Viacom (1952–2005)
The original phase of Viacom Inc.[a] (derived from "Video & Audio Communications") was an American mass media and entertainment conglomerate based in New York City. It began as CBS Television Film Sales, the broadcast syndication division of the CBS television network in 1952; it was renamed CBS Films in 1958, renamed CBS Enterprises in 1968, renamed Viacom in 1970, and spun off into its own company in 1971. Viacom was a distributor of CBS television series throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and also distributed syndicated television programs. The company went under Sumner Redstone's control in 1987 through his cinema chain company National Amusements.[3]
This article is about the original media conglomerate that existed until 2005. For its successors, see CBS Corporation and Viacom (2005–2019).Formerly
- CBS Television Film Sales (1952–1958)
- CBS Films (1958–1968)
- CBS Enterprises Inc. (1968–1970)
NYSE: VIA
March 16, 1952
December 31, 2005
Split into the second incarnations of CBS Corporation and Viacom
Worldwide
Sumner Redstone (chairman and CEO)
Tom Freston (co-president and co-COO)
Les Moonves (co-president and co-COO)
CBS
(1952–1971)
National Amusements
(1987–2005)
At the time of its split, Viacom's assets included the CBS and UPN broadcast networks, the Paramount Pictures film and television studio, local radio station operator CBS Radio, cable channels such as MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET and Showtime, outdoor media operator Viacom Outdoor, television production and distribution firm King World Productions, and book publisher Simon & Schuster. It also owned its IP holding subsidiary Viacom International and brand licensor Westinghouse Licensing Corporation.
In 2000, Viacom acquired the parent company of CBS, the former Westinghouse Electric Corporation, which had been renamed CBS Corporation in 1997. Viacom was split into the second incarnations of CBS Corporation and Viacom — both remained under National Amusements ownership — in 2005;[4] the split was structured with the second CBS Corporation being the original Viacom's legal successor, and the second Viacom being an entirely new company. The two companies eventually re-merged in 2019, leading to the formation of ViacomCBS, now known as Paramount Global.
1886
Westinghouse Electric Corporation is founded
Famous Players Film Company is founded
Lasky Feature Play Company is founded
Paramount Pictures is founded
Famous Players and Lasky merge as Famous Players–Lasky and acquire Paramount
Famous Players–Lasky renamed to Paramount Famous Lasky Corporation; CBS is founded
Paramount acquires 49% of CBS
Paramount Famous Lasky Corporation renamed to Paramount Publix Corporation
Paramount sells back its shares of CBS
Gulf+Western is founded as the Michigan Bumper Corporation
Paramount Publix Corporation renamed to Paramount Pictures
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 acquires Paramount
Gulf+Western acquires Desilu and renames it Paramount Television (now CBS Studios)
CBS Films renamed to CBS Enterprises
CBS Enterprises renamed to Viacom
Viacom is spun off from CBS
National Amusements acquires Viacom
Gulf+Western renamed to Paramount Communications
Viacom acquires Paramount Communications
Westinghouse acquires CBS
Westinghouse renamed to CBS Corporation
Viacom acquires UPN and CBS Corporation
Viacom splits into second CBS Corporation and Viacom
CBS Corporation shuts down UPN and replaces it with The CW
CBS Corporation and Viacom re-merge as ViacomCBS
ViacomCBS renamed to Paramount Global