Bio

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 across four continents, from Asia to Europe, Africa, Canada and Latin America. The team includes in-house counsel, music media license professionals, and broadcast compliance officers.

In Latin America, Paramount deploys a legal team of professionals across Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Mexico and Colombia. 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 include TV series, reality shows, news, and sports.

Sebastián Chames and his team have been instrumental in several strategic operations in past years. These include the acquisition of Telefe, Chilevision in the FTA space, and the acquisition of Fox TeleColombia & Estudios TeleMexico, as well as the successful launch of Paramount+ and Pluto TV in multiple markets. Their role extends to negotiating key partnerships, such as Paramount+ with Claro, Mercado Libre, and Latam Airlines, and Pluto TV with Canela Media, TV Azteca, and various content deals.

These services are achieving incredible results with programmes like “Tinder Apresenta: MTV Beja Sapo” on Pluto TV, Paramount+ top original productions such as “DE FÉRIAS COM O EX: DIRETORIA”, and events such as MTV MIAWs and Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards. 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 while working closely with our central team, which is organised in groups specialised in specific legal areas (including regulatory and compliance, content, commercial, production and music). This organisation and process allow us to operate as “one Paramount”, ensuring that our global strategy is fully implemented in local markets 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 and Estudios TeleMexico, as well as key distribution and content partnerships, allowed the growth of our streaming services, Pluto TV and Paramount+.

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

As a legal team, we will continue supporting the business and global strategy in various areas, including content, streaming, and free-to-air networks. Here, we apply our expertise in media law, regulatory, copyright, and many others.