Thinus Ferreira
On Wednesday, Paramount Global will reportedly start by letting go of at least 1 000 workers in the United States, followed by another 1 000 workers, that will also impact and affect staff at Paramount Africa in South Africa.
David Ellison, Paramount CEO, is slashing the Paramount workforce by 1 000 from tomorrow in the United States, with a further 1 000 people in America and internationally to follow.
The first 1 000 people let go tomorrow, represent 5% of Paramount's workforce. By December 2024 Paramount had 18 600 full-time workers and 3 500 project-based staff.
Paramount Skydance declined to comment.
In July, Craig Paterson, Paramount Africa senior vice president and general manager, as well as Monde Twala, senior vice-president and general manager of Paramount Africa and lead of BET International, told Paramount Africa staffers that Paramount is considering shutting down local operations in Africa as the company "evaluates its pay-TV strategy and local channel footprint here in Africa".
The cutbacks at Paramount's international divisions like Africa, the United Kingdom and Europe will reportedly happen within weeks.
Paramount's axing of its workforce comes as Paramount Skydance is making a play for Warner Bros. Discovery with at least three takeover offers that have been made by Paramount for WBD over the past few months.
