TBI’s 2023 Predictions: Marco Nobili, EVP & Int’l GM, Paramount+

Marco Nobili

As the new year gets underway, TBI talks to some of the biggest names in the global TV industry to get their thoughts on the major trends and best shows coming up in the next 12 months.

Here, Marco Nobili, EVP and international general manager of Paramount Global’s streaming service Paramount+, talks adding scale, loving what you do and finding new ways to connect with audiences.

Tulsa King

What is the biggest growth area for your company this year?

A big focus for our company has been on streaming, both SVOD and FAST, and streaming will continue to be a high priority for us in 2023.

2022 has been the year of global expansion for Paramount+, as we launched the service in the UK and Ireland, South Korea, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria, bringing Paramount+ to 45 markets globally, and there are more to come.

If 2022 has been the year of global expansion, in 2023 we will focus on scaling our presence in these new markets by bringing new releases of our biggest franchises like Tulsa King, 1923, Star Trek, Top Gun: Maverick and more; accelerating and expanding our distribution even more and continuing to develop local original content.

What is the key trend going to be in 2023?

There is a growing consumer need to find their content and service in an easy way. Fragmentation is sometimes overwhelming for consumers, so we plan to bring the service to consumers in an easy way, like we have done with our hard bundle offerings with Sky Cinema subscribers in the UK, Italy and Germany, Switzerland and Austria, and with CANAL+ and Orange subscribers in France, and through our Prime Video Channels and Apple TV channels. We will continue to scale that concept of ease and accessibility even more in order to improve consumer experiences and engagement with our service.

Another trend will be connecting with consumers in multiple ways. Consumers are looking into even more immersive and expansive experiences, now especially with the inception of the Metaverse. In 2023, we plan to identify new ways to connect audiences with our IPs. One example is with the recent partnerships we did with Qantas and with British Airways to bring our content to travelers in-flight. We’ve also created fan experiences, such as the world’s tallest hologram of the Master Chief, Spartan 117, in Toronto, Mexico City, Sao Paulo and Sydney to celebrate the premiere of Halo, as well as drone shows and many other consumer activations around the world. We’ll look to continue to bring these activations to audiences worldwide in even more immersive and impactful ways.

What is your New Year’s resolution and why?

I am not a big believer of New Year’s resolutions. If you want to change something, you have to believe in it every day. I am instead a big believer in having a purpose. We do have a great purpose here about what we do and why we do it; as a team we really want to “Entertain The Planet” and we work hard every day to make that happen. The joy of reaching something requiring hard work over a long period of time is very rewarding, and something that requires conviction and passion. I feel very fortunate to do something I love, something that creates emotions to so many people across the world. And it is special to do all of this along with many incredible and talented human beings.

What will be the biggest headline in 2023 and why?

“The Winner of the Streaming Wars: Paramount+ is the #1 Fastest Growing Paid Streaming Service and Brand This Year, with Blockbuster Films, Unbeatable Franchises and Unrivalled Star Power.”

Yellowjackets

What show are you most looking forward to in 2023?  

Ah, very tough question, there is a ton I am very excited to see coming to life in 2023; so I am going to mention a couple of them, clearly coming to Paramount+ internationally at some point, one global, one local and one movie.

First, the second season of Yellowjackets, this show is such a thrilling one and I cannot wait to watch it (even if I admit I got a sneak peek). There are still lots of questions about who survived, what happened out there and there will be some real surprises in terms of that and some new characters.

Second is a local original coming from Australia that has been in the works for a little bit: The Last King Of The Cross. With Tim Roth, this is a series about the sordid underbelly of Sydney’s Kings Cross in the ’80s and ’90s. Expect drugs, crime, sex and other sorts of hanky-panky in a narrative inspired by the real-life story of entrepreneur John Ibrahim.

Last but not the least, Babylon from our incredible Paramount Pictures studio, with two of my favorite stars: Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt.

Read more from TBI’s 2023 Predictions

• Tom Fussell, CEO, BBC Studios
• Mikiko Nishiyama, EVP, Nippon TV
• Julian Bellamy, CEO, ITV Studios
• Nomsa Philiso, executive head of programming, Multichoice
• Marina Williams, co-CEO, Asacha Media Group