CBS And Viacom Merge, Reuniting After More Than A Decade Apart
By Ben Pearson/Aug. 13, 2019 2:30 pm EST
Deadline brings word about the long-discussed merger, which results in what board chair Shari Redstone called “a world-class, multiplatform media organization that is well-positioned for growth in a rapidly transforming industry.” The transforming industry seems to be a primary reason behind this merger, because it puts brands like Paramount Pictures, CBS, Showtime, MTV, Nickelodeon, BET, VH1, Comedy Central, Pluto TV, and The Paramount Network under the same corporate roof. CBS already had its CBS All Access streaming service and Showtime has its own subscription service as well, but The Verge says ViacomCBS “will be able to offer a library of more than 140,000 TV episodes and more than 3,600 movies”, including the Transformers franchise.
It’s important to note, though, that just because a popular show aired on CBS doesn’t mean that it will automatically belong to this newly-formed conglomerate. Take The Big Bang Theory, for instance: that show was a ratings hit on CBS for a decade, but it was co-produced by Warner Bros. Television, and its streaming rights are currently being sought in a $1.5 billion deal by WarnerMedia’s upcoming streaming service, HBO Max.
