ViacomCBS Global Distribution

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ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group
Formerly
  • CBS Broadcast International (1981–1984, 1986–2007)
  • CBS Productions (1984–1986)
  • Desilu International (1962–1968)
  • Paramount Television International (1968–1988)
  • Paramount International Television (1988–2006)
  • CBS Paramount International Television (2006–2009)
  • CBS Studios International (2009–2021)
TypeDivision
IndustryInternational television distribution
Founded1981; 40 years ago (1981)
Headquarters
  • Santa Monica, California
  • New York City, New York
Key people
Dan Cohen (President)
ParentViacomCBS
Websitewww.home.viacbscontent.com

ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group (formerly CBS Paramount International Television and CBS Studios International) is a multinational television production-distribution arm owned by ViacomCBS. It was formed in 2004 by Viacom as CBS Paramount International Television, a result of a merger between two television companies, CBS Broadcast International and Paramount International Television. Since September 26, 2006, the company has been part of the CBS Television Distribution Group. In May 2009, CBS Paramount International Television was renamed CBS Studios International. As of 2020, the subsidiary has been renamed as ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group.

The company distributes the CBS Studios library as well as the Rysher Entertainment library (owned domestically by Vine Alternative Investments), the King World Productions library (including Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, distributed on behalf of Sony Pictures Television), and certain HBO shows internationally.

History[]

CBS Broadcast International[]

CBS Broadcast International was formed in 1981 to sell CBS-produced news, sports and entertainment programing to foreign markets as well as to non-broadcast and new technology markets in the U.S.

It was eventually combined into CBS Worldwide Enterprises, and later to be combined with CBS Theatrical Films into the marketing unit CBS Productions (unrelated to the later company of the same name) on December 17, 1984.[1] In the summer of 1985, CBS Productions, CBS News and Columbia House partnered to produce a videocassette The Vietnam War with Walter Cronkite.[2]

Later that year, CBS shut down its theatrical production unit,[3] and CBS Broadcast International was split off from the production unit after they had to shut down the theatrical business, restoring the CBS Broadcast International moniker.[4] In 1988, it has plans to provide the CBS Evening News to BSB in 1989.[5] CBS Broadcast International produced the syndicated episodes of the 1985 version of The Twilight Zone.

In 1997, CBS Broadcast International and Virgin Media Television had launched an alliance for programming to the global marketplace.[6] Shortly afterwards, in 1998, CBS Broadcast International has named Stephanie Pacheco managing director of international sales.[7]

Paramount International Television[]

Paramount International Television was originally formed in 1962, first as Desilu International, then in 1968 as Paramount Television International, initially a subsidiary of Desilu Productions, later Paramount Television to handle international sales of Desilu/Paramount properties. Bruce Gordon is the manager of the company since 1962.[8] The company co-produced with the Ten Network, The Lost Islands in 1975. In 1983, it acquired distribution rights to the Australian miniseries Return to Eden.[9]

In 1986, the international distribution unit has a partnership that they will exploit the rights to the Madison Square Garden properties.[10] In 1990, it was considered to be an investor in the Nine Television Network.[11]

In 1995, the international television unit launched a joint venture, which was headed by Peter Press.[12] In 1998, James Dowaliby was tapped vice president of production, and Christopher Ottinger was named vice president of business development.[13] Later this year, Paramount has plans to sign for an international co-production.[14]

In 2000, it was a co-producer with Lionsgate to develop Jeremiah, but it was replaced by MGM.[15]

ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group[]

CBS Paramount International Television was formed in August 2004 as a result of a merger between two television companies, CBS Broadcast International and Paramount International Television. It will be headed by Armando Nuarez Jr.[16] In May 2009, CPITV was renamed CBS Studios International.

The company distributes the CBS Studios library as well as the Rysher Entertainment library (owned domestically by 2929 Entertainment), the King World Productions library and certain HBO shows internationally. On September 14, 2009, it was revealed that CBS Studios International struck a joint venture deal with Chellomedia to launch six CBS-branded channels in the UK during 2009. The new channels would replace Zone Romantica, Zone Thriller, Zone Horror and Zone Reality, plus timeshift services Zone Horror +1 and Zone Reality +1.[17][18] CBS Reality, CBS Reality +1, CBS Drama and CBS Action launched on November 16, 2009, replacing Zone Reality, Zone Reality +1, Zone Romantica and Zone Thriller, respectively.[19] On April 5, 2010, Zone Horror and Zone Horror +1 were rebranded as Horror Channel and Horror Channel +1.[20]

CBS Studios International licenses rights for the top international formats.

In 2010, CBS Studios International went into an equal joint venture with Reliance Broadcast Network Limited to form Big CBS Networks Pvt. Ltd. The network operates a general entertainment channel, Big CBS Prime a youth-oriented channel, Big CBS Spark, and a women's and urban couple-oriented channel, Big CBS Love.

In January 2011, CBS Studios International partnered with Australian company Ten Network Holdings to launch digital free-to-air channel Eleven. CBS Studios International held a 33% stake in the joint-venture company ElevenCo.[21] Ten Network Holdings entered voluntary administration in June 2017. This ultimately led to CBS acquiring the entirety of Network Ten in November 2017.[22] The network became a division of CBS Studios International.[23]

On August 1, 2012, Chellomedia revealed that the European versions of Zone Romantica, Zone Reality and Club TV would be rebranded as CBS Drama, CBS Reality and CBS Action.[24]

As of 2020, the subsidiary has been folded ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group.

Shows owned by other studios in the United States[]

A handful of TV series in the ViacomCBS library was co-produced with other companies, in several cases, ViacomCBS only owns international rights. A listing of these shows and their American rights holders follow.

Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution/HBO Enterprises[]

  • Arliss (1996–2002)
  • Deadwood (2004–2006)
  • Oz (1997–2003)
  • Sex and the City (1998–2004)

Debmar-Mercury[]

  • The Dead Zone (2002–2007, TV rights owned by Debmar-Mercury and CBS)
  • Nurse Jackie (2009–2016)

Sony Pictures Television[]

  • The King of Queens (1998–2007, German rights owned by Koch Media)
  • Ladies Man (1999-2001)
  • Rules of Engagement (2007–2013)

NBCUniversal Syndication Studios[]

Disney–ABC Domestic Television[]

Past activities[]

CBS Studios International had part ownership of former Australian subscription channels TV1 and SF Channel.[25]

From 2006 to 2009, as CBS Paramount International Television, the company distributed the film libraries from Paramount Pictures and Republic Pictures.

It distributed the DreamWorks live-action library from 2006 to 2008.

In 2013, RTL Group and CBS Studios International announced its joint venture as RTL CBS Asia Entertainment Network in Southeast Asia, with the launch of RTL CBS Entertainment in September 2013. However, in January 2018, Blue Ant Media acquired the joint venture and its channels.

Before December 4, 2019, it had the ownership in Australian television company Ten Network Holdings and all CBS-branded channels across Europe that co-owned with AMC Networks International; these TV assets have been transferred to ViacomCBS Networks International, following the re-merger deal between CBS and Viacom to form ViacomCBS.

See also[]

  • CBS Studios
  • King World

References[]

  1. ^ "CBS structures new marketing unit" (PDF). Broadcasting. 1984-12-17. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  2. ^ "Vietnam revisited" (PDF). Broadcasting. 1985-06-24. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  3. ^ Harmetz, Aljean (November 23, 1985). "Abc, Cbs Drop Movie Interests". Orlando Sentinel.
  4. ^ "In Brief" (PDF). Broadcasting. 1986-02-24. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  5. ^ "In Brief" (PDF). Broadcasting. 1988-07-25. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  6. ^ Guider, Elizabeth (1997-09-24). "Eye on the world". Variety. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  7. ^ "Exec Shuffle". Variety. 1998-11-17. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
  8. ^ "Paramount's Bruce Gordon: programming the world" (PDF). Broadcasting. 1987-06-29. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
  9. ^ "Making deals" (PDF). Broadcasting. 1983-10-24. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
  10. ^ "International effort" (PDF). Broadcasting. 1986-02-03. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
  11. ^ "Paramount, CBS looking to invest in Australia's Nine Network" (PDF). Broadcasting. 1990-05-14. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
  12. ^ "MAVENS ON THE MOVE". Variety. 1995-07-24. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
  13. ^ Guider, Elizabeth (1998-01-29). "Par TV Adds Int'l Duo". Variety. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
  14. ^ Williams, Michael (1998-10-07). "Par Int'l TV team's ready for primetime showing". Variety. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
  15. ^ Grego, Melissa (2000-11-20). "Lions Gate Fords new TV streams". Variety. Retrieved 2021-08-04.
  16. ^ Dempsey, John (2004-08-11). "Viacom will unite global TV efforts". Variety. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  17. ^ "CBS FINALChello Zone partnership press release". Chello Zone. September 14, 2009. Archived from the original (DOC) on 2011-07-24.
  18. ^ "CBS to launch UK channels with Chellomedia". Broadcastnow. September 14, 2009.
  19. ^ "CBS channels to launch in UK". Broadcastnow. October 1, 2009.
  20. ^ "Zone Horror rebrands as Horror Channel". Broadband TV News. March 31, 2010.
  21. ^ James, Meg (25 August 2010). "CBS goes down under and takes minority stake in Australian TV venture". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 August 2010.
  22. ^ CBS Corporation Completes Acquisition Of Ten Network., Ten Network Holdings, 16 November 2017.
  23. ^ "About – Ten Network Holdings Limited". tenplay. Ten Network Holdings. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  24. ^ "CBS and Chellomedia take entertainment across EMEA". Broadband TV News. August 1, 2012.
  25. ^ Weingroff, Jennifer (16 September 2009). "Reed Manville To Oversee International Channel For CBS Studios International" (Press release). CBS Studios International. Retrieved 15 February 2010.

External links[]

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