Buyer Database · Buyer / Distributor · Updated
CBS Studios
CBS Studios is the broadcast-first production and distribution powerhouse behind America's most-watched network, now expanding its universe franchises and streaming slate under a stable post-merger leadership team.
Current mandate
CBS Studios enters the post-Skydance-Paramount merger era as what trade analysts have called an "island of stability and continuity" inside a significantly restructured Paramount Global. While sweeping management changes swept through other divisions, CBS leadership, including President of CBS Entertainment Amy Reisenbach and President of CBS Studios David Stapf, signed new three-year contracts, a signal of executive confidence that is unusual in the current consolidation climate. Paramount President Jeff Shell has publicly identified CBS prime as one of the two areas "working" within the broader company, alongside Taylor Sheridan's output, underscoring the network's strategic centrality to the merged entity's near-term commercial health.
The studio's acquisition and development pattern over the past 12 months reflects a franchise-first, long-runway approach. CBS finished the 2024-25 season as the most-watched broadcast network in primetime for the 17th consecutive year, and it launched the number-one new broadcast show in each of the past three seasons: Fire Country, Tracker, and Matlock. The studio is now actively developing within those proven universes, with Fire Country spinoff Sheriff Country ordered for CBS and a Blue Bloods offshoot called Boston Blue in the pipeline. Beyond the broadcast core, CBS Studios is producing Starfleet Academy for Paramount+ and a Little House on the Prairie reboot for Netflix, demonstrating a willingness to supply outside streamers when opportunities align. Overall deal activity tracked over the past 12 months includes 86 records, with talent overall deals such as a Larry Teng renewal reflecting the studio's practice of locking in key creative relationships.
Material reaches CBS Studios primarily through established showrunner and producer relationships, with the studio's public-facing development activity centered on talent overall deals and franchise extensions rather than open-market spec acquisitions. The studio's stated strategy of ordering series well in advance, to give projects a longer runway and stronger promotional push, suggests that creative relationships are cultivated over time rather than through reactive market buys. No unsolicited pathway is documented in tracked deal activity; every observed deal has moved through existing talent relationships, production partnerships, or network-adjacent development pipelines.
Signature peaks
- 4 Active Spinoffs/Offshoots Franchise Universe Pipeline — Sheriff Country, Boston Blue, Starfleet Academy, and Little House on the Prairie reboot are all in active development or production.
- 39 Consecutive Seasons Daytime Dominance Streak — CBS daytime finished as the number-one daytime lineup for the 39th straight season, anchored by the new drama Beyond the Gates.
- 106 Decision Makers Tracked — ScriptMatch tracks over 100 decision makers across CBS Studios and CBS Entertainment, reflecting the studio's broad development infrastructure.
Mandate dimensions
- Genre focus
- Not disclosed
- Territory focus
- Not disclosed
- Budget tier (observed)
- Not disclosed
- Access pattern
- Every tracked deal at CBS Studios has moved through existing talent relationships, overall deals with established showrunners and directors (such as the Larry Teng renewal), or franchise-adjacent development pipelines tied to existing CBS hits. The studio has publicly stated it is seeking projects within the Fire Country universe under the creative direction of established showrunners like Matt Lopez, suggesting that named creative attachments are the primary observed route for new material reaching the development slate. No unsolicited pathway is documented.
- Deal structure
- CBS Studios primarily structures deals as in-house development and production arrangements for the CBS broadcast network and Paramount+, with select projects produced for outside streamers such as Netflix. Talent overall deals, franchise spinoff orders, and series renewals are the most frequently observed deal types in tracked activity.
Recent acquisitions
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Blue Bloods (Season 14 renewal by CBS)
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Justina Machado
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Larry Teng overall deal renewal with CBS Studios
Market context
With 17 straight seasons as the most-watched broadcast network and a long-term development strategy built around franchise universes, CBS Studios is operating from a position of rare institutional confidence inside a restructured Paramount.
CBS Studios enters the post-Skydance-Paramount merger era as what trade analysts have called an "island of stability and continuity" inside a significantly restructured Paramount Global. While sweeping management changes swept through other divisions, CBS leadership, including President of CBS Entertainment Amy Reisenbach and President of CBS Studios David Stapf, signed new three-year contracts, a signal of executive confidence that is unusual in the current consolidation climate. Paramount President Jeff Shell has publicly identified CBS prime as one of the two areas "working" within the broader company, alongside Taylor Sheridan's output, underscoring the network's strategic centrality to the merged entity's near-term commercial health.
Common questions about CBS Studios
Does CBS Studios accept unsolicited scripts?
No unsolicited pathway is documented in ScriptMatch's tracked deal activity for CBS Studios. Every observed deal has moved through existing talent relationships, overall deals with established showrunners, or network-adjacent development pipelines. The studio's stated strategy of ordering series well in advance and cultivating long-term creative relationships suggests that the most viable route is building a track record and representation before approaching the studio.
What budgets does CBS Studios typically work at?
CBS Studios operates primarily at broadcast network and premium streaming budget tiers, consistent with its role as the production arm of America's most-watched broadcast network and a supplier to Paramount+ and outside streamers like Netflix. Specific budget figures are not disclosed in tracked deal records, but the studio's slate, ranging from procedural dramas to franchise spinoffs and a Netflix reboot, reflects mid-to-high broadcast and streaming production scales.
What festivals does CBS Studios source material from?
CBS Studios' tracked acquisition activity does not show a festival-driven sourcing pattern. As a major broadcast studio, its development pipeline is built around established showrunner relationships, franchise extensions, and long-term overall deals with talent such as director Larry Teng. Festival acquisitions are not a documented route for this buyer; the studio develops projects internally or through its existing creative partnerships rather than acquiring completed independent films at market.
How do I get my script in front of CBS Studios?
Based on observed deal activity, the most documented route to CBS Studios is through an established showrunner or producer relationship, or via a talent overall deal. The studio has publicly committed to a long-runway development strategy that prioritizes projects ordered well in advance through trusted creative partners. Representation by a literary agent or manager with existing CBS relationships is the most traceable pathway in ScriptMatch's data; no open submission portal or fellowship program is documented.
What genres is CBS Studios currently acquiring?
CBS Studios' current mandate centers on procedural drama, franchise universe extensions, and broad-audience comedy. Recent development activity includes a Fire Country spinoff (Sheriff Country), a Blue Bloods offshoot (Boston Blue), the sci-fi series Starfleet Academy for Paramount+, and a Little House on the Prairie reboot for Netflix. The studio is also actively seeking medical drama spinoffs within the Fire Country universe, per a public seeking statement from creative leadership. Daytime drama is also active, with Beyond the Gates recently launched.
Is CBS Studios currently active in the market?
Yes. CBS Studios is one of the more active broadcast studio entities in ScriptMatch's tracking data, with 86 records logged over the past 12 months. Leadership is stable post-Skydance-Paramount merger, with both the President of CBS Entertainment and the President of CBS Studios having signed new three-year contracts. Paramount's own leadership has publicly identified CBS prime as a strategic priority, and the studio has multiple series in active development across CBS, Paramount+, and Netflix.
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Related reading
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