Key Stats
Pluto TV is a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount Skydance, acquired originally by Viacom in 2019 for approximately $340 million.
The platform reaches over 80 million monthly active users globally as of 2025, with more than 50 million in the United States (source).
Pluto TV generates an estimated $2.3 billion in annual advertising revenue, with zero subscription fees charged to users.
Paramount Skydance trades on the Nasdaq under the ticker PSKY, with the Ellison family holding 100% voting control (source).
Pluto TV is owned by Paramount Skydance. The free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) platform operates as a wholly owned subsidiary inside Paramount Skydance’s Direct-to-Consumer division, with no minority investors or independent share classes at the platform level.
Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Los Angeles, Pluto TV delivers hundreds of live linear channels and thousands of on-demand titles across smart TVs, mobile devices, game consoles, and web browsers. The service funds itself through targeted advertising rather than subscriptions. It operates in the Americas and Europe, carrying approximately 425 channels from partners including CBS, Nickelodeon, MTV, and over 400 third-party distributors. Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison confirmed in August 2025 that Pluto TV and Paramount+ will move to a unified technology stack starting in 2026.
Who Owns Pluto TV?
Paramount Skydance Corporation owns Pluto TV outright. The parent company was formed in August 2025 after Paramount Global merged with Skydance Media in a deal valued at roughly $8 billion. Every aspect of Pluto TV’s governance, from content licensing to international expansion, is controlled through Paramount Skydance’s leadership.
Pluto TV Parent Company Structure
Pluto TV sits inside the Direct-to-Consumer division of Paramount Skydance, reporting to Cindy Holland, a former Netflix executive who took over in August 2025. The platform has no independent board or separate public listing. Its results are consolidated into Paramount Skydance’s overall reporting.
How Viacom First Acquired Pluto TV
Viacom purchased Pluto TV in January 2019 for approximately $340 million in cash. That acquisition gave Viacom immediate scale in free streaming television and a distribution channel for cable brands like MTV and Nickelodeon. Through subsequent transitions (ViacomCBS in 2019, Paramount Global in 2022, and Paramount Skydance in 2025), Pluto TV remained 100% internally held.
Largest Shareholders of Pluto TV
Pluto TV itself has no public shareholders because it is a wholly owned subsidiary. Ownership exposure is available only through Paramount Skydance’s publicly traded stock (PSKY on Nasdaq). The shareholder base combines controlling family interests, strategic private equity, and institutional investors.
The Ellison Family
David Ellison, Paramount Skydance’s chairman and CEO, holds the majority of voting rights. His father, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, holds approximately 35.5% of the family’s voting interest through a trust-controlled entity called Sayonara LLC. Together, the Ellison family exercises 100% voting control over the company, meaning all major decisions affecting Pluto TV trace back to their authority.
Pluto TV Ownership Chain
RedBird Capital Partners
Gerry Cardinale’s RedBird Capital Partners co-financed the Skydance-Paramount merger alongside the Ellison family. RedBird holds a significant equity stake through investment vehicles tied to Paramount Skydance. Both Cardinale and RedBird chairman John L. Thornton sit on the board of directors, reflecting the firm’s active role in shaping long-term strategy, including oversight of digital advertising operations across platforms like Pluto TV.
Institutional Investors
Paramount Skydance’s publicly traded non-voting Class B stock is held by mutual funds, pension funds, and index-tracking ETFs. These institutional shareholders gain indirect economic exposure to Pluto TV through Paramount Skydance’s consolidated earnings but do not influence subsidiary-level decisions.
Who Is on the Board of Directors for Paramount Skydance?
Pluto TV does not maintain its own board. All governance flows through Paramount Skydance’s board, which had 11 members as of early 2026, blending media and entertainment veterans with technology and finance executives.
Executive Directors
David Ellison chairs the board and serves as CEO. He founded Skydance Media in 2010 and produced films including the Mission: Impossible and Top Gun franchises. Jeff Shell, Paramount Skydance’s president, previously ran NBCUniversal. Andy Gordon, the chief operating and strategy officer, joined from RedBird Capital and oversees corporate integrations.
Technology and Finance Directors
Safra Catz, CEO of Oracle, brings technology infrastructure expertise. Her presence connects Paramount Skydance to Oracle’s cloud capabilities supporting the platform unification planned for 2026. Andrew Campion, CEO of Unrivaled Sports and a former Nike COO, joined in January 2026 as an independent director. Dennis Cinelli, previously on the board, stepped down in January 2026 to become the company’s CFO.
Investment and Strategic Directors
Gerry Cardinale (RedBird Capital founder), John L. Thornton (RedBird chairman), and Paul Marinelli (president of Lawrence Investments, the Ellison family’s private investment firm) represent the major shareholder-aligned directors on the board.
Independent Directors
Sherry Lansing, who previously ran Paramount Pictures, serves as an independent director with decades of studio experience. Barbara Byrne, former vice chairman of Barclays, provides corporate finance perspective. Justin G. Hamill, chief legal officer at Silver Lake, contributes governance and legal expertise from one of the largest technology-focused private equity firms.
History of Pluto TV Co-founders
Three entrepreneurs co-founded Pluto TV in 2013, launching the public beta on March 31, 2014.
Tom Ryan
Ryan served as co-founder and CEO, guiding Pluto TV’s product development and growth. Under his leadership, the platform became profitable by 2020, surpassed $1 billion in annual revenue by 2021, and grew to over 80 million users. He later became president and CEO of Paramount Streaming. Ryan departed in August 2025 after the Skydance merger closed. He now chairs Struck Studio, an AI-focused venture studio, and has co-founded new media ventures including Ex Machina Studios.
Ilya Pozin and Nick Grouf
Pozin contributed to Pluto TV’s user-friendly design and early growth, drawing on experience from founding earlier tech businesses. Grouf, who initially served as chairman, had a background in venture capital and startups including PeoplePC and Spotrunner. His expertise helped shape early fundraising (the company raised $51.8 million across five rounds) and distribution partnerships. The three founders built Pluto TV to serve cord-cutters who wanted a no-cost alternative to traditional cable television.
Pluto TV Estimated Annual Revenue (USD Billions)
FAQs
Who owns Pluto TV in 2026?
Paramount Skydance owns Pluto TV. It is a wholly owned subsidiary with 100% equity held by the parent company, which trades on Nasdaq under the ticker PSKY.
Is Pluto TV free to use?
Yes. Pluto TV is entirely free. It generates revenue through video and display advertising rather than subscription fees, making it one of the largest FAST services worldwide.
Who founded Pluto TV?
Tom Ryan, Ilya Pozin, and Nick Grouf co-founded Pluto TV in 2013. The public beta launched on March 31, 2014, from a small office in West Hollywood, California.
How much did Viacom pay for Pluto TV?
Viacom acquired Pluto TV in January 2019 for approximately $340 million in cash. The deal transferred 100% ownership to Viacom, ending Pluto TV’s independent status.
Are Pluto TV and Tubi owned by the same company?
No. Pluto TV is owned by Paramount Skydance, while Tubi is owned by Fox Corporation. Both are ad-supported streaming services but operate under different parent companies.
