Viacom facts for kids
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Viacom's headquarters at One Astor Plaza in New York City
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| Public | |
| Traded as | |
| Industry | Mass media |
| Fate | Merged with CBS Corporation |
| Predecessors | Viacom (1952–2006) Paramount Communications |
| Successor | ViacomCBS |
| Founded | December 31, 2005 |
| Founder | Sumner Redstone |
| Defunct | December 4, 2019 |
| Headquarters | |
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Area served
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Worldwide |
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Key people
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| Products | |
| Revenue |  US$12.838 billion (2019) |
| US$1.522 billion (2019) |
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| Owner | National Amusements (80% voting power) |
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Number of employees
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11,200 (2017) |
| Divisions |
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| Subsidiaries |
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Viacom (which stands for Video & Audio Communications) was a big American entertainment company. It started way back in 1970 as a part of CBS TV. This first company was called Viacom International.
In 2005, Viacom split into two separate companies. One kept the name CBS Corporation, and the other became a new company, also called Viacom. This new Viacom owned many famous brands like Paramount Pictures, MTV, Nickelodeon, and Nick Jr.. They used to own the movie rental store Blockbuster.
In 2019, Viacom and CBS decided to join forces again. They merged to create a new, even bigger company called ViacomCBS. This merger was completed on December 4, 2019. They also launched a streaming service called CBS All Access, which has lots of movies and TV shows.
Contents
What Was Viacom?
Viacom was a major player in the world of media. It owned many different types of entertainment businesses. These included TV channels, movie studios, and even online services. The company's goal was to create and share fun content with people all over the world.
How Viacom Started
The original Viacom began in 1970. It was a division of CBS that handled syndication. This means they would sell the rights to TV shows so other stations could air them. Over time, Viacom grew and became a powerful independent company.
The Big Split in 2005
In 2005, Viacom made a big change. It decided to split into two separate companies. This was done to help each part focus better on its own goals.
- One company was renamed CBS Corporation. It kept the broadcast TV networks and some other businesses.
- The other company kept the Viacom name. This new Viacom focused on cable TV channels and movie studios.
Famous Brands Owned by Viacom
Viacom was known for owning many popular brands. These brands created shows, movies, and music that kids and teens loved.
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures is one of the oldest and most famous movie studios in Hollywood. Viacom owned Paramount, which produced many blockbuster films. These movies were shown in cinemas and later on home video.
MTV and Nickelodeon
Viacom was also the parent company of MTV and Nickelodeon.
- MTV started as a music television channel. It later became known for reality shows and other youth-focused content.
- Nickelodeon is a very popular channel for kids. It airs many cartoon shows and live-action series. Nick Jr. is a spin-off channel for even younger children.
The Merger with CBS
In 2019, Viacom and CBS decided to come back together. This was a big event in the media industry.
Why They Merged
The two companies merged to become stronger in the changing media world. By combining, they could offer more content. They also wanted to compete better with new streaming services. The merger created a huge library of movies and TV shows.
ViacomCBS is Born
The new company formed from the merger is called ViacomCBS. It officially started on December 4, 2019. This new company now owns all the brands that Viacom and CBS used to have separately. They also have a streaming service called Paramount+ (which used to be CBS All Access). This service lets people watch their favorite shows and movies online.
