Paramount Television

Paramount Television is the television production and distribution identity associated with Paramount Pictures and its corporate successors. The brand's modern history begins in the mid-1960s, although Paramount's involvement in television reaches back to the late 1940s, when Paramount Pictures attempted to operate a television network, invested in the DuMont Television Network, owned or built television stations, and produced individual programs for broadcast networks. The first major corporate incarnation was established in 1966 as Paramount Television Corporation after Gulf+Western acquired Paramount Pictures. In 1967, Gulf+Western purchased Desilu Productions, the influential company founded by Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball. Desilu was merged into Paramount, transferring production operations, studio facilities, and program assets into Paramount's television business. The resulting operation inherited associations with programs such as I Love Lucy, Star Trek, and The Untouchables, while developing new successes of its own. During the late 1960s and 1970s, Paramount worked with several broadcast networks, particularly ABC, and was connected with programs including The Brady Bunch and The Odd Couple. Its television activities also included development agreements with independent producers and attempts to expand beyond conventional program production. Paramount repeatedly explored the idea of operating a network. A late-1970s proposal, the Paramount Television Service, was intended to use a new Star Trek series as a cornerstone, but the network was abandoned and the project was reshaped as Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Paramount eventually entered network ownership through the United Paramount Network, or UPN, launched in January 1995 with Paramount as its principal corporate sponsor. Star Trek: Voyager was the first program broadcast by UPN, and Paramount Television supplied much of the network's programming. UPN later became wholly owned by Viacom and merged with The WB in 2006 to create The CW. Corporate ownership changes substantially enlarged the studio's television resources. Paramount Communications was acquired by Viacom in 1994, and Viacom's acquisition of CBS in 2000 brought together Paramount's production operations, CBS's network and library assets, and Viacom's television production and distribution businesses. Viacom Productions continued as a Paramount-related production unit before being absorbed into Paramount operations. The acquisition of Spelling Entertainment in 1999 further expanded the group's holdings, including Spelling Television, Big Ticket Entertainment, Worldvision Enterprises, and Republic Pictures-related assets. The brand was reorganized several times. In 2004, Paramount Network Television and CBS Productions were combined, with CBS Productions becoming largely an in-name-only label for older programming. Following Viacom's 2005 split, the Paramount television operation became part of CBS Corporation and was renamed CBS Paramount Television in 2006. A later corporate reorganization led to the creation of Paramount Television in 2013 under the reorganized Viacom, with the unit subsequently known as Paramount Television Studios. Paramount's television activities have encompassed scripted series, limited series, television films, co-productions, international distribution, producer overall deals, and programming made for both linear networks and streaming services. The brand is best understood not as a single uninterrupted company, but as a recurring studio identity used across successive Paramount and CBS corporate structures. Its historical significance comes from the combination of Paramount's film heritage, Desilu's production legacy, UPN's network experiment, Viacom's television assets, CBS's broadcast infrastructure, and later expansion into streaming-era programming. Exact present operating status depends on the corporate period being discussed, so the entity's current standalone statu…

Paramount's television history predates the Paramount Television brand. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Paramount Pictures pursued a television-network strategy, built or owned television stations, invested in DuMont, and distributed filmed programs to affiliated stations. Disputes with DuMont and regulatory opposition limited the project, and Paramount eventually concentrated on producing programs for existing networks. The modern studio organization emerged after Gulf+Western acquired Paramount Pictures in 1966. John T. Reynolds became president of a new Paramount television division, and Paramount began distributing film packages for syndication. Gulf+Western's 1967 acquisition of Desilu Productions was the decisive formative event. Desilu, founded by Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball, had produced major television programs and operated substantial studio facilities. Its merger into Paramount made Paramount a more substantial television producer and gave the company an important connection to established entertainment franchises and production infrastructure. During the 1970s, Paramount produced programs for multiple networks and developed relationships with independent producers. The studio was associated with successful comedies and dramas, while executives and producers periodically left to establish affiliated production companies. Paramount also considered launching the Paramount Television Service, with a planned Star Trek program at its center. The network proposal was cancelled, and the Star Trek project was converted into a feature film. Paramount's television library and production capacity expanded through corporate transactions. Paramount Communications was acquired by Viacom in 1994. Viacom's television production and distribution units were integrated with Paramount operations, while the 1999 acquisition of Spelling Entertainment added further production companies, syndication assets, and libraries. In January 1995, Paramount launched UPN, finally giving the company a network outlet. Star Trek: Voyager inaugurated the network, followed by programs such as Star Trek: Enterprise, Girlfriends, and One on One. UPN became wholly owned by Viacom in 2000 and later merged with The WB to form The CW. Viacom's 2000 acquisition of CBS brought Paramount into closer contact with the CBS broadcast network. Paramount-produced or Paramount-associated programs for CBS included JAG, Becker, NCIS, Numb3rs, Criminal Minds, and Ghost Whisperer. In 2004, Paramount Network Television absorbed CBS Productions. The 2005 Viacom split placed the studio under CBS Corporation, and in 2006 it was renamed CBS Paramount Television. The corporate history later moved back toward the Paramount identity, with a new Paramount Television operation established in 2013 and subsequently rebranded Paramount Television Studios. Across these incarnations, the business has operated as a content studio rather than as a consumer-facing product brand. Its activities have included development, financing, production, co-production, licensing, syndication, and distribution. The brand has also been used alongside or within other Paramount, CBS, Viacom, and streaming-era labels. Because the name has represented multiple legal entities over time, historical references should distinguish the original Paramount Television operation from CBS Paramount Television and the later Paramount Television Studios organization.

• 2006

  The studio is renamed CBS Paramount Television

  [1]Paramount Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  Following the Viacom corporate split, Paramount's television operation becomes part of CBS Corporation under a new name.

• 2004

  CBS Productions is folded into Paramount Network Television

  [1]Paramount Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  CBS Productions ceases to operate as a separate production unit.

• 2000

  Viacom acquires CBS

  [1]Paramount Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  The transaction combines Paramount's television business with CBS's broadcast and production assets.

• 1995

  UPN launches

  [1]Paramount Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  The United Paramount Network begins broadcasting, with Paramount Television supplying much of its programming.

• 1994

  Paramount Communications is acquired by Viacom

  [1]Paramount Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  The acquisition places Paramount's television operations within the expanding Viacom group.

• 1977

  Paramount Television Service is proposed

  [1]Paramount Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  Paramount explores a new television network centered on a planned Star Trek series, but the proposal is abandoned.

• 1967

  Desilu joins Paramount

  [1]Paramount Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  Gulf+Western acquires Desilu Productions and merges its operations into Paramount.

• 1966

  Paramount Television division is formed

  [1]Paramount Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  Paramount establishes a dedicated television production division during the Gulf+Western ownership transition.

A major American studio television brand that combines Paramount's film-library heritage with network programming, producer partnerships, franchise development, and television distribution.

• Science-fiction television · 1995

  Star Trek television programming

  Paramount's television business has been closely associated with the Star Trek franchise. Star Trek: Voyager served as the launch program for UPN, while Star Trek: Enterprise was another major Paramount-associated series. The franchise also featured in Paramount's abandoned late-1970s network plan, demonstrating its importance as both a production property and a potential network anchor.

• Situation comedy

  The Brady Bunch

  The Brady Bunch was one of Paramount's notable early television successes after the Desilu integration and helped establish the studio's relationship with ABC. Its continuing recognition made it an important part of Paramount's television heritage and library.

• Crime drama

  NCIS

  NCIS originated as a spin-off of JAG and became one of the most durable Paramount-associated television franchises. It continued through later corporate studio identities and generated additional spin-offs.

• Fantasy comedy · 1996

  Sabrina the Teenage Witch

  Produced through the Viacom and Paramount television structure, Sabrina the Teenage Witch was based on the Archie Comics character and ran across ABC and The WB. It was a significant television success for the broader Paramount production organization during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

• 2004

  Integration of CBS ProductionsStrategy

  Background

  Viacom's ownership of both Paramount and CBS created an opportunity to consolidate overlapping television production structures.

  Action taken

  CBS Productions was folded into Paramount Network Television, while the CBS Productions logo remained on certain older co-productions.

  Aftermath

  The restructuring preceded the 2006 rename to CBS Paramount Television after the Viacom corporate split.

  Source

• 1995

  Launch of the United Paramount NetworkStrategy

  Background

  Paramount had previously attempted to create a television network but had not sustained a nationwide network operation.

  Action taken

  Paramount launched UPN and used Star Trek: Voyager as its inaugural program, while Paramount Television supplied much of the network's original programming.

  Aftermath

  UPN became wholly owned by Viacom in 2000 and later merged with The WB in 2006 to form The CW.

  Source

1. 1Paramount Televisionen.wikipedia.org