CBS Media Ventures

CBS Media Ventures, Inc. (formerly CBS Paramount Domestic Television and CBS Television Distribution) is the television broadcast syndication arm of CBS Studios, a division of the CBS Entertainment Group, in turn a division of Paramount Global,^[1] founded on January 17, 2006 by CBS Corporation from a merger of CBS Paramount Domestic Television and KingWorld.

CBS Media Ventures, Inc.

Logo used as January 11, 2021
Formerly	CBS Paramount Domestic Television (2006) CBS Television Distribution (2006–21)
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Broadcast syndication
Predecessors	Westinghouse Broadcasting King World Productions Eyemark Entertainment Paramount Domestic Television Viacom Productions/Enterprises Worldvision Enterprises National Telefilm Associates
Founded	January 17, 2006; 18 years ago (2006-01-17) in Los Angeles, California, US
Headquarters	Santa Monica, California , US
Key people	Wendy McMahon (President and CEO)
Parent	CBS Studios
Website	Official website

On launch, the division was led by King World CEO Roger King, who had his own production company merged into the division, until his death on December 8, 2007. It was formerly the main distribution arm of Paramount Media Networks (now handled by Paramount Global Content Distribution), the CBS and The CW television networks, which are currently handled by former parent company CBS Studios. The division also consists of CBS's home entertainment arm, CBS Home Entertainment.

Background

Logo as CBS Paramount Domestic Television.

The division has distribution rights to acquired movies, television series, mini-series and made-for-television films from the following libraries:

• CBS Studios
• The original Paramount Television
  • Desilu Productions
  • Viacom Enterprises & Viacom Productions
• Republic Pictures Television
• Big Ticket Entertainment
• Spelling Television
  • Worldvision Enterprises
• CBS Productions
• King World Productions
• The majority of those by Westinghouse Broadcasting/Group W Productions and its own first-run broadcast syndication and off-network television shows
• Paramount Television Studios
• Cinema Center Films
• CBS Theatrical Films
• CBS Films
• Miramax Television
• DreamWorks Television (pre-2008)
• Paramount Pictures (post-1949 films)
  • DreamWorks Pictures (pre-2010 films)
  • Television rights to films from The Cannon Group, Epic Productions (except for Empire Pictures films), 21st Century Film Corporation and Nelson Entertainment under license from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Carolco Pictures under license from StudioCanal
  • Rysher Entertainment film catalog; including titles from Bing Crosby Productions
  • Miramax film catalog; including titles from the pre-2005 Dimension Films library
• DreamWorks Animation (2006–2012 films) under license and shared from Universal Pictures

As CBS Television Distribution, the division formerly distributed the films from the libraries from Republic Pictures and Carolco Pictures. Until 2021, it was responsible for international television distribution rights to a few episodic serial programs which aired on HBO by Rysher Entertainment through its Paramount Global Content Licensing division; it has since being handled by Paramount Global Distribution Group (both of these are currently known as Paramount Global Content Distribution). It also acted as an advertising sales representative for Debmar-Mercury, which is now owned by Lionsgate.^[2]

This is the sixth distribution name for CBS: CBS Television Film Sales (1952–58) was the first,^[3] CBS Films, Inc. (1958–68) was the second,^[4] CBS Enterprises (1968–70) was the third,^[5] Eyemark Entertainment (1995–99) was the fourth and CBS Paramount Domestic Television (2006–07) was the fifth. The first 3 CBS distribution monikers were also used for a separate media company-turned-conglomerate connected to CBS which evolved to what is now historically known as the first/original incarnation of Viacom Inc..

The current moniker for the overseas distribution arm CBS Media Ventures since 2009 is CBS Studios International, now Paramount Global Content Distribution.

History

As CBS Paramount Domestic Television

On January 17, 2006, CBS Paramount Domestic Television became an interim syndication arm.

As CBS Television Distribution

The logo as CBS Television Distribution logo from September 26, 2006 to January 15, 2021

The previous distribution arm of CBS, CBS Paramount Domestic Television, merged with King World Productions to form CBS Television Distribution on September 26, 2006.^[6] On January 16, 2007, the studio launched a separate home video division, CBS Home Entertainment, for release of in-house-made shows on home video which would be distributed through the second incarnation of Viacom via Paramount Home Entertainment (which continues till date).^[7]

On February 25, 2007, CBS Television Distribution sold shows produced by Showtime to its parent subsidiary for self-syndication and broadcast.^[8] Later that year on August 18, CBS Television Distribution acquired a 50% stake in online talent search service Big Shot from Madison Road Entertainment and Maverick Television.^[9] On November 20, 2007, CBS Television Distribution began carrying first-run episodes of Everybody Hates Chris on its-owned stations and those of Fox in 2009,^[10] with CBS signing a deal with Nickelodeon on March 2, 2008 to bring reruns of Everybody Hates Chris to air for cable broadcast on its Nick at Nite channel.^[11]

On October 6, 2012, John Nogawski left his role as president of CBS Television Distribution^[12] with programming president Aaron Meyerson following in his footsteps a week later.^[13] On October 22, 2013, former executive of Telepictures Productions, Hilary Estey McLoughlin, joined CBS Television Distribution as head of creative affairs.^[14] On March 2, 2015, CBS Television Distribution renewed Judge Judy through to the end of the 2019–20 television season.^[15]

With a growing international syndication business, CBS sought to split the group. On July 9, 2016, CBS hired former executive vice president and general sales manager for 20th Television's syndication arm and MyNetworkTV, Paul Franklin, as head of CBS Television Distribution with Nuñez returning to just being president of CBS Studios International.^[16]

On October 30, 2018, Armando Nuñez was named chief content licensing officer for CBS Corporation, replacing Scott Koondel who stepped down for a production deal with the CBS network, and president and chief executive officer for CBS Global Distribution Group, replacing outgoing executive Paul Franklin, which he added to his presidency at CBS Studios International.^[17]

On April 3, 2019, Debmar-Mercury signed an advertising sales deal with CBS Television Distribution as a replacement for 20th Century Fox Television (now 20th Television) which was acquired by The Walt Disney Company.^[2] CBS Television Distribution Media Sales is now responsible for the advertising sales for the Lionsgate/Revolution Studios television libraries, Family Feud, and The Wendy Williams Show.^[16] In June 2019, CBS Television Distribution announced that it would launch Dabl, a life style broadcasting network on September 9, 2019.^[18]

As CBS Media Ventures

On January 11, 2021, CBS Television Distribution rebranded to CBS Media Ventures, as an effort to unify the CBS brand.^[19]

Current programming

First-run syndication

• The Drew Barrymore Show (2020–present; produced by Big Ticket Entertainment and Flower Films)
• Entertainment Tonight (1981–present; originally produced by Paramount Domestic Television)
• Hot Bench (2014–present; produced by Big Ticket Entertainment and Queen Bee Productions)
• Inside Edition (1988–present; originally produced by King World)
• Jeopardy! (1984–present; produced by Sony Pictures Television)
• Pictionary (2022–present; produced by Fox First Run, Bill's Market & Television Production and Mattel Television)
• Wheel of Fortune (1983–present; produced by Sony Pictures Television)

Off-net syndication

• Bull (2021–present)
• SEAL Team (2021–present)
• MacGyver (2021–present)
• PEN15
• Dwight in Shining Armor
• The Great

Network television

• One Magnificent Morning (The CW) (2014–present; distributor of package to CW affiliates and The CW Plus)

See also

• List of Paramount Global television programs

Folded companies/divisions

• CBS Television Film Sales/CBS Films/CBS Enterprises (1952–70)
• Viacom Productions/Enterprises (1971–95)
• Paramount Domestic Television (1982–2006)
• Worldvision Enterprises (1973–99)
• Group W Productions (1961–96)
• Eyemark Entertainment (1996–99)
• CBS Paramount Domestic Television (2006–07)
• King World Productions (1964–2007)

References

1. "About CBS Television Distribution". ViacomCBS. Archived from the original on January 15, 2008. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
2. Petski, Denise (April 3, 2019). "Debmar-Mercury Inks Multi-Year Deal With CBS TV Distribution For Ad Sales". Deadline. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
3. "CBS-TV Film Distribution Unit Formed" (PDF). Broadcasting: 64. February 11, 1952. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
4. "Money on the Move in TV Film" (PDF). Broadcasting: 32. September 22, 1958. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
5. "At Deadline: Name Change at CBS" (PDF). Broadcasting: 9. December 4, 1967. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
6. Dempsey, John (September 27, 2006). "CBS creates syndie giant". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on October 11, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
7. Garrett, Diane; Adalian, Josef (January 16, 2007). "CBS makes split decision". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on October 11, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
8. Benson, Jim (February 26, 2007). "Exclusive: CBS Sells Showtime Shows". Broadcasting & Cable. Archived from the original on November 23, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
9. Adalian, Josef (August 13, 2007). "CBS unit nabs stake in 'Big Shot'". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on November 23, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
10. Adalian, Josef (November 21, 2007). "TV stations don't 'Hate Chris'". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
11. Dempsey, John (March 3, 2008). "Nick at Nite loves 'Chris'". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
12. Andreeva, Neille (October 2, 2012). "CBS TV Distribution President John Nogawski Exits, Armando Nuñez To Oversee Domestic And International Distribution". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on January 1, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
13. Marechal, A. J. (October 16, 2012). "Aaron Meyerson exits CBS TV Distribution". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
14. Marechal, A. J. (October 22, 2013). "Hilary Estey McLoughlin Joins CBS TV Distribution as Head of Creative Affairs". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
15. Littleton, Cynthia (March 2, 2015). "'Judge Judy' Extends Big Bucks Contract With CBS Through 2020". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on February 9, 2018. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
16. Littleton, Cynthia (July 6, 2016). "Paul Franklin to Head CBS Television Distribution, Armando Nunez Returns Focus to International". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on June 22, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
17. Maas, Jennifer (October 30, 2018). "Armando Nuñez to Head up New CBS Global Distribution Group". TheWrap. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on August 15, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
18. Littleton, Cynthia (June 17, 2019). "CBS to Launch DABL Digital Lifestyle Channel in September". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on June 18, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
19. Zorrilla, Mónica Marie (January 11, 2021). "CBS Television Distribution Rebrands as CBS Media Ventures". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2021.

External links

• CBS Television Distribution Syndication Bible