Cablefax The Magazine - August 2021 - 81

CONTENT LEADERS
51. EXPANDED ORBIT
Tom Ryan | President & CEO, Streaming
ViacomCBS
Years in Media & Broadband: 8
Education: AB Government, Asian Studies, Dartmouth
College; MBA Entrepreneurship, INSEAD
My personal superpower is: Precognition to meet the
streaming needs of a global audience in a way that goes
against conventional wisdom and, of course, a bit of luck!
In the media consumption solar system, there's no debate about
the status of Pluto TV. The free, ad-supported service, which Ryan
co-founded, was acquired by Viacom in 2019. It is setting the AVOD
pace in terms of both momentum and scale, with 400+ global
media partners and an international footprint that spans three
continents and 25 countries. Not even a year into his role in the
merged ViacomCBS family, he now oversees the company's entire
global streaming strategy across free, paid and premium services,
including Paramount+, which he relaunched in March.
MY PROUDEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT OVER
THE PAST 12 MONTHS IS... The strong launch of Paramount+ as
well as Pluto TV reaching 50 million monthly users were both highlights,
but it was a particularly proud day for me when I saw my kids were
watching episodes of " iCarly " and I let them know that Paramount+ had
the entire series and a reboot in the works. Their looks of " our dad is
actually cool? " were worth all the hard work.
WHAT'S THE FUTURE OF DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER
STREAMING LOOK LIKE? We see the streaming space evolving
quickly into a space that mirrors, in some ways, the evolution of
traditional TV, where you have free, broad pay, and premium pay
categories. ViacomCBS is uniquely positioned in that respect-with
Pluto TV, Paramount+ and Showtime OTT-and through this interlinked
ecosystem we see a huge opportunity to create a whole that is greater
than the sum of its parts.
YOUR PANDEMIC THEME SONG? " Who's Zoomin' Who? " by
Aretha Franklin.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS
SUMMER? I am excited for the world to see all of the amazing
content we have coming to our services this summer from new movies
to sports to our original series. We are just getting started.
WHAT HABIT ARE YOU KEEPING POST-PANDEMIC?
Leisurewear at the office ■
52. FAMILY MAN
Brian Robbins | President, Kids & Family Entertainment
ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks
In a reunion of sorts, Gen Z-focused AwesomenessTV, created by Robbins, ended up back under the purview of the
digital pioneer when he assumed his new role leading all kids and family entertainment at ViacomCBS. His job further
expanded this summer as he serves as chief content officer for the same area on Paramount+. Robbins has been
concentrating on building IP to run across the merged company's growing cache of in-house platforms, and has been
elevating third-party distribution deals, like the multiyear pact Nickelodeon inked with Netflix. He's also been streamlining
production, recently consolidating live-action scripted across the division under one team. ■
5123
Cablefax: The Magazine
Combined Number of Years
in Media & Broadband.
The majority of the Cablefax 100 have been
in the industry 20+ years. Which 3 honorees
have only 5 years in the business?
August 2021
Sujata Gosalia
Dalila Wilson-Scott
Jon Steinberg
cablefaxmag.com
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Cablefax The Magazine - August 2021

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