Viacom (original)

This article is about the original media conglomerate that existed until 2005. For its successors, see CBS Corporation and Viacom (2005–2019).
Viacom Inc.
Formerly
  • CBS Television Film Sales (1952–1958)
  • CBS Films (1958–1968)
  • CBS Enterprises Inc. (1968–1970)
Company typePublic
NYSE: VIA
IndustryBroadcasting and publishing
FoundedMarch 16, 1952; 72 years ago (1952-03-16)
FounderRalph Baruch
DefunctDecember 31, 2005; 18 years ago (2005-12-31)
FateSplit into the second incarnations of CBS Corporation and Viacom
Successors
Headquarters
One Astor Plaza, New York City
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Sumner Redstone (Chairman and CEO)
Tom Freston (Co-President and Co-COO)
Les Moonves (Co-President and Co-COO)
ParentCBS
(1952–1971)
National Amusements
(1987–2005)
DivisionsCBS Radio
Viacom Productions
Viacom International
CBS Sports
Viacom Outdoor
SubsidiariesCBS
Paramount Pictures
MTV Networks
Showtime Networks
BET Networks
Paramount Parks
Famous Players
Simon & Schuster
King World Productions
UPN
Westinghouse Licensing Corporation

Viacom (short for Video & Audio Communications) was an American media company. It was founded in New York City in 1971. The company existed until 2005 when the company changed its name to CBS Corporation. Viacom made television programs and television networks. Networks created by Viacom including CBS, UPN, MTV, CMT, MTV2, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Nicktoons TV, The N and Nickelodeon Games and Sports for Kids. The company was owned by Columbia Broadcasting System until 1973. After this, it was an independant company. In 1986, it was sold to National Amusements. In March 2005, Viacom announced that it would be splitting into two companies. This happened on December 31, 2005. The existing Viacom was renamed CBS Corporation,[1] and a new company named Viacom was created.

References

  1. ↑ Steinberg, Michael Schneider,Brian; Schneider, Michael; Steinberg, Brian (August 13, 2019). "CBS-Viacom: 20 Years Later, a Look Back at the High Hopes and Eventual Collapse of That First Merger". Variety. Retrieved April 30, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)