Sebastián Chames is Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Paramount International Markets and has worked in the company in different roles for over 25 years. In his current role, Sebastián Chames leads the Legal and Business Affairs team of Paramount’s streaming, networks, and studio business for international markets. The streaming business comprises world-renowned direct-to-consumer services across free, premium, and pay, including Pluto TV and Paramount+. The network business has powerful brands like MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, and more; and the free-to-air channels, Channel 5 in the UK, Network 10 in Australia, Telefe in Argentina, and Chilevisión in Chile. Chames manages a legal team of + 125, including in-house counsels, music media license professionals and broadcast compliance officers.

In Latin America, Paramount deploys a legal team of + 25 professionals across Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Miami. The larger legal team in LATAM is in Argentina, where Paramount owns and operates Telefe, the leading commercial broadcaster in the country with key productions that go from TV series, reality shows, news, and sports.

Sebastián Chames and his team have worked on several strategic acquisitions across Latin America over the years, including in 2021, the acquisition from WarnerMedia of Chilevisión, now one of the most popular broadcasters in Chile, and the acquisition from the Walt Disney Co. of a majority stake in Spanish-language content producer Fox TeleColombia & Estudios TeleMexico. The latter deal positioned Paramount as one of the world’s leading Spanish-language content production companies.

Additionally, Sebastián Chames worked on the expansion of the streaming business in Latin America including the launch of Pluto TV and Paramount+. These services are achieving incredible results with programs like “Big Brother” on Pluto TV, sports rights, Paramount+ TV series that travel worldwide like “Los Enviados”, and events such as MIAW, Kids’ Choice Awards, or Vidcon. In addition, Paramount has a solid consumer product business in Latin America and incredible location-based entertainment activities with resorts and parks.

How do you adapt your legal counseling to align with various LATAM countries’ diverse business practices and customs?

The critical element to our success is a solid Legal Team operating on the ground capable of perfectly understanding the local business and regulations whilst working closely with our central team, which is organized in groups specialized in specific legal areas (including regulatory/compliance, content, commercial, studio, and music). This organization and process allow us to operate as “one Paramount,” ensuring a global strategy and a local execution, in compliance with local needs and requirements.

What are the most significant cases and transactions in the LATAM region that you or your legal team have recently been involved in?

Several M&A transactions, including the acquisition of Chilevision and Fox TeleColombia & Estudios TeleMexico mentioned above, and key distribution and content partnerships that allowed the expansion our streaming services, Pluto TV, and Paramount+.

What are your organization’s plans in the LATAM region over the next 12 months, and how will your legal expertise help to achieve these plans?

Our business in Latin America is solid and continues to evolve. As a legal team, we will continue supporting the business in various areas, including content, streaming, free-to-air networks, where we apply our expertise in media law, regulatory, copyright etc.