Paramount+ Slashing Series Budgets May Lose Taylor Sheridan From Network

What is your favorite Taylor Sheridan show? Is it from the Yellowstone universe? Stallone's Tulsa King? Jeremy Renner's Mayor Of Kingstown? Special Ops: Lioness? Billy Bob Thornton's Landman?

Big changes are underway at Paramount+ following Skydance's acquisition of Paramount. One of the most immediate and impactful shifts? A firm clampdown on content spending.

The platform’s new streaming chief, Cindy Holland—formerly a leading executive at Netflix—is already setting a new tone.

According to Puck News, Holland has told creatives and agents that future original series will need to adhere to a budget cap of $9 million per episode. That figure may still sound generous, but it marks a substantial cut for high-end productions that have defined the streamer’s recent identity.

Notably affected are Taylor Sheridan’s sprawling cinematic series, which have reportedly cost between $12 million and $16 million per episode, due largely to their on-location shoots and A-list casts. Paramount was once shelling out over $500 million annually to support Sheridan's universe. That model no longer fits the revised financial playbook, and reports suggest Sheridan may be weighing his next steps.

While some shows, like the recent live-action Star Trek series, already operate within the new financial framework, others may not survive the trim. The move signals a more Netflix-style strategy under Holland, emphasizing cost control without necessarily cutting ambition.

In addition to budget reductions, Paramount+ is eyeing another streaming trend: licensing its original content to third-party platforms.

With rivals like Netflix, Prime Video, and Max reportedly showing interest, this could represent a new revenue stream to ease the burden of content production while still expanding audience reach.

Interestingly, this shakeup comes on the heels of a major win—Guy Ritchie’s MobLand recently became Paramount+’s biggest global series debut, pulling in 2.2 million viewers on March 30th. It's a reminder that while strategies may change, audience demand remains strong—so long as the content delivers.

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Source: Dark Horizons

Photo Credit: Paramount+