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CBS Corporation

The second incarnation of CBS Corporation (the first being a short-lived rename of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation) was an American multinational media company with interests primarily in commercial broadcasting, publishing, and television production. It was formed on December 31, 2005, as the legal successor of the original Viacom, following the spin-off of the second incarnation of Viacom; both CBS Corporation and the second Viacom were controlled by National Amusements, a theater company owned by billionaire Sumner Redstone.[3]

This article is about the media conglomerate in operation from 2005 to 2019. For the original CBS Corporation that operated from 1997 to 2000, see Westinghouse Electric Corporation. For the media conglomerate that acquired the first incarnation in 2000 and ceased operations in 2005, see Viacom (1952–2005).

Company type

  • NYSE: CBS.A (Class A)
  • NYSE: CBS (Class B non voting)

December 31, 2005 (2005-12-31)

December 4, 2019 (2019-12-04)

ViacomCBS (now known as Paramount Global)

Worldwide, with main operations in the United States and Australia

Increase US$ 14.514 billion (2018)

Decrease US$ 2.768 billion (2018)

Decrease US$ 1.960 billion (2018)

Decrease US$ 21.86 billion (2018)

Decrease US$ 2.80 billion (2018)

National Amusements (80% voting power)

~12,700 (2017)

CBS Entertainment
CBS Cable Networks
CBS Publishing
CBS Local Media
CBS Experiences[1]

www.cbscorporation.com (archived Dec 4, 2019)

CBS Corporation comprised the over-the-air television (CBS and The CW) broadcasting, television production and distribution, publishing, pay-cable, and recording assets that were previously owned by the first Viacom. It was the world's eighth largest entertainment company in terms of revenue and headquartered at the CBS Building in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.[4]


CBS Corporation announced on August 13, 2019, that it would merge with Viacom for the second time to form ViacomCBS (now known as Paramount Global).[5] The merger was completed on December 4.[6][7]

1912

Lasky Feature Play Company is founded

Paramount Pictures is founded as a film distributor

Famous Players and Lasky merge as Famous Players–Lasky and acquire Paramount

Westinghouse Broadcasting forms with the launch of KDKA-AM

CBS is founded; Famous Players–Lasky assumes Paramount's name

Paramount buys 49% of CBS

Paramount sells back shares of CBS

Desilu is founded and CBS distributes its television programs

CBS creates the CBS Television Film Sales division

CBS Television Film Sales renamed to CBS Films

Gulf+Western buys Paramount

Gulf+Western acquires Desilu and renames it Paramount Television; CBS Films becomes CBS Enterprises

CBS Enterprises renamed to Viacom

Viacom is spun off from CBS as a separate company

Viacom buys full ownership of Showtime and MTV Networks

National Amusements buys Viacom

Gulf+Western renamed to Paramount Communications

Viacom acquires Paramount Communications

Westinghouse buys CBS

Westinghouse renamed to CBS Corporation

Viacom buys CBS Corporation

Viacom buys BET Networks

Viacom splits into second CBS Corporation and Viacom

CBS Corporation and Viacom re-merge as ViacomCBS

ViacomCBS renamed to Paramount Global

Candace K. Beinecke

Barbara M. Byrne

Gary L. Countryman

Brian Goldner

Linda M. Griego

Robert N. Klieger

Martha L. Minow

(vice-chair)

Shari Redstone

(chairman emeritus)

Sumner Redstone

Susan Schuman

Frederick O. Terrell

Strauss Zelnick (interim chairman)

The board of directors of CBS Corporation included:[54]

an old instance of the company, purchased by the old Viacom in 1999.

Westinghouse Electric Corporation

the holding company that assumes operation of CBS Corp.'s television stations.

CBS Television Stations

and Media conglomerate

Concentration of media ownership

/BET Networks, part of the new Paramount Global corporation.

MTV Networks

(archived, 1 Dec 2018)

Official website