Buyer Database · Streaming Platform · Updated

Paramount+

Paramount+ is a global streaming platform investing more than $1.5 billion in 2026 programming, with a sharpened focus on premium scripted originals, live sports, and high-profile talent deals.

Current mandate

Paramount+ has positioned growing its direct-to-consumer business as the company's stated "top priority," and the numbers behind that commitment are substantial. Executives have outlined incremental programming investments in 2026 in excess of $1.5 billion, spanning UFC and live sports rights, Paramount+ Originals, third-party catalog licensing, and an expanded film slate. The platform reached 79 million subscribers after adding 1.4 million in a single quarter, and its direct-to-consumer segment reported revenue of $2.1 billion, up 17 percent year-over-year, driven by a 24 percent increase in Paramount+ revenue specifically. Leadership has publicly projected that the DTC segment will turn profitable in 2026 and grow that profitability across the year, a target that is shaping every commissioning decision.

The commissioning pattern over the past 12 months reflects a platform leaning into premium scripted drama and thriller, high-profile IP extensions, and talent-first deals. Recent orders include "Ascent," a thriller series starring Viola Davis and created by John Logan; a "Clueless" sequel event series; and the drama "9/12." On the IP front, the platform greenlit "Avatar: Seven Havens" and is developing a "Paranormal Activity" reboot with James Wan and Blumhouse. The Duffer Brothers signed an exclusive four-year deal covering film, television, and streaming. Live sports represent a parallel pillar: a seven-year, $7.7 billion agreement with TKO makes Paramount+ the U.S. streaming home for UFC events, including 13 numbered pay-per-views, alongside existing rights to Zuffa Boxing and the Professional Bull Riders' Unleash the Beast tour.

Material reaches Paramount+ primarily through established industry relationships, packaging by talent agencies, and overall deals with producers and showrunners already in business with the studio. The Duffer Brothers exclusive and the Viola Davis attachment on "Ascent" illustrate the platform's preference for projects that arrive with significant talent already attached. No open submission portal or named fellowship program is documented in tracked deal activity; every observed deal has moved through representation or existing production partnerships.

Signature peaks

  • $7.7B / 7 years TKO Sports Rights Deal — Makes Paramount+ the U.S. streaming home for UFC events, including 13 numbered pay-per-views.
  • 79 million Total Subscribers — Platform added 1.4 million subscribers in a single quarter, per recent earnings reporting.
  • 4-year deal Duffer Brothers Exclusive — Exclusive pact covers film, television, and streaming across the Paramount ecosystem.

Mandate dimensions

Genre focus
drama, thriller, comedy, action
Territory focus
domestic (US)
Budget tier (observed)
Not disclosed
Access pattern
Every tracked deal at Paramount+ has moved through talent representation, producer packaging, or existing overall deals with the studio. The platform's recent commissions, including "Ascent" (Viola Davis attached) and the exclusive Duffer Brothers pact, illustrate a consistent pattern of projects arriving with significant talent or IP already in place; no open submission portal or named fellowship program is documented in current deal activity.
Deal structure
Paramount+ structures its content activity through direct series orders, exclusive multi-year talent deals (covering film, television, and streaming), and rights acquisitions for IP-driven projects. The platform also engages in co-production arrangements, particularly for international scripted series, and has executed large-scale sports media rights agreements.

Recent acquisitions

  • 5-Star

    2025-12-02T00:00:00.000Z · Acquired

  • 9/12

    2026-07-21T17:50:06.394Z · ordered

  • all of WBD

    2025-01-01T00:00:00.000Z · Acquired

  • Ascent

    2026-08-04T00:00:00.000Z · ordered
    Paramount+ ordered Ascent, a thriller series starring Viola Davis and created by John Logan

  • Avatar: Seven Havens

    2025-12-01T00:00:00.000Z · greenlit
    The decision to move 'The Legend of Aang' to Paramount+ was announced in tandem with the greenlighting of a new 'Avatar' television show, 'Avatar: Seven Havens,' also set to stream on Paramount+

  • Bald Eagles (R-rated workplace comedy spec)

    2026-04-04T22:20:02.234Z · acquired
    The studio also is developing a new Paranormal Activity movie with James Wan and Blumhouse producing, sources say, and moving forward with a carry-over romantic comedy that's set to star Brie Larson

  • Barbaric (live-action series)

    2026-06-25T19:50:01.777Z · greenlit
    Netflix just greenlit the publisher's 'Barbaric' into a live-action series

  • 'Call of Duty' feature film adaptation

    2025-10-30T00:00:00.000Z · Acquired

Market context

With a seven-year, $7.7 billion TKO sports rights deal and the Duffer Brothers locked in exclusively, Paramount+ is spending at a scale that signals genuine platform ambition.

Paramount+ has positioned growing its direct-to-consumer business as the company's stated "top priority," and the numbers behind that commitment are substantial. Executives have outlined incremental programming investments in 2026 in excess of $1.5 billion, spanning UFC and live sports rights, Paramount+ Originals, third-party catalog licensing, and an expanded film slate. The platform reached 79 million subscribers after adding 1.4 million in a single quarter, and its direct-to-consumer segment reported revenue of $2.1 billion, up 17 percent year-over-year, driven by a 24 percent increase in Paramount+ revenue specifically. Leadership has publicly projected that the DTC segment will turn profitable in 2026 and grow that profitability across the year, a target that is shaping every commissioning decision.

Common questions about Paramount+

Does Paramount+ accept unsolicited scripts?

No unsolicited pathway is documented in ScriptMatch's tracked deal activity for Paramount+. Every observed commission and acquisition has moved through talent representation, established producer relationships, or packaging by major agencies. If you are an unrepresented writer, the most practical route is securing representation first or attaching a producer who already has a relationship with the studio's development executives.

How does Paramount+ commission content?

Paramount+ commissions originals through its in-house development pipeline, overall deals with producers and showrunners, and exclusive talent pacts like the four-year deal signed with the Duffer Brothers. The platform also greenlit projects tied to existing IP, such as 'Avatar: Seven Havens,' and orders series with high-profile talent already attached, as seen with 'Ascent,' starring Viola Davis and created by John Logan.

What budgets does Paramount+ typically work at?

Paramount+ operates at the premium end of the scripted market. The platform has outlined incremental programming investments in 2026 in excess of $1.5 billion across originals, sports rights, and catalog licensing. Individual project budgets are rarely disclosed publicly, but the talent and IP attached to recent orders, including Viola Davis vehicles and Avatar-universe extensions, signal a consistent preference for high-budget, tentpole-caliber productions.

What types of content is Paramount+ commissioning right now?

The current mandate centers on premium scripted thriller and drama, IP-driven event series, and live sports. Recent orders include the thriller 'Ascent' with Viola Davis, the drama '9/12,' and a 'Clueless' sequel event series. The platform is also investing heavily in live sports through its TKO deal covering UFC, Zuffa Boxing, and Professional Bull Riders events. Executives have cited shows like Tulsa King, Landman, Dexter: Resurrection, and Yellowjackets as flagship originals.

How do I get my project in front of Paramount+?

Tracked deals consistently show material arriving via literary or talent representation, producer packaging, and existing studio relationships. Projects with significant talent attachments, such as established showrunners, A-list cast, or IP with built-in audience, are the profile that matches recent orders. The Duffer Brothers exclusive and the Viola Davis attachment on 'Ascent' are illustrative examples of how the platform prefers to engage with new material.

Is Paramount+ currently active in the market?

Yes. ScriptMatch recorded six unique deals in the past 30 days and eight in the past 90 days, with the latest signal dated August 2026. The platform has publicly committed to more than $1.5 billion in incremental 2026 programming investment and has announced an Originals launch calendar with tentpole releases spread across the year, signaling sustained, structured commissioning activity rather than opportunistic one-off acquisitions.

Adjacent buyers in this lane

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Related reading

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