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Paramount Television Studios | founded = {{start date and age|1967|05|18}} | defunct = {{e..."

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Created page with "{{short description|TV production division of Paramount Pictures}} {{For|the second incarnation of this studio|Paramount Television Studios}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2019}} {{Infobox company | name = Paramount Television | logo = Paramount Television 2006.svg | fate = Renamed to CBS Paramount Television | predecessor = Desilu Productions | successors = CBS Studios Paramount Television Studios | founded = {{start date and age|1967|05|18}} | defunct = {{e..."

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{{short description|TV production division of Paramount Pictures}}
{{For|the second incarnation of this studio|Paramount Television Studios}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Paramount Television
| logo = Paramount Television 2006.svg
| fate = Renamed to CBS Paramount Television
| predecessor = [[Desilu Productions]]
| successors = [[CBS Studios]] [[Paramount Television Studios]]
| founded = {{start date and age|1967|05|18}}
| defunct = {{end date and age|2006|04|24}}
| type = [[Division (business)|Division]]
| industry = [[Television production]]
| parent = {{Plainlist|
* [[Gulf and Western Industries|Gulf+Western]] (1967–1989)
* [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount Communications]] (1989–1994)
* [[Viacom (1952–2006)|Viacom]] (1994–2006)
* [[CBS Corporation]] (2006)
}}
| divisions = [[Paramount Domestic Television]] Paramount International Television (until 2004) [[Paramount Television Studios|Wilshire Court Productions]] (1989–2003)
| subsid = [[Viacom Productions]] (1995–2004) [[Spelling Television]] (1999–2006) [[Big Ticket Entertainment]] (1999–2006)
}}
The original incarnation of '''Paramount Television''' was the name of the television production division of the American [[film studio]] [[Paramount Pictures]], that was responsible for the production of [[Viacom (2005–2019)|Viacom]] television programs, until it changed its name to CBS Paramount Television on January 17, 2006, due to the [[Viacom (1952–2006)|Viacom]] split.

== History ==
=== Desilu Productions ===
{{Main|Desilu Productions}}
Desilu Productions was an American production company founded and co-owned by husband and wife [[Desi Arnaz]] and [[Lucille Ball]], best known for shows such as ''[[I Love Lucy]]'', ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]'', and ''[[The Untouchables (1959 TV series)|The Untouchables]]''. Until 1962, Desilu was the second-largest independent television production company in the U.S. behind [[MCA Inc.]]'s [[Universal Television|Revue Productions]] until MCA bought [[Universal Pictures]], and Desilu became and remained the number-one independent production company until it was sold in 1967.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://socialbilitty.com/2014/03/quote-by-lucille-ball/ |title=Quote By Lucille Ball |access-date=November 10, 2017}}</ref> Ball and Arnaz jointly owned the majority stake in Desilu from its inception until 1962, when Ball bought out Arnaz and ran the company by herself for several years. Ball had succeeded in making Desilu profitable again by 1967, when she sold her shares of Desilu to [[Gulf and Western Industries|Gulf+Western]] for $17 million (${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|17000000|1967|r=0}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars).<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/197550 | title = RADICALS & VISIONARIES Desi Arnaz & Lucille Ball | access-date = 10 June 2016}}</ref> Gulf+Western then transformed Desilu into the television production arm of [[Paramount Pictures]], rebranding the company as Paramount Television.

==== Paramount's early involvement in television ====
{{Main|Paramount Television Network}}
The Paramount Television Network was a venture by American film corporation [[Paramount Pictures]] to organize a television network in the late 1940s. The company built television stations [[KTLA]] in Los Angeles and [[WBBM-TV]] in Chicago; it also invested US$400,000 in the [[DuMont Television Network]], which operated stations [[WNYW]] in New York City, [[WTTG]] in Washington, D.C., and [[KDKA-TV]] in Pittsburgh. Escalating disputes between Paramount and DuMont concerning breaches of contract, company control, and network competition erupted regularly between 1940 and 1956, and culminated in the dismantling of the DuMont Network. Television historian Timothy White called the clash between the two companies "one of the most unfortunate and dramatic episodes in the early history of the television industry."<ref>{{cite book|last=White|first=Timothy R.|title=Hollywood's Attempt to Appropriate Television: The Case of Paramount Pictures|publisher=UMI|location=Ann Arbor, Michigan|year=1992|pages=107–131}}</ref>

The Paramount Television Network aired several programs, including the [[Emmy Awards|Emmy Award]]-winning children's series ''[[Time for Beany]]''. Filmed in Hollywood, the programs were distributed to an ad-hoc network of stations across the United States. The network signed [[network affiliate|network affiliation]] agreements with more than 50 television stations in 1950; despite this, most of Paramount's series were not widely viewed outside the West Coast. The [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC), which filed suit against Paramount for anti-trust violations, prevented the studio from acquiring additional television stations. Paramount executives eventually gave up on the idea of a television network, and continued to produce series for other networks.

Paramount Pictures had made a couple of attempts in the mid-1950s to produce series themselves under the Telemount (Television + Paramount) banner. The first, ''[[Cowboy G-Men]]'', was a joint effort with Mutual Broadcasting for syndication. The second, ''Sally'' starring [[Joan Caulfield]], was a short-lived series on [[NBC]] during the 1957–58 season. The spun-off [[Plitt Theatres|theater chain]] purchased control of the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], and due to legal requirements sold WBKB-TV (now [[WBBM-TV]]) to [[CBS]].

Another attempt by Paramount was known as Paramount Pictures Television. One of the series was ''[[Destination Space]]'', a pilot to a proposed series that never got off the ground, produced in association with the CBS Television Network in 1959.

==== The 1960s ====
{{main|Gulf and Western Industries}}
In 1966, Paramount was on the verge of bankruptcy, when the studio was bought out by [[Gulf and Western Industries|Gulf+Western]]. By that point, Paramount had largely distanced itself from television, having stopped production of its early shows, closed down its networks, and sold off the stations it owned. It also sold most of the early half of its sound-era theatrical library (mostly pre-1950 works) to such companies as [[EMKA, Ltd.]]—a wholly owned subsidiary of MCA (pre-1950 theatrical live-action sound features; now part of [[Universal Pictures]]),<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O6kfBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA160 | title=City of Dreams: The Making and Remaking of Universal Pictures | publisher=University Press of Kentucky | author=Dick, Bernard F. | year=2015 | pages=160 | isbn=978-0813158891}}</ref> [[U.M. & M. TV Corporation]] (most short subjects released through September 1950; now part of Paramount-owned Melange Pictures), [[Associated Artists Productions]] – also called a.a.p. [sic] for short (''[[Popeye the Sailor (film series)|Popeye]]'' cartoons; now part of [[WarnerMedia]]'s [[Turner Entertainment]] and [[Warner Bros.]] units), [[Harvey Films]] (most short subjects released between September 1950 and March 1962; now also owned by Universal Pictures, which bought [[DreamWorks Classics]] and its parent, [[DreamWorks Animation]] in 2016), and [[National Comics Publications]] (''[[Superman (1940s animated film series)|Superman]]'' theatrical cartoons; later [[DC Comics]], now also owned by WarnerMedia).

==== Sale and re-incorporation ====
{{main|Paramount Television Service}}
In 1967, [[Charles Bluhdorn]]'s Gulf+Western brought Desilu, which was merged with Paramount, who had been Desilu's next door neighbor since the closure of [[RKO Pictures]]. The sale resulted in Desilu's re-incorporation as Paramount Television in December of that year. The three Desilu lots{{snd}} the original RKO Studios and two Culver City locations{{snd}} were included in the sale, but the Justice Department forced Bluhdorn to sell the Culver Studios to avoid a monopoly.<ref>Dick, Bernard F. "Engulfed: the death of Paramount Pictures and the birth of corporate Hollywood" (pp. 118–119). [[The University of Kentucky]], [[Lexington, KY]] (2001). {{ISBN|0-8131-2202-3}}.</ref> The old RKO globe is still in place at the corner of Gower and Melrose in the Paramount lot.<ref>[http://wikimapia.org/4622171/The-RKO-globe The RKO globe – Los Angeles, California]. Wikimapia.org (March 19, 1966). Retrieved 18 August 2013.</ref>

The first PTV production to premiere after the re-incorporation was ''[[Here's Lucy]]''. Paramount only produced the first season however, selling their stake in the show to Ball after the season finale. Throughout that, Paramount started good relations with [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], allowing it to produce several shows in the 1960s and the 1970s, with ''[[The Brady Bunch]]'' and ''[[The Odd Couple (1970 TV series)|The Odd Couple]]'' becoming the biggest hits for the studio.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1969-03-03|title=ABC's fall lineup|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/69-OCR/1969-03-03-BC-OCR-Page-0009.pdf|access-date=2021-11-21}}</ref>

In 1971, [[Douglas S. Cramer]], who served as vice president in charge of production at the studio had left, to start out his production company affiliated with [[Columbia Pictures]] and [[Screen Gems]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=1971-05-10|title=Fates & Fortunes|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/71-OCR/1971-05-10-BC-OCR-Page-0054.pdf|access-date=2021-10-31}}</ref> In 1972, Thomas Miller, who was vice president of program development and Edward Milkis, who served in charge of post-production would leave the studio to start their own production company Miller/Milkis Productions with a development deal at the studio.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1972-02-28|title=Fates & Fortunes|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/72-OCR/1972-02-28-BC-OCR-Page-0069.pdf|access-date=2021-08-15}}</ref> ''[[Happy Days]]'' would go on to be a hit for both the studio and Miller/Milkis, with subsequent spin-offs that were served to launch a franchise. In 1977, Gary Nardino then become president of the studio.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1979-05-14|title=Happy days for Paramount's Nardino|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/79-OCR/BC-1979-05-14-OCR-Page-0089.pdf|access-date=2021-11-21}}</ref>

Gulf+Western had plans to launch a television network in the late 1970s, the [[Paramount Television Service]], with a new ''Star Trek'' series as the cornerstone of the network. But these plans were scrapped, and ''[[Star Trek: Phase II]]'' was reworked into ''[[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]]''.

In 1979, Terry Keegan, Paramount employee, joined with Arthur Fellows to launch a Paramount-affiliated production company The Fellows/Keegan Company, who was worked until 1983, when it went alternative deals with the company.<ref>{{Cite web|author=|date=1993-02-05|title=Terry Keegan|url=https://variety.com/1993/scene/people-news/terry-keegan-103726/|access-date=2021-09-21|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref> In 1983, Gary Nardino had left the company to start out a company affiliated with Paramount, Gary Nardino Productions, of which they stayed for six years until 1989.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1998-02-03|title=Gary Nardino; TV Executive Behind 'Taxi,' 'Happy Days'|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-feb-03-me-15074-story.html|access-date=2021-11-21|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1984, former MGM producer Leonard Goldberg joined Paramount to serve as production agreement with the studio via Mandy Films.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1984-07-23|title=In Brief|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/84-OCR/BC-1984-07-23-OCR-Page-0126.pdf|access-date=2021-08-26}}</ref> In 1986, [[Eddie Murphy]], who had success with starring films for Paramount's own movie studio, launched Eddie Murphy Television Enterprises with a deal at Paramount Television for their own projects.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1986-05-26|title=Murphy and Paramount|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/86-OCR/BC-1986-05-26-OCR-Page-0060.pdf|access-date=2021-09-23}}</ref> In 1988, Murphy signed a contract with CBS to develop their own TV projects.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1988-06-27|title=CBS gets Murphy|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/88-OCR/BC-1988-06-27-OCR-Page-0073.pdf|access-date=2021-09-23}}</ref>

=== Ownership changes and library expansion ===
In 1989, Gulf+Western was re-incorporated as [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount Communications]], named after the company's prime asset, Paramount Pictures (the name of which was also used for the company as a whole). That firm was sold to [[Viacom (1952–2006)|Viacom]] in 1994. In 1990, Paramount had signed [[Arsenio Hall]] to a multi-year exclusive production contract for film and television projects, and let his talk show to be renewed through 1994.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1990-04-30|title=Syndication Marketplace|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/90-OCR/BC-1990-04-30-OCR-Page-0045.pdf|access-date=2021-11-01}}</ref>

In 1992, Paramount had struck a deal with various talent writers and producers. The talent were [[Don Johnson]], Kathy Speer and Terry Grossman, [[Barry Fanaro]] and [[Mort Nathan]], [[Danny Bilson]] and [[Paul De Meo]], [[Tim O'Donnell (director)|Tim O'Donnell]], [[Janet Leahy]], [[John Mankiewicz]], [[Christopher Crowe (screenwriter)|Christopher Crowe]] and [[Jacob Epstein (writer)|Jacob Epstein]] and Ken Solarz.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1992-07-13|title=Paramount and Disney get creattive|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/92-OCR/BC-1992-07-13-OCR-Page-0011.pdf|access-date=2021-08-30}}</ref> Also that year, [[Donald P. Bellisario]] had left Universal Television after 12 years to sign with Paramount Television.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1992-10-19|title=Bellisario Leap|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/92-OCR/BC-1992-10-19-OCR-Page-0022.pdf|access-date=2021-08-30}}</ref>

The Viacom merger gave Paramount a larger television library as well, since Viacom had television production and distribution units as well prior to the Paramount acquisition. The distribution company, [[Viacom (1952–2006)|Viacom Enterprises]] (which syndicated the classic CBS library among other shows), was merged into Paramount Domestic Television while the production company, [[Viacom Productions]] (known at the time for its co-productions with [[Fred Silverman]] and [[Dean Hargrove]]), continued as a PTV division until 2004.

The first major hit from Viacom Productions to debut after becoming a PTV division was ''[[Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996 TV series)|Sabrina the Teenage Witch]]'', based on the [[Archie Comics]] ''[[Sabrina the Teenage Witch|of the same name]]''. Starring [[Melissa Joan Hart]] as the [[Sabrina Spellman|title character]], the series lasted four seasons on ABC (in contrast to the lack of success from the parent company on the network in this period) and three on [[The WB]] between 1996 and 2003.

In 1995, Paramount struck a program deal with [[Procter & Gamble]] for a three-year period.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1995-03-06|title=Paramount, P&G strike program deal|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/95-OCR/BC-1995-03-06-OCR-Page-0007.pdf|access-date=2021-09-01}}</ref> It also expanded with a first-look partnership with [[NBC]] to obtain their projects created by the partnership that year.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Coe|first=Steve|date=1995-11-20|title=NBC gets first look at Paramount, P&G projects|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/95-OCR/BC-1995-11-20-OCR-Page-0028.pdf|access-date=2021-11-06}}</ref> Also that year, it entered into a partnership with the [[Fox Broadcasting Company]] to launch a joint partnership with Television Production Partners to help them advertise their projects, and also include support from Fox's production partners.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Coe|first=Steve|date=1995-06-12|title=TPP makes deal with Paramount, Fox|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/95-OCR/BC-1995-06-12-OCR-Page-0024.pdf|access-date=2021-11-06}}</ref>

In 1994, the Paramount Television Group and [[MTV Entertainment Studios|MTV Productions]] signed a deal to develop projects commissioned by MTV, and gave Paramount the right of first refusal on projects developed by MTV.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1994-11-14|title=In Brief|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/94-OCR/BC-1994-11-14-Page-0092.pdf|access-date=2021-10-07}}</ref> For the 1997-98 season Paramount Network Television collaborated with Viacom sister [[MTV Entertainment Studios|MTV Productions]], to produce the [[NBC]] comedy ''[[Jenny (TV series)|Jenny]]'', the [[UPN]] (then-sister of [[MTV]]) comedy ''[[Hitz]]'', and the [[The WB|WB]] drama ''[[Three (TV series)|Three]]'', but none of them got success beyond its first season.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Richmond|first=Ray|date=1997-06-06|title=Webs want their MTVP: Unit scores 1st time out|url=https://variety.com/1997/tv/news/webs-want-their-mtvp-unit-scores-1st-time-out-1116679487/|access-date=2021-10-07|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1996, producer [[Barry Kemp (TV producer)|Barry Kemp]] had signed a multi-year overall deal with Paramount to produce their projects under the Bungalow 78 Productions banner, and had plans for a series with a 13-episode commitment for [[CBS]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=1996-09-23|title=Paramount signs Kemp|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/96-OCR/BC-1996-09-23-OCR-Page-0031.pdf|access-date=2021-11-06}}</ref> Paramount then turned around, along with Kemp, with part ways, to turn the project over to [[Warner Bros. Television Studios|Warner Bros. Television]] with new showrunners [[Ed Decter]] and [[John J. Strauss]] on the board.<ref>{{Cite web|author=|date=1997-09-11|title=WB TV closes in on CBS’ Selleck sitcom|url=https://variety.com/1997/tv/news/wb-tv-closes-in-on-cbs-selleck-sitcom-1116674950/|access-date=2021-09-16|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>

Paramount continued to build its television library. In 1999, Viacom acquired full interest in Spelling Entertainment Group (which included [[Spelling Television]], [[Big Ticket Entertainment]], [[Worldvision Enterprises]], and [[Republic Pictures]], among other companies), and the rights to [[Rysher Entertainment]]'s television holdings. Also in 1999, [[Steven Bochco]], being lured from CBS was recruited by Paramount Television for a production/distribution agreement.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1999-07-15|title=Bochco Enters Deal With Paramount to Produce Series|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jul-15-fi-56189-story.html|access-date=2021-08-16|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2003, Big Ticket was absorbed into Paramount, but Big Ticket continued to be used as an in-name only unit.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Schneider|first=Michael|date=2003-06-24|title=Par to close Big Ticket|url=https://variety.com/2003/tv/news/par-to-close-big-ticket-1117888382/|access-date=2021-09-02|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref> In late 2005, Spelling Television has laid off its employees, transitioning from a separate studio to a pod development deal within the studio.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Schneider|first=Michael|date=2005-12-09|title=Spelling TV in firing line|url=https://variety.com/2005/scene/news/spelling-tv-in-firing-line-1117934285/|access-date=2021-09-02|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Launch of UPN and co-ownership with CBS ===
{{main|UPN}}
In January 1995, Paramount finally launched a television network, the United Paramount Network, or [[UPN]] for short, which later merged with [[WarnerMedia|Time Warner]]'s [[The WB]] to form [[The CW]]. PTV produced the bulk of the series airing on UPN, including the first program ever shown on the network, ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]''. UPN became 100% owned by Viacom in 2000 after Chris-Craft sold its share (its television stations were sold to [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]]). Along with ''Voyager'', the most successful PTV shows on UPN were ''[[One on One (TV series)|One on One]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'' and ''[[Girlfriends (American TV series)|Girlfriends]]''.

In 2000, Viacom acquired its founding parent CBS, which had actually spun off Viacom in 1971. PTV began producing more shows airing on CBS (it already produced ''[[JAG (TV series)|JAG]]'' a former NBC production, ''[[Becker (TV series)|Becker]]'' starring ''Cheers'' veteran [[Ted Danson]], and ''[[Nash Bridges]]'', having acquired the latter from Rysher). Most of the new PTV series that debuted on CBS after the merger were not very successful, including ''[[Bram & Alice]]'' and ''[[Out of Practice]]'' (starring ''Happy Days'' veteran [[Henry Winkler]]). However, four of these series would become hits: ''JAG'' spin-off ''[[NCIS (TV series)|NCIS]]'', ''[[Numbers (TV series)|Numb3rs]]'', ''[[Criminal Minds]]'', and ''[[Ghost Whisperer]]'' (the latter two were co-productions with Touchstone Television, which later became [[ABC Signature|ABC Studios]]). All four of these series would continue under CBS Paramount Television and later CBS Television Studios, with only ''NCIS'' and ''Criminal Minds'' still airing (both also had [[NCIS: Los Angeles|spin-offs]] [[Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior|of their own]], with varied success).

In 2004, it was merged with [[CBS Productions]] to form a new entity of Paramount Network Television, which is producing all new shows for CBS.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Schneider|first=Michael|date=2004-06-02|title=Moonves move may mean TV union|url=https://variety.com/2004/tv/news/moonves-move-may-mean-tv-union-1117905819/|access-date=2021-08-17|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref> CBS Productions was rendered defunct in the September of 2004 by folding it up into Paramount Network Television, though the CBS Productions logo continued to be used on older co-productions airing on the CBS television network until 2006, becoming an in-name only unit of the studio.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Adalian|first1=Josef|first2=Michael|last2=Schneider|date=2004-09-07|title=Moonves’ TV makeovers|url=https://variety.com/2004/scene/markets-festivals/moonves-tv-makeovers-1117910059/|access-date=2021-08-23|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2001, [[Warren Littlefield]] moved his Littlefield Company from NBC Studios to Paramount Television.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Adalian|first1=Josef|date=2001-03-22|title=Littlefield hops to Par for overall tube deal|url=https://variety.com/2001/tv/features/littlefield-hops-to-par-for-overall-tube-deal-1117795687/|access-date=2021-09-03|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref> Ed Redlich was struck to a deal with Paramount Network Television in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Adalian|first1=Josef|first2=Michael|last2=Schneider|date=2005-06-22|title=‘Trace’ ace transfers to Par Network TV|url=https://variety.com/2005/tv/news/trace-ace-transfers-to-par-network-tv-1117924857/|access-date=2021-09-05|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Acquisition by CBS ===
At the end of 2005, Viacom split into two completely separate companies, one of which was called [[CBS Corporation]], the other retaining the [[Viacom (2005–2019)|Viacom]] name. Despite Paramount Pictures being owned by the new Viacom, CBS inherited Paramount Television, as well as the right to retain the Paramount name. On January 16, 2006, the new incarnation of Paramount Network Television was renamed to CBS Paramount Network Television.<ref>Friedlander, Whitney. (January 16, 2006) [https://variety.com/2006/more/news/eye-lift-for-par-tv-1117936247/ Eye lift for Par TV]. Variety. Retrieved 18 August 2013.</ref> Paramount's final series was ''[[Courting Alex]]'' (co-produced with Touchstone Television) for CBS. Because National Amusements retains majority control of both CBS Corporation and the new Viacom, CBS programs (both before and after the split) are still distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment.

The company survived as CBS Paramount Television for three years. However, CBS began phasing out the Paramount name as early as 2007, when the [[CBS Media Ventures|American distribution arm]] was merged with [[King World Productions]] (bought by CBS just prior to the Viacom merger) to form CBS Television Distribution. The international arm of PTV was merged with CBS Broadcast International in 2004 (two years before the CBS/Viacom split) to form CBS Paramount International Television.

In 2009, CBS quietly announced that the Paramount name would be stripped from: the main company (CBS Paramount Television), its production arm ([[CBS Studios|CBS Paramount Network Television]]), and its international arm, with the latter two being renamed [[CBS Studios|CBS Television Studios]] and [[Paramount Global Content Licensing|CBS Studios International]], respectively. With these transactions, Paramount's involvement in television{{snd}} at least in name only since 2006{{snd}} came to an end after 70 years (when the experimental TV stations that later became KTLA and WBBM were founded). Paramount had been the first major Hollywood studio to be involved in television. When CBS Paramount Television was renamed to CBS Television Studios, Paramount Pictures joined forces with [[Trifecta Entertainment & Media]] in distributing the Paramount and Republic film libraries on television.

== See also ==
* [[Paramount Television Studios]] – the current TV division of [[Paramount Pictures]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Television series by Paramount Television (original)}}

{{Paramount Global}}

[[Category:American companies established in 1967]]
[[Category:American companies disestablished in 2006]]
[[Category:Predecessors of CBS Studios]]
[[Category:Mass media companies established in 1967]]
[[Category:Mass media companies disestablished in 2006]]
[[Category:1967 establishments in California]]
[[Category:2006 disestablishments in California]]
[[Category:Paramount Television]]
[[Category:Television production companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Paramount Pictures]]
[[Category:Former Viacom subsidiaries]]
[[Category:Former CBS Corporation subsidiaries]]
[[Category:Paramount Global subsidiaries]]

Paramount Television - Revision history

Adminpeter at 21:07, 30 May 2022

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