CBS Television Studios

CBS Studios, Inc., doing business as CBS Television Studios (CTS) is an American television production company that was formed on January 17, 2006 by CBS Corporation as CBS Paramount Television, merging Paramount Television and CBS Productions. It is the television production arm of the CBS network (CBS Productions previously assumed such functions), and, alongside Warner Bros. Television, it is also the television production arm of The CW (in which CBS has a 50% ownership stake).

CBS
In 1952 the Columbia Broadcasting System formed an in-house television production unit, CBS Productions (commonly referred to as The CBS Television Network), as well as facilities in the newly established CBS Television City in the Fairfax District in West Los Angeles. Also formed is CBS Television Film Sales (later known as CBS Films) as the distributor of off-network and first-run syndicated programming to local television stations in the United States and abroad.

In 1963, CBS Studio Center is established in Studio City district of Los Angeles in the San Fernando Valley. Later in 1971, CBS Films is spun off as Viacom International, Inc. The company is re-established as CBS, Inc., in 1974. In 1978, the production unit gained the secondary/alternate name CBS Entertainment Productions.

In 1994, Westinghouse Electric acquired CBS. Viacom merged with its creator CBS, in 1999.

Paramount Pictures' early television ventures
In 1939, experimental television stations were established in Los Angeles (W6XYZ) as Television Productions Inc. and Chicago (W9XBK) with Balaban and Katz. Commercial broadcasting began in 1943 over WBKB in Chicago (now WBBM). Commercial broadcasting began in 1947 over KTLA in Los Angeles. In 1949, the first major studio to establish program syndication as Paramount Television Network (much of which originated from KTLA). Paramount branched out of broadcasting in 1964 with the sale of KTLA to Golden West Broadcasters.

Desilu Productions
Desilu Productions formed in 1950 by Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball. Desilu Studios was established in Hollywood and Culver City in 1957, after Arnaz/Ball purchased the RKO studio lot. Desilu Sales Inc. was formed in 1962 as the company's syndication arm. In 1967, Desilu Productions was acquired by Gulf+Western Industries. The company becomes the TV division of Paramount Pictures Corporation in July, retaining the Desilu name until the end of that year. Desilu Sales, in turn, merges with Paramount's syndication division to become Paramount Television Sales.

Paramount Television
1966-1967, Gulf+Western acquired Paramount Pictures and Paramount Television Enterprises released 60 titles from their post-1949 feature film library to television broadcasters under the Paramount Portfolio I umbrella package. In 1968 Paramount Television, formerly Desilu, established as the studio's television production unit. In 1977, Paramount Television Service was formed. In 1982 Paramount Television Group and Paramount Domestic Television and Video Programming was established. In September 1989, Gulf+Western was reincorporated as Paramount Communications, Inc. March 11, 1994 Viacom acquired Paramount Communications, resulting in the formation of Paramount/Viacom as a byline for several of Viacom's subsidiaries. In 1995, Viacom launched the United Paramount Network (UPN) with Chris-Craft Industries.

Viacom
In 1971 Viacom Enterprises established for domestic and overseas syndication of off-network and first-run television programs from various independent producers. A few years to follow, Viacom Productions was formed as the company's television production unit. In 1986, Viacom switched from a syndicate to a media conglomerate. Later in 1995, Viacom Enterprises was folded into Paramount Domestic Television. The name Paramount Network Television (PNT) was also used for the first time ever (Viacom Productions would also become a division of PNT). Then in 2004, Viacom Productions was folded into Paramount Network Television by ceasing its television operations.

1960s
In 1967, the Thomas/Spelling Productions was formed by Aaron Spelling and Danny Thomas. Then in 1969 the Aaron Spelling Productions was established.

1970s
In 1972, Spelling-Goldberg Productions was formed by Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg.

1980s
In 1988, Aaron Spelling Productions acquired Laurel Entertainment, Inc. and Worldvision Enterprises Inc. A year later in 1989, Aaron Spelling Productions was renamed Spelling Entertainment, Inc.

1990s
In 1991, Spelling Entertainment, Inc. was acquired by the Jacksonville-based Charter Company. A year later in 1992, Spelling Entertainment Group introduced Spelling Television, Inc. as the label for the company's production unit. That same year the Charter Company becomes Spelling Entertainment Group. In 1993, Blockbuster bought Spelling Entertainment Group. In 1999 Viacom acquired 80% of Spelling Entertainment Group (Such as Spelling Television) and Rysher Entertainment's TV holdings.

Worldvision Enterprises
In 1953, the American Broadcasting Company formed ABC Film Syndication Inc. (renamed ABC Films in 1962) as the domestic syndicator of independent programming supplied for the network. In 1962, ABC International and The Worldvision Corporation were established as the network's international distribution branch to other countries. Later on in 1973, the Worldvision Enterprises (WVE) adapted from ABC's original domestic syndication arm. Then in 1979, the Worldvision was acquired by Taft Entertainment Company (TECO). In 1988, Worldvision was acquired by Spelling from Great American Broadcasting (successor to Taft beginning in 1987).

Republic Pictures

 * 1951: Republic Pictures Corporation forms Hollywood Television Service produce TV shows and distribute Republic's film library.
 * 1954: National Telefilm Associates is founded when Ely Landu, Inc was reorganized, the new company acquired U.M. & M. TV Corporation.
 * 1956: NTA in partnership with 20th Century Fox forms the NTA Film Network.
 * 1957: NTA acquired WATV, a television station in New York City, the station was renamed WNTA and the station was later sold and became one of the founding stations of NET/Public Broadcasting Service
 * 1961: The NTA Film Network shuts down for good.
 * 1967: Republic Pictures sells its backlot to CBS, and film library to NTA.
 * 1973: NTA acquires NBC Films, the former syndication arm of NBC.
 * 1983: NTA acquired Blackhawk Films and launched NTA Home Entertainment.
 * 1985: NTA acquired the Republic Pictures trademarks, changing its name to Republic Pictures Corporation.
 * 1986: Republic Pictures enters television production and distribution by syndicating 130 episodes of Press Your Luck and producing the CBS TV series Beauty and the Beast.
 * 1994: Spelling Entertainment Group acquires Republic Pictures.

King World

 * 1964: King World Productions (KWP) founded by Charles King.
 * 1999: CBS acquires King World and forms CBS Enterprises, Inc., after which Eyemark Entertainment folds into King World.
 * 2000: After Viacom's merger with CBS, Paramount TV acquires CBS Enterprises, which included King World at that time.
 * 2006: September 26, As part of the corporate restructuring, King World along with CBS Paramount Domestic Television and CBS Paramount International Television forms the CBS Television Distribution group.

Group W

 * 1961: WBC Productions and WBC Program Sales, Inc. established by Westinghouse Broadcasting for first run program syndication.
 * 1968: October 14, The company is renamed Group W Productions to emphasize the moniker of the parent company which was established five years prior.
 * 1981: Group W acquired TelePrompTer owner of Filmation.
 * 1989: Group W sold Filmation to Paravision International, Filmation's library is now owned by NBCUniversal Television Distribution (on behalf of DreamWorks Animation).
 * 1995: Westinghouse Electric acquires CBS and the company is renamed to CBS, Inc.
 * 1995: Group W Productions is renamed Eyemark Entertainment.

CBS Paramount Television

 * 2004: August 10, Viacom merged the international television banners of CBS Broadcast International and Paramount International Television to form CBS Paramount International Television.
 * 2004: Viacom merged CBS Productions and Paramount Network Television to form CBS Paramount Network Television. Their respective logos remain the same.
 * 2006: When the CBS/Viacom split took effect, CBS inherited Paramount's TV program library, with the new Viacom keeping Paramount's films, the MTV Networks and the BET Networks.
 * 2006: On January 17, CBS Corporation CEO Les Moonves announced that Paramount Television would be renamed CBS Paramount Television as of that day, after merging with CBS Productions, with both the CBS 'eyemark' and Paramount's mountain united in the new logo, and the network division becoming CBS Paramount Network Television.
 * 2006: CBS Corp. merged its TV distribution arms—King World, CBS Paramount International Television and CBS Paramount Domestic Television—to form CBS Television Distribution (CTD).
 * 2009: June 1, CBS quietly drops the Paramount name after a three and a half-year loan of its use from now sister company Viacom forming CBS Television Studios.

The production company today: CBS Television Studios
CBS Paramount Television was the only CBS division that used the Paramount name and logo in its own name and logo (Paramount Pictures is currently owned by the post-2006 Viacom that was spun off from CBS, which was once known as the old Viacom). All three of its original divisions had used Paramount in their name: CBS Paramount Network Television (the production arm), CBS Paramount Domestic Television (the US distribution arm), and CBS Paramount International Television (the international distribution arm). When the companies split, CBS had permission to use the Paramount name for three years. The contract expired in 2009, and thus the Paramount name is now gone from television for good, after 42 years as a production company (39 as Paramount Television), and before that, the owners of two early television stations (KTLA and WBKB), an earlier production company (Telemount Productions), and part-owners of the DuMont Television Network. The new company exempts programming from the revived CBS Productions, the in-name-only producer of 90210, Melrose Place and Three Rivers, among others.

National Amusements retains majority control of both CBS and the new Viacom. For a short time, many of Paramount's theatrical films were distributed domestically by CBS Television Distribution (the new name for the distribution arm as of 2007). Paramount Home Media Distribution continues to distribute home video sales of CBS shows through the CBS DVD brand.

The studio had an output deal with Australia's Network Ten, which means that Ten usually gets first airing rights to the studio's productions. The deal ended after Network Ten went into administration and CBS acquired the network in 2017, meaning Ten acquires rights through CBS Studios International, which owns Ten.

Until recently—in the U.S.—King World distributed its product independently from CBS Paramount Domestic Television, while internationally CBS Paramount International Television handled distribution and sales. As of September 16, 2007 the CBS Television Distribution logo appears after shows that had been distributed by King World.

From 2009 until 2011, all shows produced by the company aired either on CBS or the CW. In the past, Paramount Television produced shows for all networks, but especially had a good relationship with ABC (much as Universal Television had a good relationship with now co-owned NBC). The Cleaner, which aired on A&E until September 2009, was the most recent show from the company to air on a network other than CBS or the CW (which is ironic when NBC/ABC's ownership of A&E is taken into account). This was until Black Entertainment Television began airing new episodes of The Game in 2011. In 2012, USA Network began airing Common Law.

CTS does not directly produce any shows appearing on Showtime, a premium cable television network co-owned with the studio. Instead, sister company Showtime Entertainment handles in-house productions for the network. However, CTD and its international arm do handle syndication distribution for these shows if they ever appear in syndication.

On October 25, 2018, CBS Television Studios announced the opening of a new animation division named CBS Eye Animation Productions. A new Star Trek series titled Star Trek: Lower Decks was announced at the same time.

Past names

 * CBS Paramount Television/CBS Paramount Network Television (2006–2009)
 * Paramount Television Group (1967–2006)
 * Desilu Productions, Inc. (1951–1967)
 * CBS Productions (1952–2006, 2008–2012, 2015–2016)
 * Viacom Productions (1974–2004)
 * Spelling Television (1969–2006)
 * Taft Entertainment Television (1981–1988)
 * Big Ticket Entertainment (1994–2006 on network television; still produces Judge Judy and Hot Bench, but otherwise in-name-only)
 * Rysher Entertainment (1991-1999)