One of the biggest executive questions about Paramount following its pending acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery — who will lead streaming — may have been answered.

Cindy Holland is leaving Paramount where she was Chairman of Direct-To-Consumer since the Skydance-Paramount merger having served as an advisor to Skydance CEO David Ellison prior to that. She announced her departure in a company memo, which you can read below.

The move leaves HBO’s Casey Bloys as the likely streaming head of the combined Paramount-WBD.

“Cindy is one of the most exceptional executives in our industry — a force of nature whose impact on Paramount over the past year has been significant,” Paramount CEO David Ellison said. “Under her leadership, P+ reached new heights, Pluto TV underwent its most significant transformation in a decade, and we strengthened our content and sports portfolio – all while the business exceeded the ambitious goals we set. Just as importantly, she built an exceptional team and a strong foundation for the future. Cindy has been a trusted partner to me and so many others, and I couldn’t be more grateful for her leadership, her relentless drive and everything she’s done for our company.”

Here is Holland’s memo:

When I joined David’s team in January 2025, we proceeded to set three goals: i) advise on the Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition, ii) integrate and transform Paramount+ & revive Pluto TV, and iii) build an unparalleled team in this industry. In just over 12 months, I’m proud to say we accomplished all three and it’s been a joy to work closely with all of you.
Together with the Product team, we drove significant strategic and organizational change across DTC — building a new foundation for growth on both services, while investing in greater depth and breadth of programming and delivering strong revenue, profit, and subscriber growth for the division.
As David readies for the next phase of his vision, we’ve discussed my role and the future of the combined businesses. David is optimizing for HBO stability as we move into this next chapter, and I fully support that. I know this team has the leadership and expertise to manage through the transition and the next phase of the company, and to this end today will mark my last day here.
As I reflect on my time here and all that we’ve built together in this short time, what stands out most to me is this team. I have never been more proud of a group of people. What we’ve accomplished together is remarkable — landing quarter after quarter while navigating extraordinary uncertainty and change with resilience, focus and ambition. We grew Paramount+ to an all-time subscriber high, delivered the best retention in the service’s history, and drove double-digit growth in both engagement and revenue. We built an extraordinary content pipeline, greenlighting more than 40 new and returning series and setting all-time records with Landman, the most-watched series in Paramount+ history, and Dutton Ranch, the service’s biggest original series debut ever. We transformed live sports into a powerful streaming growth engine, securing landmark agreements with UFC and Zuffa Boxing and expanding our WNBA and UEFA Champions League rights – with UFC Freedom 250 becoming the largest-ever audience for an exclusive live event on Paramount+ and UFC 329 setting a new platform record for peak concurrent streams for an exclusive live event. And we undertook Pluto TV’s biggest product transformation in a decade, dramatically increasing registered viewing and VOD consumption while delivering strong financial performance across the business. These are extraordinary accomplishments – but what makes me proudest is how we achieved them: together, with an unwavering commitment to our audiences, our creative partners and one another.
I joined Paramount because I believe in these businesses, and because I believe wholeheartedly that the combination of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery serves the best interests of artists and audiences worldwide. I’m looking forward to seeing what you all accomplish together in this next, momentous chapter.
Cindy

While President Trump was holding a press conference at the White House this morning and extolling the AI-related work of Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Anthropic’s Dario Amodei and SpaceX’s Elon Musk, a promo for tomorrow night’s South Park episode dropped. It was less salutary.

Here’s the logline for Episode 6 of Season 29: “Butters is unhappy with the data centers that the billionaires are building in our backyards.”

The clip opens with an X-Pest exterminator guy ringing the doorbell at Butters’ home.

“I understand you’ve got some billionaires in your back yard,” he says.

“Yeah, there’s more of these stupid billionaires every day!” replies Butters.

The first image from the episode (see it above) shows Butters in what appears to be his back yard with the X-Pest exterminator guy, who has strapped on his tank of poison and has his sprayer wand at the ready.

The topic of data centers is a hot one across the country and especially in Hollywood, where unions and workers worry about job displacement and writers and directors express concern over what it might do to their art.

Among the biggest players in the data center land rush is, of course, Oracle CEO and Paramount-WBD deal financier Larry Ellison. South Park airs on Comedy Central, which is owned by Paramount. As in the past, the show’s creators are seemingly not afraid to bite the hand that feeds them.

Mark Ruffalo and others have decried the introduction of “really profoundly scary technology” into Hollywood and how AI might impact media outlets soon to be owned by Ellison and his son David.

“Larry is a classic Oligarch,” wrote Ruffalo. “They are crushing workers and consolidating the wealth of the world for their own power and concentrated dominance.”

Paramount, for its part, responded by accusing Ruffalo of using “antisemitic tropes” in his argument, especially when linking the Ellisons’ studio acquisition to Oracle’s work with the Israeli military.

Lisa Vanderpump is taking Bravo viewers behind the scenes of the opening of her hotel in Sin City with Vanderpump Rules: Lisa Las Vegas, set to premiere Tuesday, October 20, at 9 p.m. ET.

The three-part event, set to air over two nights, will feature fan favorites joining the celebration, with cameos from Lala Kent, Tom Schwartz, and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Garcelle Beauvais.

Vanderpump teamed up with Caesars Entertainment and is betting big on her most ambitious Vegas venture yet: a namesake hotel. This isn’t just another grand opening; it’s Lisa’s biggest gamble to date and a chance to cement her legacy. With a to-do list longer than the Strip itself, LVP and her A-Team pull back the curtain on what it really takes to get a boutique resort ready for its lavish opening – and VIP check in – Vanderpump style.

Lisa is joined by her husband Ken Todd, daughter Pandora Vanderpump Sabo, longtime business partner Nick Alain and a trusted team of collaborators. Longtime friend Kevin Lee is also back in Lisa’s orbit after a stint working with one of her rivals.

The down-to-the-wire drama wouldn’t be complete without some SURvers lending a helping hand. Natalie Maguire, Venus Binkley, Chris Hahn, Angelica Jensen, Marcus Johnson, and Audrey Lingle take a road trip in support of Lisa.

Vanderpump Rules: Lisa Las Vegas is produced by 32 Flavors, a part of Sony Pictures Television and Evolution Media, an MGM Company. Alex Baskin, Michael Beck, Natalie Neurauter, Brian McCarthy, Brittany Nabors, Barry Poznick, Lisa Vanderpump and Ken Todd executive produce.

Episode Release Guide Schedule

“Part 1: Vegas? That’s Epic, Baby!”
Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 9 p.m. ET/PT
Lisa Vanderpump gets the chance to open up her very own hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, but she and her team feel the pressure as they attempt to check everything off their never-ending to-do list. Walking into the space, everything feels like a construction site and Lisa fears those around her have a lack of urgency. Also on the agenda? Making up with a former friend and reminding her SURvers that photoshoots are work, not play.

“Part 2: If It Was Easy, Everyone Would Do It”
Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 10 p.m. ET/PT
With time running out, Lisa and her team rush to put the finishing touches on the hotel. Guests begin to check in before all the rooms are ready and late deliveries, holes in the ceiling, and complaining guests threaten to derail the opening. At home, Lisa opens up about how her childhood affected her drive to succeed.

“Part 3: Misbehave Accordingly”
Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 9 p.m. ET/PT
Lisa Vanderpump has opened 39 restaurants and now finally, her very own hotel. With celebrity guests arriving in droves to celebrate the grand opening party, excitement is at an all-time high, but so are the expectations. Lisa only gets one chance to make a lasting first impression and the pressure is on for The Vanderpump Hotel to keep the momentum going long after the party ends.