CBS Paramount Television

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
CBS Paramount Television
CBS Studios, Inc.
TypeSubsidiary
FoundedLos Angeles, California, USA (2006)
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California, USA
Key peopleLeslie Moonves, President & CEO
IndustryTelevision Production
RevenueImage:Green Arrow Up Darker.svg
Operating incomeImage:Red Arrow Down.svg
OwnerNational Amusements and public shareholders
ParentCBS Corporation
Websitewww.cbsparamount.com

CBS Paramount Television (formerly Desilu Productions, Paramount Television, among other companies) is an American television production/distribution company that was formed on January 17, 2006 by CBS Corporation merging Paramount Television and CBS Productions. Alongside Warner Bros. Television, it is also the television production arm of The CW Television Network (in which CBS has a 50% ownership stake).

Contents

[edit] Background and timeline

  • 1939: Established experimental television stations in Los Angeles (W6XYZ) as Television Productions Inc. and Chicago (W9XBK) with Balaban and Katz.
  • 1943: Began commercial broadcasting over WBKB in Chicago (now WBBM).
  • 1947: Began commercial broadcasting over KTLA in Los Angeles.
  • 1949: The first major studio to establish program syndication as Paramount Television Network (much of which originated from KTLA).
  • 1951: Desilu Productions formed by Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball.
  • 1952: CBS formed CBS Productions.
  • 1953: CBS formed CBS Films as the distributor of off-network and first-run syndicated programming to local TV stations in the United States and abroad.
  • 1962: Desilu formed Desilu Sales Inc. as their syndication arm.
  • 1962: ABC formed ABC Films as the domestic syndicator of independent programming supplied for the network. Worldvision Enterprises (WVE) was also established, initially as the network's international distribution branch to other countries.
  • 1963: Group W Productions estabilished by Westinghouse Broadcasting
  • 1964: King World Productions (KWP) founded by Charles King.
  • 1964: Paramount branched out of broadcasting with the sale of KTLA to Golden West Broadcasters.
  • 1966: March 24, Gulf+Western acquires Paramount Pictures.
  • 1967: Desilu Productions was acquired by Gulf+Western. The company was renamed to Paramount Television in December. Desilu Sales was in turn merged with Paramount's syndication division to become Paramount Television Sales.
  • 1967: Thomas/Spelling productions formed by Aaron Spelling and Danny Thomas.
  • 1969: Aaron Spelling Productions was established.
  • 1971: CBS Films was spun-off as Video & Audio Communications (or Viacom).
  • 1972: Spelling-Goldberg Productions formed by Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg.
  • 1973: Worldvision name adapted by ABC's original domestic syndication arm, formed in 1962.
  • 1974: Viacom Productions, a television company, was formed by Viacom.
  • 1977: Paramount Television Service was formed.
  • 1979: Worldvision acquired by Taft Entertainment Company (TECO)
  • 1982: Paramount Television Group and Paramount Domestic Television and Video Programming was established.
  • 1989: June 5, Gulf+Western was reincorporated as Paramount Communications, Inc.
  • 1989: Aaron Spelling Productions is renamed as Spelling Entertainment, Inc.
  • 1991: Worldvision acquired by Spelling from Great American Broadcasting.
  • 1992: Spelling Entertainment becomes Spelling Television, Inc.
  • 1994: March 11, Viacom acquired Paramount Communications, resulting in the formation of Paramount/Viacom as a byline for several of Viacom's subsidiaries.
  • 1995: Viacom Enterprises was absorbed into Paramount Domestic Television. The name Paramount Network Television (PNT) was also used for the first time ever (Viacom Productions would also become a division of PNT).
  • 1995: Viacom launched the United Paramount Network (UPN) with Chris-Craft Industries.
  • 1995: Westinghouse Electric acquires CBS and the company is renamed to CBS, Inc.
  • 1995: Group W Productions is renamed to Eyemark Entertainment.
  • 1996: Spelling-Goldberg Productions ceases.
  • 1999: Viacom acquired 80% of Spelling Entertainment Group (Such as Spelling Television) and Rysher Entertainment's TV holdings.
  • 1999: Viacom merged with its creator CBS.
  • 2000: In January, CBS acquires King World and forms CBS Enterprises, Inc.. Eyemark Entertainment folds in to King World
  • 2000: After Viacom's merger with CBS, Paramount TV acquired CBS Enterprises, which included King World at that time.
  • 2004: Viacom merged the international television banners of CBS Broadcast International and Paramount International Television to form CBS Paramount International Television.
  • 2004: Viacom Productions was folded into Paramount Television by ceasing its television operations.
  • 2004: Viacom merged CBS Productions and Paramount Network Television to form CBS Paramount Network Television Entertainment Group. Their respective logos remain the same.
  • 2006: When the CBS/Viacom split took effect, CBS inherited Paramount's TV program library, with the new Viacom keeping Paramount's films.
  • 2006: On January 17, CBS Corporation CEO Les Moonves announced that Paramount Television would be renamed CBS Paramount Television as of that day, after merging with CBS Productions, with both the CBS 'eyemark' and Paramount's mountain united in the new logo.[1]
  • 2006: CBS Corp. merged its TV distribution arms; King World, CBS Paramount International Television and CBS Paramount Domestic Television to form CBS Television Distribution (CTD).

[edit] The company

Today, CPT comprises two divisions: CBS Paramount Network Television and CBS Television Distribution.

The studio has an output deal with Australia's Channel Ten, which means that Ten usually gets first airing rights to the studio's productions.

[edit] King World Productions

Today, KWP is known as CBS Television Distribution. Until recently, in the U.S., King World distributed its product independently from CPT, while internationally CBS Paramount Television handled distribution and sales.

[edit] Libraries

Among CBS Paramount Television's holdings are libraries from the following:

Around the same time of CBSPT's formation, Viacom completed its acquisition of DreamWorks SKG, so CBS Paramount Television now distributes DreamWorks' library of films (such as Shrek and Gladiator) in co-operation with Tribune Entertainment, while being solely responsible for DreamWorks' TV series (such as Spin City, which Paramount TV had already syndicated since 2000, and Father of the Pride).

[edit] Past names

  • Desilu Productions (1951-1967)
  • Paramount Television (1967-2006)
  • CBS Productions (1952-2006)

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

el:CBS Paramount Television

nl:CBS Paramount Television

Views
Personal tools

Toolbox