Our History
PAST, PRESENT,
10's
-
1914
Adolph Zukor, Daniel Frohman, and W.W. Hodkinson partner to establish Paramount Pictures Corporation.
For more Paramount history, click here.
A FOCUS ON
20's
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1928
William S. Paley acquires United Independent Broadcasters Inc., a network of 16 independent radio stations, and changes the name to Columbia Broadcast System (CBS).
NEW SIGHTS,
30's
-
1931
CBS’ first television station, W2XAB, begins broadcasting.
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1937
CBS is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
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The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in Manhattan's Financial District
BETTING BIG ON
40's
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1940
W2XAB transmits the first color TV broadcast in the United States from a transmitter atop the Chrysler building.
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The Chrysler Building in Manhattan, New York City
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1948
WCAU-Philadelphia is the first CBS Television Network affiliate. Within the year, there are 30 affiliated stations
SOMETHING
50's
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1954
CBS creates an official news division: CBS News.
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1956
"As the World Turns," the first half-hour serial in television history, premieres.
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1956
CBS broadcasts its first Masters®, which later becomes the longest-running annual sports event presented on one network.
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CBS' broadcast of the The Masters in 1956
1960s - 1970s
LIFE IN
60's
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1960
CBS is the first network to broadcast the Olympics in the United States, with the Winter Games in Squaw Valley, Calif.
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1961
CBS Sports becomes a division of the CBS Television Network.
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1967
CBS begins broadcasting all of its programs in color.
A NEW CAST OF
70's
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1970
Viacom, a division of CBS, becomes incorporated.
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1976
Viacom launches Showtime, beginning the company’s foray into cable TV.
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Showtime launches
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1979
Nickelodeon launches with its first original program, "Pinwheel."
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"Pinwheel" on Nickelodeon
BREAKING DOWN
80's
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1981
MTV makes its debut as a cable channel.
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1985
VH1, MTV’s sister channel, launches.
REALITY'S RISE,
90's
-
1991
Viacom launches Comedy Central on April 1—April Fool’s Day.
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1992
MTV debuts "The Real World," the network’s pioneering reality TV series.
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1993
Viacom acquires major Hollywood studio Paramount Pictures.
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Paramount Studio Lot in Los Angeles
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1997
CBS Corporation is established, uniting CBS and Westinghouse Electric Corporation.
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1999
Viacom acquires CMT.
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1999
“SpongeBob Squarepants” premieres and becomes the longest-running show on Nickelodeon.
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"SpongeBob SquarePants" on Nickelodeon
A New
00's
-
2000
The Viacom and CBS merger is complete. The Company is now known as Viacom Inc.
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2001
Viacom acquires BET.
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2005
Viacom launches Logo, the first ad-supported TV channel aimed at the LGBT community.
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2005
The Viacom Board of Directors approves the creation of two separate publicly traded companies – CBS Corporation and Viacom Inc.
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2007
Viacom 18, one of India’s fastest growing entertainment networks, is founded.
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2008
EPIX forms.
CHARTING A NEW
Present
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2014
CBS News launches 24/7 digital streaming news network CBSN.
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2015
CBS All Access, CBS’ subscription OTT streaming service, debuts.
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2016
Viacom acquires Argentinian TV network Telefe.
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2016
Bob Bakish is named CEO of Viacom.
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2019
Viacom acquires free, ad-supported streaming service Pluto TV.
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2019
Viacom and CBS reunite in $12 billion merger.
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2021
ViacomCBS rebrands CBS All Access as Paramount+.
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Paramount+, ViacomCBS' launches premier streaming service, launches