Broadcast syndication arm of CBS Entertainment Group
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, founded on January 17, 2006 by CBS Corporation from a merger of CBS Paramount Domestic Television and KingWorld.
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 parent company CBS Studios. The division also consists of CBS's home entertainment arm, CBS Home Entertainment.
Background.
The division has distribution rights to acquired television series, mini-series and films from the following libraries:
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Paramount Pictures distributes content owned by Paramount and Miramax on broadcast television, with some films licensed to Trifecta Entertainment &amp; Media.
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.
This is the sixth distribution name for CBS: CBS Television Film Sales (1952–58) was the first, CBS Films, Inc. (1958–68) was the second, CBS Enterprises (1968–70) was the third, 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 previous distribution arm of CBS, CBS Paramount Domestic Television, merged with King World Productions to form CBS Television Distribution on September 26, 2006. 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).
On February 25, 2007, CBS Television Distribution sold shows produced by Showtime to its parent subsidiary for self-syndication and broadcast. 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.
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, 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.
On October 6, 2012, John Nogawski left his role as president of CBS Television Distribution with programming president Aaron Meyerson following in his footsteps a week later. On October 22, 2013, former executive of Telepictures Productions, Hilary Estey McLoughlin, joined CBS Television Distribution as head of creative affairs. On March 2, 2015, CBS Television Distribution renewed "Judge Judy" through to the end of the 2019–20 television season.
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.
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.
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. 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". In June 2019, CBS Television Distribution announced that it would launch Dabl, a lifestyle broadcasting network on September 9, 2019.
As CBS Media Ventures.
On January 11, 2021, CBS Television Distribution was renamed CBS Media Ventures as part of an ongoing rebranding of all CBS properties; the new name was announced as reflecting businesses beyond syndication, including ad sales and digital content production.
In November 2024, CBS Media Ventures was sued by Sony Pictures Television, alleging that the company was engaging in preferential treatment of CBS-owned programming that prevented it from meeting its obligations to maximize the value of "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy!" on the syndication market. The company cited the bundling of lower-rated CBS shows with "Wheel" and "Jeopardy!" (such as "The Drew Barrymore Show" and "Hot Bench"), prioritizing the clearance of its wholly-owned shows (such as "Entertainment Tonight") on the highest-rated stations in markets at the expense of the game shows, and laying off their dedicated marketing teams during layoffs associated with the CBS/Viacom merger. Sony argued that the cutbacks had "kneecapped its ability to meet its contractual obligations".
References.
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