launch of their streaming service Disney+. It had been speculated that other companies will likely follow at a given time.

About VH1 Classic, the channel is currently known as MTV Classic I presume the reason it wasn't picked up in Africa was that ViacomCBS was looking for something that appease the current masses and anything like MTV Classic didn't fit that description.

MTV Classic has become a dumpster fire with its stack of repeats pulling 16000 viewers a month in a market with a large amount of pay-tv households. ViacomCBS no longer shares details about the viewership and I wouldn't be shocked if the channel was discontinued with nothing left in place.

You can also find me through the other platforms by pressing this link in brackets (Lnk.Bio).

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Paramount+ New Series And Movies Coming In 2022 Some Of Which Will Likely Surface Comedy Central, MTV, BET And Nickelodeon

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Paramount+ is still rolling out in more regions and there's no specific timeframe on when viewers will be able to view the content. Here's the list of content launching on the platform in the coming year:

Halo
Halo is set to follow "an epic 26th-century conflict between humanity and an alien threat known as the Covenant. Halo will weave deeply drawn personal stories with action, adventure and a richly imagined vision of the future."

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
The series follows Captain Christopher Pike and the crew of the starship USS Enterprise as they explore new worlds throughout the galaxy during the decade before Star Trek: The Original Series.

The Fairly OddParents
Picking up years after the original series ended, the new series will follow Timmy Turner's cousin, Vivian "Viv" Turner, and her new stepbrother, Roy Ragland, as they navigate life in Dimmsdale with the help of their fairy godparents, Cosmo and Wanda.

Frasier
Nicole Clemens said, exclusively to Paramount+." The new series will have everything you love about the original: Coziness, great writing, and of course a cast led by multi-Emmy winner, Kelsey Grammer. It's nostalgic and contemporary all at once."

Miss Fallaci Takes America
The show which is the first Italian original for the network will portray Fallaci's early years in Hollywood before he became a legendary war correspondent known for his explosive personality.

Stories from the Beautiful Game

Couples Therapy
Couples Therapy is a revealing, critically acclaimed docuseries that makes the hidden world of relationships not so hidden.

The Bridge Australia
A group of strangers live in the wild and work as one to build a bridge to reach a life changing prize.

Other titles include Big Nate and Stories From The Beautiful. On the movie front, there's a drama film Hush, Hush and the sports film Fantasy Football while South Park launches two more films.

List of animated series: click here

Returning shows:

The Good Fight
Star Trek: Picard
Why Women Kill
iCarly
Star Trek: Lower Decks
Kamp Koral: Spongebob’s Under Years
Star Trek Prodigy
Rugrats

You can also find me through the other platforms by pressing this link in brackets (Lnk.Bio).

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Here Are The 44 Developments Coming To Paramount+

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Paramount+ will include a library catalogue of 30 000 hours of shows and 50 exclusive and original new series that will debut over the next two years - including a Frasier and Rugrats series revivals and HALO - with 36 of these that will launch in 2021.

In a virtual investors' presentation done from inside a studio on Los Angeles' iconic Paramount lot, adopting the same style and format that Disney for Disney+ and Discovery Inc. used for Discovery+ the past few months, ViacomCBS executives unveiled its new Paramount+ - and with it the glut of content it plans to place on it.

"We know how to make hits. ViacomCBS has been and remains a consistent hitmaker, across genres, across demographics, across formats and across platforms," said Bob Bakish, ViacomCBS president and CEO.

As with HBO Max, Disney+ and Star, Discovery+, as well as peacock, ViacomCBS didn't announce or say anything about a rollout date or timeframe for South Africa - Africa's most developed TV market.

Paramount+ will launch in the United States, Canada and Latin America on 4 March, the Nordics on 25 March and in Australia later in 2021.

ViacomCBS executives did however say that the plan is to aggressively launch Paramount+ globally and wants to have between 65 and 75 million global subscribers by 2024.

That makes it highly likely that Paramount+ will eventually be made available in South Africa where it could also foreseeably be included as a tile on MultiChoice's latest DStv Explora Ultra decoder that already carries Netflix SA and Amazon Prime Video.

Paramount+ will cost $9.99 (R149.28), but a cheaper ad-supported version costing $4.99 (R74.56) will launch later this year.

ViacomCBS said that Paramount+ will cost considerably less outside of America - very likely in order to aggressively compete with Netflix and Disney+ as the two top global subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services.

"We're leveraging the massive global reach of ViacomCBS to distribute Paramount+. We have a deep history of relationships with multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) and telco partners in every major market around the world," the company said. Nicole Clemens, the head of Paramount Television Studios, said that ViacomCBS is harnessing "Paramount's incredible library to create shows that come with a built-in fanbase for Paramount+.

While we have no shortage of source material, we're being very selective and strategic in choosing what IP is best positioned for modern streaming consumers".

From a Grease prequel to a fatal attraction Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies will be a TV series with both classic and new songs and a diverse cast as serve as a prequel to Grease. It will tell the story of how Frenchy's older sister Jane founded the Pink Ladies.

The film Flashdance is becoming a new drama series and will pick up from where the story left off but will be set in the present day.

The film Love Story is also becoming a series from Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage who were responsible for Gossip Girl and The O.C.

Fans of The Italian Job and The Parallax View can also look forward to series based on these iconic films.

Fatal Attraction is also being turned into a TV series for Paramount+, described as "a deep-dive reimagining of the psychosexual thriller" that starred Glenn Close and Michael Douglas.

An intriguing series is The Offer as a fictional series, but based on real-life, detailing the mafia-filled drama behind the making of the film The Godfather.

The Star Trek universe is expanding with Strange New Worlds with Anson Mount as Enterprise Captain Pike, while the kids animation series, Star Trek: Prodigy has abruptly moved from Nickelodeon to Paramount+. There will also be a second season of Star Trek: Picard.

The crime procedural Criminal Minds is also revived as a TV drama series and bringing the gang back together with the same showrunner, same breaking down of the criminal psyche and catching the bad guy. "Instead of a new case each week, it will be a single, fascinating case-story told over 10 episodes each season," said Nicole Clemens.

The Real Criminal Minds will be a "true crime" documentary series where a real FBI profiler analyses real cases and real criminal behaviour, illustrated by clips that viewers will remember from the series.

Paramount+ will also do a follow-up to the miniseries Waco as part of an anthology series entitled American Tragedy. Each season of American Tragedy will tackle difficult and complicated conspiracy-riddled moments in history.

The dramedy Younger is also moving to Paramount+ for its 7th and final season. Paramount+ will also have 6666 (working title) as a spinoff from the Yellowstone drama series that will basically tell the story of how cattle ranches started and grew in America.

"Founded when Comanches still ruled West Texas, no ranch in America is more steeped in the history of the West than the 6666."

"The 6666 is where the rule of law and the laws of nature merge in a place where the most dangerous thing one does is the next thing. The 6666 is synonymous with the merciless endeavour to raise the finest horses and livestock in the world, and ultimately where world-class cowboys are born and made".

Yellowstone is also getting a prequel series, Y: 1883. It will follow the Dutton family as they embark on a journey "west through the Great Plains toward the last bastion of untamed America. It is a stark retelling of Western expansion, and an intense study of one family fleeing poverty to seek a better future in America’s promised land — Montana".

Mayor of Kingstown will follow the McLusky family in Kingstown "where the business of incarceration is the only thriving industry. Tackling themes of systemic racism, corruption and inequality, the series provides a stark look at their attempt to bring order and justice to a town that has neither".

Land Man, also set in West Texas is described as "a modern-day tale of fortune-seeking in the world of oil rigs. The series is an upstairs/downstairs story of roughnecks and wildcat billionaires fueling a boom so big, it’s reshaping our climate, our economy and our geopolitics".

"One of the most successful comedy series of all time - Frasier - is coming back," Nicole Clemens said, exclusively to Paramount+." The new series will have everything you love about the original: Coziness, great writing, and of course a cast led by multi-Emmy winner, Kelsey Grammer. It's nostalgic and contemporary all at once."

In a statement released at the same time, Kelsey Grammer said "having spent over 20 years of my creative life on the Paramount lot both producing shows and performing in several, I'd like to congratulate Paramount+ on its streaming world entry. I gleefully anticipate sharing the next chapter in the continuing journey of Frasier Crane".

The science-fiction drama series HALO based on the hugely-popular video game that would have been on Showtime is abruptly shifting to Paramount+ as an exclusive where it will launch in early-2022.

HALO, filmed in Budapest where Netflix's The Witcher also shot, stars Pablo Schreiber in the role of the iconic Master Chief and Natascha McElhone playing both Dr Catherine Halsey, the creator of the Spartans soldiers, and Cortana, the most advanced AI in human history who could save the human race.

"The upcoming HALO series will weave intimate personal stories with incredible action and a lavishly imagined vision of the future," said David Nevins, Showtime Networks CEO.

"HALO has been in production in Hungary and I can tell you it's visually stunning, totally thrilling; and significantly it offers true 4-quadrant general.audience appeal. We all believe that HALO is going to be a defining show for our super-service. We see this as another example of us marshalling the finest resources of the company in service of Paramount+".

Paramount+ is also doing a The Man Who Fell to Earth series that will star Chiwetel Ejiofor based on the iconic science-fiction novel and film. "It tells the story of a man who arrives on Earth and reveals more about human nature than humans ever could," said Nicole Clemens.

Guilty Party is a dark comedy with Kate Beckinsale as a journalist who gets in over her head when she tries to salvage her career by investigating the story of a young woman in jail for murdering her husband.

BET's The Game is revived with a mix of original cast and new players. It will offer an examination of black culture through the prism of American pro-football.

Ray Donovan is returning, this time in a feature-length movie to wrap up the TV series, and possibly setting up a movie franchise.

Michael C Hall also made a brief appearance during the investors' presentation with the series Dexter that is being revived as a limited series about the serial killer. The revived Dexter will however stay on Showtime.

Tyler Perry is producing All The Queen's Men for the BET+ streaming service - a new drama series revolving around the female owner of a strip club in Atlanta and her group of male strippers.

Trevor Noah working daily - and now weekly South Africa's Trevor Noah hosting The Daily Show on Comedy Central (DStv 122) is expanding his workload and appeared at the investors' presentation to announce that he is doing The Weekly Show With Trevor Noah - an initial 6 episodes that will be available on Paramount+ and that he will also be producing.

In The Weekly Show with Trevor Noah he will talk to people "behind the headlines". Amy Schumer is returning to her original sketch comedy series and will be doing 5 Inside Amy Schumer TV specials for Paramount+. The comedy series Reno: 911! is revived with Reno: 911! The Hunt for QAnon based on the original series.

The MTV animation characters Beavis & Butt-head are coming to Paramount+ in a new and as-yet-untitled feature film, as will a film based on the Comedy Central series Workaholics.

The Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl is making a non-scripted series for Paramount+ based on his mother's book with the 6-episode programme that will tell the stories of the special relationship between successful musicians and their mothers.

Paramount+ will also roll out several new MTV Unplugged specials and is also reviving its music documentary series, Behind the Music.

Kids
Meanwhile the original voice cast of the kids animation series Rugrats is returning for a revival series on Paramount+.

"Rugrats is one of the most iconic cartoons recognized by fans around the globe, and this original version is one we are taking great care and pride in creating for a brand-new audience," said Ramsey Naito, president of Nickelodeon Animation.

ViacomCBS is creating Avatar Studios that will be entirely dedicated to creating content based on the animation series Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra with new series and films that will be created telling these stories further.

Get ready for a Dora the Explorer live-action series based on the iconic character and aimed at an older kids audience aged 6 to 11, as well as an iCarly revival series in which the original cast members Miranda Cosgrove, Nathan Kress and Jerry Trainor join new friends for a look at their characters' present-day lives, adventures and comedic mishaps.

Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years is the first-ever SpongeBob SquarePants spinoff series with the new series that will take viewers back to when the iconic characters of Bikini Bottom met for the very first time in a summer camp like no other.

The Fairly OddParents is a live-action revival of the long-running Nickelodeon animation series.

Reality
RuPaul’s Drag Race is getting a singing
competition spinoff at Paramount+ entitled Queen of the Universe in which drag queens from all around the world will compete to see who sings the best.

The Real World reality series is also being revived with the original cast and will now be entitled The Real World Homecoming: New York as a " multi-episode docuseries".

The reality series Road Rules is also being revived in which strangers are dropped in a far-flung location, have to live in motorhomes and complete challenges as they drive from location to location.

The Challenge: All Stars will see former contestants of the reality series Real World and Road Rules return to compete again.

The tattoo reality series Ink Master that was cancelled last year is also being revived and will now continue on Paramount+, with the reality dating series Dating Naked that was cancelled in 2017 that is also being brought back for new episodes for the streaming service.

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