ViacomCBS Streaming

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ViacomCBS Streaming
Formerly
  • CBS Digital Media Group (1992–2007)
  • CBS Interactive (2007–2021)
TypeDivision
Industry
  • Streaming media
  • video on demand
Founded1992; 30 years ago (1992)
Headquarters235 Second Street,
San Francisco, California
,
United States
Key people
Tom Ryan (President)
Brands
ParentViacomCBS
Websitewww.viacomcbs.com/brand/viacomcbs-streaming
Footnotes / references
[1]

ViacomCBS Streaming (formerly CBS Digital Media Group, then CBS Interactive) is an American media division of ViacomCBS that oversees the operations of its streaming services and Internet brands.[1] It is an online content network for information and entertainment. Its websites and apps cover entertainment, news and sports. It is headed by Tom Ryan, Pluto TV's co-founder.[1]

History[]

As CBS Interactive[]

CBS Interactive logo (2016–2021)

On May 30, 2007, CBS Interactive acquired Last.fm for £140 million (US$280 million).[2]

On June 30, 2008, CNET Networks was acquired by CBS and the assets were merged into CBS Interactive, including Metacritic, GameSpot, TV.com, and Movietome.[3]

On March 15, 2012, it was announced that CBS Interactive acquired video game-based website Giant Bomb and comic book-based website Comic Vine from Whiskey Media, who sold off their other remaining websites to BermanBraun. This occasion marked the return of video game journalist Jeff Gerstmann to the CBS Interactive division of video game websites, which includes GameSpot and GameFAQs, and has Gerstmann once again working directly with some of his former peers at GameSpot within the same building at the CBS Interactive headquarters.[4][5]

On April 17, 2012, it was announced that Major League Gaming and CBS Interactive would be entering a partnership alongside Twitch to be the only exclusive online broadcaster of their Pro Circuit competitions, as well as for advertising representation.[6][7]

CBS Corp./Viacom re-merger and afterwards[]

Further information: 2019 merger of CBS and Viacom

On November 4, 2019, Variety reported that Jim Lanzone would be leaving the company after 9 years to become an executive in residence at Benchmark Capital and would be succeeded by Marc DeBevoise.[8]

CBS Interactive's parent CBS Corporation merged with sister company Viacom on December 4, 2019, forming ViacomCBS.

On September 14, 2020, it was announced that Red Ventures would acquire the “CNET Media Group” from ViacomCBS for $500 million, which was finalized on October 30, 2020.[9][10][11]

After the divestment of the “CNET Media Group”, CBS Interactive was dissolved after an organizational restructuring and renamed ViacomCBS Streaming in order to accelerate ViacomCBS 'direct-to-consumer streaming strategies.[1]

On March 4, 2021, ViacomCBS Streaming renamed CBS All Access to Paramount+, with additional streaming content and rebranding taking place at that time.[12]

Properties[]

Some of the digital media properties under ViacomCBS Streaming include: Paramount+, Showtime (OTT), Pluto TV, CBSN, CBS Sports HQ, ET Live, BET+ and Noggin.[13]

Divested/defunct[]

When the company was known as CBS Interactive, it owned several websites, most of which were sold to Red Ventures in 2020. Its former websites are: Radio.com, BNET, CNET, Download.com, TechRepublic, ZDNet, GameFAQs, GameSpot, Giant Bomb, onGamers, TVGuide.com, Chowhound, TV.com, Metacritic, Comic Vine, GameRankings, MetroLyrics and UrbanBaby.[9]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d Spangler, Todd (October 20, 2020). "ViacomCBS Streaming Shake-Up: Pluto TV's Tom Ryan to Head New Global Division, Marc DeBevoise Steps Down". Variety. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  2. ^ "Music site Last.fm bought by CBS". BBC News. May 30, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2010.
  3. ^ "CBS CORPORATION COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF CNET NETWORKS; MERGES OPERATIONS INTO NEW, EXPANDED CBS INTERACTIVE BUSINESS UNIT". CBS Corporation. June 30, 2008. Archived from the original on August 29, 2008. Retrieved June 30, 2008.
  4. ^ Giant Bomb, Comic Vine join CBS Interactive GameSpot.com
  5. ^ Kara Swisher. "BermanBraun Buys Most of Shelby Bonnie's Whiskey Media". AllThingsD. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  6. ^ "Major League Gaming Partners with CBS Interactive". Major League Gaming. Archived from the original on April 19, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  7. ^ Alex Wilhelm (April 17, 2012). "CBS Takes Esports Big with Twitch.tv and MLG". The Next Web. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  8. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (November 4, 2019). "Marc DeBevoise Named CEO of CBS Interactive as Jim Lanzone Joins Benchmark Capital". Variety. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  9. ^ a b Lunden, Ingrid (September 14, 2020). "Red Ventures acquires CNET Media Group from ViacomCBS for $500M". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  10. ^ Spangler, Todd (September 14, 2020). "ViacomCBS Reaches Deal to Sell CNET for $500 Million to Marketing Firm Red Ventures". Variety. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  11. ^ "Red Ventures Announces Closing of Acquisition of CNET Media Group". PR Newswire. October 30, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  12. ^ March 2021, Henry T. Casey 05. "Paramount Plus price, apps, free trial, shows, movies and what you need to know". Tom's Guide. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  13. ^ "ViacomCBS Streaming". ViacomCBS. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
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