Paramount Hires Dan Cohen to Expand Studio's Distribution Channels

4 Apr, 2017 By: Erik Gruenwedel

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Paramount Pictures has hired veteran studio executive Dan Cohen to the position of president of worldwide television licensing. Cohen spent the last 20 years at Disney as EVP of home entertainment and TV distribution, specializing in pay-TV and digital sales.

In his new position, Cohen will spearhead Paramount’s global licensing and distribution of movies, TV shows and related content across all distribution channels, including over-the-top video.

Cohen’s notable licensing deals include the 2012 landmark exclusive pay-TV agreement with Netflix, foreshadowed in 1999 in a deal with Starz, which the latter began sublicensing content to Netflix.

Also at Disney, Cohen helped broaden Disney Movies Anywhere to third-party pay-TV services such as Comcast and Verizon.

“I’m thrilled to bring aboard a seasoned executive like Dan, who was the force behind some of the most important pay-TV licensing deals in our industry,” Paramount COO Andrew Grumpert said in a statement.

Paramount is one of five key brands Viacom is focusing attention and funding on as it restructures internally under new CEO Bob Bakish. The executive just hired Jim Gianopulos as Paramount’s new CEO.

The studio, which includes Paramount Home Media Distribution, is expanding its brand by renaming Spike TV to The Paramount Network.

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