Ray Hopkins, President, Paramount U.S. Distribution, Paramount Global, will be on hand for a ScreenShift panel, presented by Cablefax, that will break down what dealmaking looks like in Pay TV’s next act. Hopkins offers a preview of his take on the topic here.
Since this panel is “The Great Rebundling,” and you went through the first round of bundling, can you provide a topline on how/why the industry has evolved to this point?
“The original bundle was created to rapidly scale content distribution, deliver consumer value and meet demand during the rise of cable. Today, evolving consumer behavior is reshaping expectations. Viewers want more flexibility and value across both linear and digital. As a result, distributors and programmers are rebundling around broadband and direct-to-consumer platforms to build more sustainable models. This next chapter is about reimagining the bundle by using data, credentials and evolved packaging to meet consumers where they are and better serve both the viewer and the business.”
How have you shifted your approach to dealmaking in this “next act” of Pay TV?
“Dealmaking has evolved from a transactional, one-size-fits-all model to a more strategic and collaborative approach. It’s about working closely with each partner to understand their priorities – whether that’s retention, growth or tech innovation – and crafting flexible, tailored solutions across both linear and streaming. Our focus is on total economics and shared value, while continuing to modernize and deepen our relationships with distributors to create meaningful, mutual opportunity.”
What’s ahead for the business?
“The bundle is evolving, not disappearing. Companies like ours are leaning into this complexity to find new opportunities. At the end of the day, it’s about making sense of the disruption and showing how strategic collaboration can drive the next phase of growth across the ecosystem.”
To register for ScreenShift, a conference that brings together visionaries from brands, agencies, platforms, and tech on October 14 in NYC, go here.
