Paramount+’s Communications Team Dissolved As Layoffs Hit Streamer Hard
UPDATED with more info: We had been hearing for weeks that Paramount+, which was spared in the first wave of Paramount Global’s ongoing layoffs last month, would take the brunt of cuts in the second round. That has been happening today, with entire departments eliminated as Paramount+ faces an uncertain future ahead of Paramount Global’s acquisition by Skydance.
One of the units that essentially is being dissolved is Paramount+’s communications operation, with SVPs Morgan Seal, Amanda Cary and Deva Kehoe among those impacted. The move was foreshadowed last week by the departure of Erin Calhoun, who oversaw the department as EVP, Head of Communications, Paramount Streaming & Showtime and Cross-Company Publicity. Seal, Cary and Kehoe all reported to her.
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The functions under Calhoun — publicity, photo, events, awards, talent relations, etc. — are being eliminated at Paramount+ and will be handled by the studios supplying the streamer, including CBS Studios and MTV Entertainment Studios, I hear. That already was done in other areas, including programming with the disbandment of the Paramount+ Originals team during one of the previous rounds of Paramount Global cuts, with the studios now handling development and current on Paramount+ shows.
Seal and Cary were the top PR executives under Calhoun; Kehoe headed Talent Relations, Events & Awards. I hear also gone is the Paramount+ with Showtime PR team, which Cary oversaw. A handful of junior publicity and events staffers affected by today’s layoffs are being absorbed by the studios that will be taking over Paramount+’s communications responsibilities, sources said. A rep for Paramount Global declined comment.
As Deadline reported exclusively earlier today, 29-year veteran Tina Koyanagi-Rosener and her eight-person team in content strategy for Paramount+ were among the hundreds who were laid off as part of Paramount Global’s plan to slash 15% of its U.S. workforce.
Seal was a 13-year company veteran, Cary had been at Showtime and Paramount+ 12 years; Kehoe — six. Both Seal and Cary sent out farewell notes today, announcing their departures.
After helping to launch predecessor CBS All Access and its originals slate, Seal segued to Paramount+ where she has been shepherding publicity for the Taylor Sheridan series and the Star Trek universe, among others.
Cary, who joined Showtime in 2013 and was promoted to SVP in 2022, oversaw the New York-based entertainment PR team, working on series such as Dexter and Yellowjackets, before segueing to Paramount+ last year. She came to Showtime after five years at USA Network, where she helped launch series including Suits and Covert Affairs.
Kehoe also transitioned to Paramount+ from Showtime where she served as SVP Talent, Events, Awards, & Promotions. Before joining Showtime in December 2018, she served as Director, Special Events & Talent Relations at Hulu and spent 13.5 years at Fox Searchlight Pictures, rising to Director, Special Events.
Lynette Rice contributed to this report.
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