Viacom Productions (formerly Viacom Enterprises) was a

television Television (TV) is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. Additionally, the term can refer to a physical television set rather than the medium of transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...

production arm of Viacom. Viacom Enterprises was also a

movie A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...

producer, and a

sports Sport is a physical activity or game, often competitive and organized, that maintains or improves physical ability and skills. Sport may provide enjoyment to participants and entertainment to spectators. The number of participants in ...

producer. The division was active from 1971 until 2004, when the company was folded into

Paramount Television The first incarnation of Paramount Television was operated as the television production division of the American film studio Paramount Pictures, until it changed its name to CBS Paramount Television on January 17, 2006. History Desilu Pro ...

10 years following Viacom's acquisition of

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...

, and led Perry Simon to move itself to Paramount for a production deal.

History

Viacom Enterprises was formed in 1971 as the successor of the pre-1968 CBS Films, later reincorporated as CBS Enterprises, Inc. in 1968. The company began handling the production and distribution of films around the same time, under the name "Viacom Productions" to produce first-run television series airing on the major networks. In 1971, it was spun-off because it was against the FCC regulations for a television network to distribute its programs under its own name. In 1977, after failed attempts to launch prime-time shows, Viacom decided to set up its own unit for prime-time programming, which was headed by Richard Reisberg, who had also saw program acquisition activities. The first primetime television show, movie, or sports to be produced by Viacom Productions for the ABC network was '' The MacKenzies of Paradise Cove''. The studio had development contracts with independent writers and producers. The studio made significant deals in 1977, when

Roland Kibbee Roland Kibbee (15 February 1914 in Monongahela, Pennsylvania – 5 August 1984 in Encino, California) was an American screenwriter and producer. He was a frequent collaborator and friend of actor-producer Burt Lancaster. Career Kibbee began ...

and Dean Hargrove left Universal for Viacom. In 1984, Thomas D. Tannenbaum became president of the studio. On March 11, 1994, Viacom acquired Paramount Communications, Inc. and Viacom Enterprises was folded into Paramount Domestic Television, by transferring the domestic rights of the Viacom library. Viacom International was later reorganized as the parent company of

MTV Networks Paramount Media Networks is the division of Paramount Global that oversees the operations of its television channels and online brands. The division was originally founded as MTV Networks in 1984, named after MTV. It would be known under this ...

and

Showtime Networks Showtime Networks, Inc. is a subsidiary of American media conglomerate Paramount Global under its networks division that oversees the company's premium cable television channels, including its flagship namesake service. Overview The compan ...

. Viacom transferred the international rights of the said library into Paramount International Television, while Viacom Productions was reincorporated as a production sub-division of Paramount Television. The first hit came after the acquisition was ''

Sabrina, the Teenage Witch ''Sabrina the Teenage Witch'' is a comic book series published by Archie Comics about the adventures of a fictional American teenager named Sabrina Spellman. Sabrina was created by writer George Gladir and artist Dan DeCarlo, and first appea ...

'', a show ABC aired from 1996 to 2000, followed by a run on

The WB The WB Television Network (shortened to The WB, stylized as "THE WB", and nicknamed the "Frog Network" and/or "The Frog" for its former mascot Michigan J. Frog) was an American television network that ran from 1995 to 2006. It launched on ter ...

from 2000 to 2003. Viacom Productions was folded into Paramount Network Television in 2004, amid financial troubles brought on to Viacom. The final two series to end under the Viacom Productions name are ''Ed'' and ''The Division''.

Viacom Pictures

From 1989 to 2011, Viacom Productions produced some theatrical films and television films (primarily Showtime) under the brand Viacom Pictures. Viacom Pictures stopped producing theatrical films around 1995, after its parent acquired Paramount Communications, the parent of

, though it continued to produce television films until 2011.

Filmography

Note

''The 4400'' continued as a Paramount Network Television production for season 2. The show became a

CBS Paramount Network Television CBS Studios, Inc. is an American television production company which is a subsidiary of the CBS Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Global. It was formed on January 17, 2006, by CBS Corporation as CBS Paramount (Network) Television, as a re ...

production for its last two seasons after the Viacom/ CBS split at the end of 2005. All shows from Viacom Productions are now owned by

CBS Studios CBS Studios, Inc. is an American television production company which is a subsidiary of the CBS Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Global. It was formed on January 17, 2006, by CBS Corporation as CBS Paramount (Network) Television, as a re ...

Productions, LLC., a holding company, and distributed by

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, ...

References

{{Authority control Television production companies of the United States Entertainment companies based in California Companies based in Los Angeles Entertainment companies established in 1974 Mass media companies established in 1974 Mass media companies disestablished in 2004 American companies established in 1974 American companies disestablished in 2004 1974 establishments in California 2004 disestablishments in California Paramount Global subsidiaries Predecessors of CBS Studios Companies formerly listed on the New York Stock Exchange Companies formerly listed on NYSE American nl:Viacom Productions

History

Viacom Pictures

Filmography

Note

See also

References