Black Bear hires ex-Paramount executive Dan Cohen to lead TV distribution

Black Bear has hired former Paramount executive Dan Cohen to run its television distribution business.

The appointment was reported on 29 September 2026. Cohen will act as head of television distribution at the independent studio founded by chief executive Teddy Schwarzman, according to Deadline.

Cohen was most recently Chief Content Licensing Officer at Paramount and President of Republic Pictures. He left Paramount ahead of its takeover by David Ellison's Skydance.

It is a senior sales pedigree. Cohen previously rose from head of international television sales to president of worldwide home entertainment and television distribution at Paramount Pictures, as reported by Screen Daily. He later succeeded Armando Nuñez as head of the ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

At Black Bear, his brief centres on post-theatrical distribution. That means selling films after their cinema run to buyers including streamers, broadcasters and home entertainment platforms.

The hire fills a clear gap. Black Bear is handling a growing slate of its own films. Upcoming titles include Wicker, Wife & Dog, Jason Statham Stole My Bike and A Woman in the Sun.

The company already licenses finished films to outside buyers. It licensed Tuner, starring Leo Woodall and Dustin Hoffman, to Paramount+. It also licensed Ric Roman Waugh's Shelter and Guy Ritchie's In The Grey to Starz.

Cohen also arrives as Black Bear launches Black Bear Digital Networks. The unit is designed to help independent content owners earn money across FAST and AVOD services. FAST means free streaming channels supported by adverts. AVOD means on-demand video funded by advertising rather than subscriptions.

For viewers, this means clearer routes to find Black Bear films after cinemas. Deals will decide which streamer or channel shows them, and when.