CBS facts for kids
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Logo used since 2020
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| Type | Radio and television broadcaster |
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| Country | United States |
| Broadcast area | Worldwide |
| Affiliates |
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| Headquarters | CBS Building, Manhattan, New York City, United States |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Picture format | 1080i HDTV |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Paramount Skydance Corporation |
| Parent | CBS Entertainment Group |
| Key people |
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| Sister channels |
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| History | |
| Founded | September 18, 1927 |
| Launched |
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| Founder |
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| Former names |
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| Availability | |
| Streaming media | |
| Affiliated Streaming Service(s) | Paramount+ Pluto TV |
| DirecTV Stream | Channel 390 (CBS HD East) Channel 391 (CBS HD West) |
| Service(s) | DirecTV Stream, FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Paramount+, YouTube TV |
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| 1912 | Famous Players Film Company is founded by Adolph Zukor |
|---|---|
| 1913 | Lasky Feature Play Company is founded by Jesse Lasky |
| 1914 | Paramount Pictures is founded as a film distributor by W. W. Hodkinson |
| 1916 | Famous Players & Lasky merge as Famous Players–Lasky and acquire Paramount. |
| 1920 | Group W forms with the launch of KDKA-AM |
| 1927 | CBS is founded; Famous Players–Lasky assumes Paramount name |
| 1929 | Paramount buys 49% of CBS |
| 1932 | Paramount sells back shares of CBS. |
| 1950 | Desilu is founded & CBS distributes its television programs |
| 1952 | CBS creates the CBS Television Film Sales division |
| 1958 | CBS Television Film Sales renamed to CBS Films |
| 1966 | Gulf+Western buys Paramount |
| 1968 | Gulf+Western acquires Desilu and renames it Paramount Television; CBS Films becomes CBS Enterprises |
| 1970 | CBS Enterprises renamed to Viacom |
| 1971 | Viacom is spun off from CBS as a separate company |
| 1985 | Viacom buys full ownership of Showtime & MTV Networks |
| 1986 | National Amusements buys Viacom |
| 1989 | Gulf+Western renamed to Paramount Communications |
| 1994 | Viacom acquires Paramount Communications |
| 1995 | Westinghouse buys CBS |
| 1997 | Westinghouse renamed to CBS Corporation |
| 2000 | Viacom buys CBS Corporation |
| 2001 | Viacom buys BET Networks |
| 2005 | Viacom splits into second CBS Corporation and Viacom |
| 2019 | CBS Corporation and Viacom re-merge to form ViacomCBS |
| 2022 | ViacomCBS changes its name to Paramount Global |
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is often called CBS. It is a big American TV and radio network. CBS is a main part of Paramount Skydance Corporation. It is one of their three main companies, along with Paramount Pictures and MTV.
CBS started in 1927. Its main office is in the CBS Building in New York City. It is one of the "Big Three" TV networks. CBS also has large studios in New York and Los Angeles. People sometimes call it the Eye Network because of its famous eye logo. This logo has been used since 1951. It is also called the Tiffany Network. This name suggests its high-quality shows, especially when William S. Paley was in charge.
Contents
History of CBS
CBS began as a radio network called United Independent Broadcasters, Inc. Arthur Judson, a talent agent, started it in Chicago in 1927. Later that year, Columbia Phonograph Company invested in it. The network then changed its name to the Columbia Phonographic Broadcasting System.
In 1928, Judson and Columbia sold the network. William S. Paley became its president. Since the record company was no longer involved, Paley renamed it the Columbia Broadcasting System. By September 1928, Paley owned most of the network. Paramount Pictures bought 49% of CBS in 1929. But during the Great Depression, Paramount had to sell its shares back to CBS in 1932.
CBS stayed mostly independent for the next 63 years. Under Paley, CBS became a top radio network. Then it became one of the "Big Three" TV networks. CBS started showing TV programs in the 1940s. In 1974, CBS changed its name to just CBS, Inc..
In 1994, Westinghouse Electric Corporation bought CBS. They changed its legal name to CBS Broadcasting Inc. in 1996. In 1997, Westinghouse changed its own name to CBS Corporation. Later, in 1999, CBS became part of the original Viacom. Viacom had actually started as a spin-off from CBS in 1971.
In 2005, Viacom split into two companies. One of them was CBS Corporation again. This new CBS Corporation focused on TV, radio, and some cable channels. Sumner Redstone controlled both CBS Corporation and the second Viacom. In 2019, the two companies joined again. They became ViacomCBS, which is now called Paramount Global. After this, CBS and its other entertainment parts became the CBS Entertainment Group.
CBS used to run the CBS Radio network. But in 2017, it sold its radio part to Entercom (now Audacy, Inc.). So, CBS no longer owns radio stations. However, it still provides news to radio stations. It also lets them use the CBS name. The CBS TV network has over 240 stations across the United States. Some are also available in Canada.
What's on CBS
As of 2025, CBS shows about 87 and a half hours of programs each week. It has 22 hours of primetime shows. These air Monday through Saturday from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. On Sunday, they air from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. (Eastern and Pacific times).
The network also has daytime shows. These run from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays. This includes popular game shows like The Price Is Right and Let's Make a Deal. It also has soap operas like The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful, and Beyond the Gates.
CBS News programs include CBS Mornings and CBS Saturday Morning. There are also nightly CBS Evening News broadcasts. Other news shows are Face the Nation, CBS Morning News, 60 Minutes, CBS News Sunday Morning, and 48 Hours. In the evenings, CBS airs The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and reruns of After Midnight.
CBS Sports shows are on most weekend afternoons. Sometimes, sports events run long. This can delay other shows. CBS has rights to major sports, like the NFL and NCAA. It also broadcasts CBS Sports Spectacular, which is a series about different sports.
Daytime Shows
CBS has the longest daytime schedule among major networks. It is home to The Price Is Right. This game show started in 1972. It is the longest-running daytime game show on TV. Bob Barker hosted it for 35 years. Since 2007, Drew Carey has been the host. CBS also airs Let's Make a Deal, hosted by Wayne Brady.
CBS is the only major network that still shows daytime game shows. Many famous game shows used to air on CBS. These include Match Game, Family Feud, and Wheel of Fortune.
The network also had The Talk. This was a panel talk show, like ABC's The View. It started in 2010 and ended on December 20, 2024.
CBS Daytime airs three soap operas on weekdays. These are the hour-long The Young and the Restless (started 1973) and Beyond the Gates (started 2025). It also has the half-hour The Bold and the Beautiful (started 1987). CBS has always had many soap operas.
Children's Programming
CBS showed the live-action series Captain Kangaroo for many years. It aired on weekday mornings from 1955 to 1982, and on Saturdays until 1984. From 1971 to 1986, CBS News made short segments called In the News. These aired between Saturday morning cartoons.
Most of CBS's children's shows were cartoons. These included reruns of Mighty Mouse, Looney Tunes, and Tom and Jerry. Other popular shows were Scooby-Doo, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, Jim Henson's Muppet Babies, Garfield and Friends, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In 1997, CBS aired Wheel 2000, a kids' version of Wheel of Fortune.
In 1998, CBS started letting other companies provide its Saturday morning shows. The first was the CBS Kidshow. It featured shows from Canadian studio Nelvana. These included Anatole, Mythic Warriors, and Rescue Heroes.
After Nelvana, CBS made a deal with Nickelodeon in 2000. They aired shows from the Nick Jr. block, called Nick Jr. on CBS. Later, shows for older kids from Nickelodeon also aired.
After CBS and Viacom split, the Nickelodeon deal ended. In 2006, CBS partnered with DIC Entertainment. This led to the KOL Secret Slumber Party on CBS block. It was later renamed KEWLopolis. Shows like Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake aired. In 2009, it became Cookie Jar TV.
On July 24, 2013, CBS made a deal with Litton Entertainment. They launched a new Saturday morning block called CBS Dream Team. It features live-action shows about lifestyle, wildlife, and sports. This block is for teenagers aged 13 to 16. It replaced Cookie Jar TV on September 28, 2013. In 2023, the block was renamed CBS WKND.
Special Programs
Animated Holiday Specials
CBS was the first network to show the animated holiday specials based on the Peanuts comic strip. This started with A Charlie Brown Christmas in 1965. Over 30 Peanuts holiday specials aired on CBS until 2000. CBS also showed specials based on Dr. Seuss's books, like How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966). Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer has also been a yearly CBS holiday show.
From 1973 to 1990, these animated specials often started with a special opening. It showed "A CBS Special Presentation" in colorful letters. This was accompanied by a jazzy song.
Classical Music Specials
CBS also aired the Young People's Concerts, led by Leonard Bernstein. These shows, from 1958 to 1972, taught many children about classical music. They won several awards.
CBS has shown different versions of Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker. This included live shows from the New York City Ballet in 1957 and 1958. Later, the famous Mikhail Baryshnikov version aired starting in 1977.
In 1986, CBS showed Horowitz in Moscow. This was a live piano concert by Vladimir Horowitz from Russia. It was very popular. CBS also showed Carnegie Hall: The Grand Reopening in primetime in 1986. This concert celebrated the re-opening of Carnegie Hall.
Cinderella
To compete with NBC's Peter Pan, CBS created a musical version of Cinderella. It had music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. This was the only Rodgers and Hammerstein musical made for TV. It first aired live on CBS on March 31, 1957. Julie Andrews played Cinderella. Over 100 million people watched it. CBS remade it in 1965 with Lesley Ann Warren. Both versions are available on DVD.
National Geographic Specials
CBS was also the first network to show primetime specials from the National Geographic Society. These shows started on CBS in 1964. They featured scientists like Louis Leakey and Jane Goodall. The specials helped make these figures famous. The success of these shows led to the creation of the National Geographic Channel.
Other Notable Specials
The Pillsbury Bake-Off, a national cooking contest, aired on CBS from 1949 to 2002. Many famous hosts, like Bob Barker and Alex Trebek, hosted it.
The Miss USA beauty pageant aired on CBS from 1963 to 2002. It was often hosted by CBS game show hosts. Viewership was highest in the early 1980s. It later moved to NBC due to changes in ownership.
On October 3, 1977, CBS aired Elvis in Concert. This special was filmed during Elvis Presley's final tour. It aired almost two months after he passed away.
Since 1978, CBS has been the only broadcaster of The Kennedy Center Honors. This is a two-hour tribute to performing artists.
CBS Stations
CBS owns 15 TV stations. It also has agreements with 228 other stations. These stations cover 50 states, Washington D.C., and some U.S. territories. This means CBS reaches almost 96% of all homes in the United States.
Some states like New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Delaware do not have their own CBS stations. Instead, they get CBS programs from nearby large cities. For example, New Jersey gets CBS from New York City or Philadelphia stations.
CBS also works with smaller, low-power stations in some areas. These stations might also share a channel with a larger station. Many CBS stations are also available on digital subchannels.
Nexstar Media Group owns the most CBS stations. Tegna Media reaches the most homes with its CBS stations.
Related Services
Video-on-Demand Services
CBS lets people watch its shows later through different services. You can watch on CBS.com, or through their apps on phones and tablets. There's also CBS on Demand through cable TV. CBS also has deals with Amazon Video and Netflix for some shows.
CBS was the only major network that did not put its recent shows on Hulu. This was to make sure people watched them live or through other CBS services.
Paramount+ (formerly CBS All Access)
On October 28, 2014, CBS launched CBS All Access. This was a subscription streaming service. It cost money each month. It was the first streaming service from a U.S. broadcast TV network. It let users watch old and new CBS shows. It also allowed live streaming of local CBS channels in many areas.
CBS All Access offered new episodes the day after they aired. It also had full seasons of current and classic CBS shows. It even had original shows like Star Trek: Discovery and The Good Fight.
In December 2018, the service launched in Australia as 10 All Access. This was because CBS owned Network 10 there.
In September 2020, CBS announced that the service would change its name. It became Paramount+ in early 2021. This new name included content from the larger ViacomCBS library. The name change happened on March 4, 2021.
CBS HD
CBS broadcasts its main programs in 1080i high definition (HD). This is a very clear picture format. Some stations might show it in a slightly different HD format (720p) or standard definition (480i). A few stations even broadcast in 1080p using newer technology.
CBS started showing programs in HD in September 1998. The first NFL game in HD was on November 8, 1998. CBS slowly changed more of its shows to HD. The Young and the Restless became the first daytime soap opera in HD in 2001.
By 2014, all of CBS's regular shows were in HD. Big Brother and Let's Make a Deal were the last to switch. Now, all CBS programs are in full HD.
Since September 2018, CBS has designed its on-screen graphics for widescreen TVs. This makes everything look better on modern screens.
CBS Branding
Logos
CBS's first logo, used from the 1940s to 1951, was an oval spotlight on the letters "CBS". The famous Eye logo was created by William Golden. It was inspired by old American folk art. The Eye logo first appeared on TV on October 20, 1951. CBS President Frank Stanton wanted to keep using it.
The CBS eye is now a very well-known symbol. The Eye itself has never been changed. It is sometimes called the "Eyemark". This name was used for CBS's TV show distribution part in the 1990s.
The eye logo has inspired logos for other TV channels around the world. These include channels in the United Kingdom, Mexico, Japan, and Brazil. In October 2011, CBS celebrated 60 years of the Eye logo. They showed special versions of the logo from past campaigns.
Image Campaigns
1980s
CBS has had many memorable image campaigns. Many famous slogans came from the 1980s. The "Reach for the Stars" campaign was used in 1981-82. It had a space theme. "Great Moments" in 1982 showed clips from old and new CBS shows. From 1983 to 1986, CBS used "We've Got the Touch".
The 1986-87 season brought "Share the Spirit of CBS". This was the first campaign to use computer graphics. It showed previews of new shows. The "CBS Spirit" campaign followed in 1987-88. It used a swirling blue line to represent "the spirit".
For 1988-89, CBS used "Television You Can Feel". This aimed for a more emotional image. In 1989-90, "Get Ready for CBS" was introduced. This campaign tried to boost CBS's ratings. It showed stars interacting and getting ready for the new season.
1990s
In 1990-91, the campaign used a new song by the Temptations. The early 1990s had simpler slogans like "This is CBS" (1992) and "You're on CBS" (1995). Later in the decade, campaigns like "Welcome Home to a CBS Night" (1996-1997) became popular. This was shortened to "Welcome Home" (1997-1999). Then came "The Address is CBS" (1999-2000).
2000s
In the 2000s, CBS's ratings grew. This was supported by the "It's All Here" campaign. In 2005, the slogan "Everybody's Watching" was used. CBS called itself "America's Most Watched Network". The 2006 campaign used "We Are CBS". In 2009, "Only CBS" was introduced. This slogan highlighted what made CBS special. "America's Most Watched Network" was brought back in 2011.
2020s
In October 2020, CBS started using a more unified look. This was to make its brand stronger across all platforms. They use a "deconstructed eye" design. This uses the shapes from the eye logo. They also have a five-note sound that sounds like "This is CBS".
As part of this change, CBS Television Studios became CBS Studios. CBS Television Distribution became CBS Media Ventures. The network also stopped using "America's Most Watched Network" and "Only CBS". They wanted people to feel like they were "part of the family." CBS News and CBS Sports also got new logos and sounds. In December 2022, local CBS news stations started using this new branding.
International Broadcasts
CBS programs are shown outside the United States. This happens through various Paramount Global networks and other agreements. In Canada, CBS shows are available through U.S. stations near the border. Canadian TV providers carry these signals. Sometimes, Canadian shows replace U.S. ones if they air at the same time.
In Bermuda, CBS has a station called ZBM-TV. In Mexico, CBS programs are available through U.S. stations near the border. In Central America, the Dominican Republic, and the Caribbean, many TV providers carry U.S. CBS stations. The U.S. Virgin Islands has WCVI-TV for CBS.
In Guam, KUAM-LP shows CBS programs. Entertainment shows are delayed by one day because of the time difference. Live shows air as scheduled, even if it's early morning. In Puerto Rico, CBS is carried through a special feed from a station in Pennsylvania.
In Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, and Colombia, many TV providers carry U.S. CBS stations.
United Kingdom
In 2009, CBS launched six CBS-branded channels in the United Kingdom. These replaced older channels. They included CBS Reality, CBS Drama, and CBS Action.
CBS News and BBC News started sharing news in 2017. This replaced older agreements. Since December 2019, Channel 5 in the UK is a sister company to CBS.
Australia
Australian TV broadcaster Network 10 has been owned by CBS Corporation since 2017. Its channels, like 10 and Nickelodeon, show CBS programs. Before CBS bought it, CBS was a major supplier of shows to Network 10.
Asia
Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, the CBS Evening News is broadcast live early in the morning. Parts of the program are replayed later.
Philippines
In the Philippines, CBS Evening News is shown on Q (now GTV). CBS This Morning is on Lifestyle (now Metro Channel). Many CBS entertainment shows like CSI and Survivor are also shown. 60 Minutes is broadcast on CNN Philippines.
India
In India, CBS had a deal for three CBS-branded channels. These were Big CBS Prime, Big CBS Spark, and Big CBS Love. They closed in 2013. After the CBS-Viacom merger, Colors TV became a sister network to CBS.
Israel
In Israel, in 2012, Zone Reality and Zone Romantica became CBS Reality and CBS Drama. As of 2018, only CBS Reality is carried by TV providers there.
Presidents of CBS Entertainment
| Executive | Term |
|---|---|
| Arthur Judson | 1927–1928 |
| William S. Paley | 1928–1946 |
| Frank Stanton | 1946–1971 |
| Louis Cowan | 1957–1959 |
| James Thomas Aubrey | 1959–1965 |
| Michael Dann | 1963–1970 |
| Fred Silverman | 1970–1975 |
| Arthur R. Taylor | 1972–1976 |
| John Backe | 1976–1980 |
| B. Donald Grant | 1980–1987 |
| Kim LeMasters | 1987–1990 |
| Jeff Sagansky | 1990–1994 |
| Peter Tortorici | 1994–1995 |
| Leslie Moonves | 1995–1998 |
| Nancy Tellem | 1998–2004 |
| Nina Tassler | 2004–2015 |
| Glenn Geller | 2015–2017 |
| Kelly Kahl | 2017–2022 |
| Amy Reisenbach | 2022–present |
See also
In Spanish: CBS para niños
- CBS Cable, an early attempt by CBS to get into cable TV
- CBS Innertube
- CBS Kidshow
- CBS Mobile
- ExtraVision (a text service CBS used in the 1980s)
- History of CBS
- Lists of CBS television affiliates
- Meredith Corporation
- Westmoreland v. CBS
