Viacom Enterprises
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Viacom Enterprises was a television distribution company formed in 1971 as the successor to CBS Films, and spun off in 1973 due to now-repealed FCC bylaws prohibiting networks from syndicating their own shows.
Its purpose upon formation was to distribute the classic CBS library, which also included the pre-1960 library of Desilu Productions (including I Love Lucy).
It distributed other series as well, among them All in the Family (now owned by Sony Pictures Television), the Carsey-Werner Productions library (including Roseanne and The Cosby Show), and for a number of years distributed the MTM Enterprises library (including The Mary Tyler Moore Show) until MTM formed Victory Television to distribute its library in 1980. It also distributed the first 4 seasons of The Montel Williams Show, and the pre-1984 New World Pictures library.
In 1974, it formed Viacom Productions to produce first-run television series airing on the major television networks.
In 1986, the company became a subsidiary of the newly-reincorporated Viacom Inc., after a takeover by National Amusements.
In 1994, Viacom acquired Paramount Pictures. As a result, Viacom Enterprises was merged into Paramount Television's distribution arm, Paramount Domestic Television.
Today, many of the shows distributed by Viacom Enterprises are now distributed by CBS Television Distribution.
