The Town with Matthew Belloni Savvy or Desperate? NBCU Poaches Taylor Sheridan From Paramount.
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Oct 27, 2025 
Lucas Shaw, a Bloomberg reporter specializing in media and entertainment, joins to dissect Taylor Sheridan's move from Paramount to NBCU. They weigh whether this decision is a savvy play or a desperate measure for NBCUniversal and Peacock. Shaw shares insights into the tensions at Paramount and what Sheridan's prolific output means for his new platform. They also discuss the future of talent deals and the potential ramifications for NBCU's strategy amidst ongoing industry changes. Finally, predictions are made about Jon Stewart's future on 'The Daily Show'.
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Sheridan Deal Buys Future, Not Current Hits
- Taylor Sheridan signed with NBCUniversal to move his TV output to Peacock/NBC starting after 2028 while films shift in March when his movie deal ends.
- Existing Sheridan shows through 2028 remain at Paramount, so NBCU buys future pipeline, not current hits.
Top Creator Justifies Big Risk
- Lucas Shaw argues NBCU had to pursue Sheridan despite clear risks because he's the top TV creator right now.
- Sheridan brings proven audience-driving power even if he's costly and difficult to manage.
Franchising Talent To Build Peacock
- Donna Langley's strategy is to franchise big creative talent at Universal and try to replicate that for Peacock.
- Peacock's identity and audience don't clearly overlap with the Sheridan universe today, making the fit uncertain.