Paramount & Pluto Vet Jeff Shultz Named CEO Of Radial Entertainment, Parent Of Shout Studios And FilmRise
Jeff Shultz, a former Paramount exec who was a key member of the management team that took Pluto TV from an early FAST pioneer to a billion-dollar business, has been named CEO of Radial Entertainment.
Radial was formed earlier this year after Oaktree Capital bought Filmrise and merged it with Shout! Studios.
Garson Foos, who ran Shout! as CEO during an exec stint of more than two decades, was initially installed as CEO of Radial. Oaktree has been assembling a sizable film library and saw potential in a rollup of FilmRise and Shout, which recently acquired Gravitas Ventures.
Foos will join Danny Fisher on the Radial Entertainment Board as Executive Chairman.
“We are extremely grateful for all of Garson’s efforts in guiding us through the seamless transition of this exciting merger. His leadership from the very beginning of our partnership with Shout and through this pivotal period laid a strong foundation for Radial’s future growth,” Jared Frandle, managing director for Oaktree’s “special situations” strategy, said in a statement. “We are now thrilled to welcome Jeff – a highly seasoned veteran of the streaming industry and a uniquely qualified media executive – to lead Radial into this next chapter.”
Shultz was Chief Business Officer of Pluto TV, which was founded in 2014 and broke ground in helping create the FAST marketplace in streaming. After Pluto was acquired by Viacom in 2019, Shultz became Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Business Development Officer for Streaming at Paramount. He oversaw the company’s global direct-to-consumer strategy and partnership portfolio during the launch of Paramount+ before departing the company in October 2024.
“I’m fortunate to inherit an exceptional team and the legacy of two highly successful brands. I am fully aligned with Garson, Danny, and the Oaktree team on a shared vision to build Radial into one of the most valuable independent players in the global streaming market,” Shultz said in a statement. “At Pluto TV and Paramount, I had a front-row seat to the rapid growth of Shout! and FilmRise. Now combined as Radial, the company is uniquely positioned to capture the massive opportunity in the rapidly evolving media market, leveraging its financial scale, vast and compelling catalog, and expansive and diversified distribution, all amplified by Oaktree’s support. I am honored to lead Radial into this next chapter of growth.”
Variety first reported on Shultz’s new post.
