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Paramount Creates New Sports Entertainment Division, Led by Jesse Sisgold (Exclusive)

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Thursday, September 11th 2025 at 15:21 GMT by The Hollywood Reporter
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Paramount Sets Sights on the Streaming Play‑by‑Play Frontier with New Sports Executive

Hollywood Reporter, September 2025

In a move that signals Paramount’s determination to make a splash in the increasingly crowded sports‑streaming arena, the studio announced that Jesse Sisgold will take the reins of its newly‑established Sports Entertainment Division. The appointment, confirmed on Thursday, positions Sisgold—a seasoned veteran of broadcast and cable sports programming—at the heart of Paramount’s push to deliver live and on‑demand sporting content to a global audience that now lives, plays and watches on a variety of digital platforms.

Who is Jesse Sisgold?

Sisgold’s career spans more than two decades in sports broadcasting. He cut his teeth as an associate producer at CBS Sports Network, moved on to a senior programming role at Fox Sports, and spent the last decade shaping ESPN’s digital strategy as the Vice‑President of Content Acquisition. In that capacity he negotiated high‑profile deals for the NCAA tournaments and the NBA, and oversaw the launch of ESPN+—the streaming service that has become the flagship of the ESPN brand’s digital pivot.

“Jesse is a visionary who understands both the traditional and the new media landscapes,” said Mike Richards, Paramount’s CEO, in a brief statement. “He brings a track record of securing premium sports rights and a deep understanding of how audiences consume content today.”

Sisgold’s résumé also includes a stint as the Senior Vice‑President of Programming for NBC Sports, where he shepherded the network’s multi‑platform coverage of the Olympics and the Super Bowl. His experience across the major U.S. sports rights holders will be an asset as Paramount looks to expand its portfolio and create a bundled offering that can compete with Disney’s ESPN+, Apple TV’s “Sports” channel and Amazon Prime Video’s burgeoning sports portfolio.

Paramount’s Strategic Shift: From Linear to Bundled Streaming

Paramount’s sports strategy is part of a larger corporate plan that seeks to harness the synergy between its traditional linear channels—such as CBS Sports, Showtime, and the upcoming Paramount+ sports block—and its streaming ambitions. The company’s new division will coordinate live coverage, original documentaries, and behind‑the‑scenes content across all of its platforms.

A key element of this strategy is the “Paramount Sports+” bundle, an upcoming add‑on to Paramount+ that will feature premium sports rights, on‑demand game replays, and live streaming of select events. The bundle is slated for launch in the fourth quarter of 2025 and will be offered as a $8‑per‑month add‑on on top of the base Paramount+ subscription.

“This is not just about adding sports to our streaming service; it’s about re‑inventing how people consume sports in a digital age,” Sisgold told reporters at the launch. “We’re looking at a model that blends live events, immersive replays, and original storytelling—think “The Last Dance” meets “The Playbook.””

New Rights Deals and Partnerships

Sisgold’s first big move as head of the division will be to secure new rights deals that can anchor the Paramount Sports+ bundle. The most high‑profile partnership announced in conjunction with his appointment is a multi‑year agreement with the Premier League. Under the deal, Paramount+ will stream select live matches in the U.S., along with exclusive “matchday” content and behind‑the‑scenes features. The partnership is valued at roughly $1.2 billion over five years, making it one of the most expensive U.S. sports rights deals in recent memory.

In addition to the Premier League, Paramount is in advanced talks with the National Basketball Association (NBA) to add a limited‑supply stream of All‑Star weekend coverage to Paramount+ and Paramount Sports+. The league’s streaming strategy has been a work in progress, with the NBA recently launching its own “NBA League Pass” service. Paramount’s entry could give the NBA a fresh distribution channel that reaches the younger, tech‑savvy audiences that Paramount is targeting.

The studio has also been courting the National Football League (NFL) for a similar limited‑supply deal that would bring “Super Bowl Sunday” content to Paramount+. While a formal agreement is still pending, insiders say that the NFL’s “Monday Night Football” rights—currently held by ESPN—are a likely target for the Paramount‑led division.

Original Content and “Athlete‑First” Storytelling

Beyond live sports, Sisgold has signaled that Paramount’s sports division will become a prolific producer of original content, drawing on the studio’s extensive library and its ability to leverage high‑profile personalities. “The audience wants to see the human stories behind the numbers,” he said. “We’re planning a slate of documentary‑style series that will profile athletes, coaches, and even the business side of sports.”

Some of the announced projects include a six‑part series on the rise of women’s soccer in the U.S., an intimate look at the inner workings of a major sports franchise’s front office, and a multi‑season profile of a legendary coach in the making. These programs will be available on Paramount+, on Paramount’s linear sports channels, and through a dedicated “Sports Originals” portal that will also be accessible on mobile devices.

The move toward original content is inspired, in part, by the success of streaming services like Amazon’s “Bosch: Legacy” and ESPN+’s “E:60.” Paramount aims to replicate that model with its own roster of “Sports Stories,” providing audiences with content that can’t be found elsewhere.

The Broader Implications for the Streaming Wars

Paramount’s new sports division is a direct challenge to Disney’s ESPN+ and Apple TV’s growing sports offerings. By bundling rights to the Premier League, the NBA, and potentially the NFL, Paramount hopes to create a “sports‑centric” tier that can attract new subscribers and keep existing ones from drifting to competitors.

Industry analysts view Sisgold’s appointment as a sign that Paramount is serious about becoming a “full‑service” sports media company, not just a distributor of linear content. “It’s about creating a differentiated experience for sports fans who crave instant access, high‑quality production, and narrative depth,” said Laura Kim, a senior analyst at Gartner.

The new division will also explore emerging technologies, such as augmented reality replays and interactive statistics overlays, to enhance the viewing experience. Sisgold noted that “the next frontier for sports is not just watching the game—it’s participating in it.”

Looking Ahead

With the launch of Paramount Sports+ and the fresh influx of rights and original programming under Jesse Sisgold’s leadership, Paramount is setting itself up to be a major player in the sports streaming market. As more consumers turn to digital platforms for live events, the studio’s bold strategy could very well redefine the sports‑viewing experience in the U.S. and beyond.

For now, the sports community will be watching to see how Sisgold’s track record translates into new deals, innovative content, and a compelling streaming experience that competes head‑to‑head with the likes of ESPN+, Disney+, and Apple TV.