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Viacom Productions

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Viacom Productions
FormerlyViacom Enterprises (1971–1994)
Company typeSubsidiary
Industry
Founded1971; 53 years ago (1971)
DefunctJune 15, 2004; 20 years ago (2004-06-15)
FateFolded into Paramount Network Television
SuccessorParamount Television
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
,
United States
ProductsTelevision Production
ParentViacom (1971–1995)
Paramount Network Television (1995–2004)

Viacom Productions (formerly Viacom Enterprises) was a television production arm of Viacom International. Viacom Enterprises was also a movie production, and a sports production. The division was active from 1971 until 2004, when the company was folded into Paramount Television 10 years following Viacom's acquisition of Paramount Pictures, and led Perry Simon to move itself to Paramount for a production deal.[1]

History

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Viacom Enterprises was formed in 1971 as the successor of the pre-1968 CBS Films, later reincorporated as CBS Enterprises, Inc. in 1968. The company began handling the production and distribution of films around the same time, under the name "Viacom Productions" to produce first-run television series airing on the major networks.[2] In 1973, it was spun-off because it was against the FCC regulations for a television network to distribute its programs under its own name.

In 1977, after failed attempts to launch prime-time shows, Viacom decided to set up its own unit for prime-time programming, which was headed by Richard Reisberg, who had also saw program acquisition activities.[3]

The first primetime television show, movie, or sports to be produced by Viacom Productions for the ABC network was The MacKenzies of Paradise Cove.[4] The studio had development contracts with independent writers and producers. The studio made significant deals in 1977, when Roland Kibbee and Dean Hargrove left Universal for Viacom.[5]

In 1984, Thomas D. Tannenbaum became president of the studio.[6]

On March 11, 1994, Viacom acquired Paramount Communications, Inc. and Viacom Enterprises was folded into Paramount Domestic Television, by transferring the domestic rights of the Viacom library. Viacom International was later reorganized as the parent company of MTV Networks and Showtime Networks. Viacom transferred the international rights of the said library into Paramount International Television, while Viacom Productions was reincorporated as a production sub-division of Paramount Television.[7] The first hit came after the acquisition was Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, a show ABC aired from 1996 to 2000, followed by a run on The WB from 2000 to 2003.

Viacom Productions was folded into Paramount Network Television in 2004, amid financial troubles brought on to Viacom. The final two series to end under the Viacom Productions name are Ed and The Division.

Viacom Pictures

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Viacom Pictures
IndustryFilm production
Founded1989; 35 years ago (1989)
Defunct1999; 25 years ago (1999)
SuccessorParamount Pictures
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
,
United States
ParentViacom Productions

From 1991 to 1999, Viacom Productions produced some theatrical films and television films (primarily Showtime) under the brand Viacom Pictures. Viacom Pictures stopped producing theatrical films around 1995, after its parent acquired Paramount Communications, the parent of Paramount Pictures, though it continued to produce television films until 1999.

The division was originally formed in 1989 to produce television movies for Showtime and theatrical films, it was headed by Neil S. Braun, in an effort to compete with HBO, who had its own HBO Pictures division.[8]

Filmography

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Title Years Network Notes
The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine 1974-1975 CBS co-production with Funhouse Productions and Yongestreet Productions
The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse and Heckle & Jeckle 1979–1981 CBS co-production with Filmation
Dear Detective 1979 CBS co-production with Kibee-Hargrove Productions
The MacKenzies of Paradise Cove 1979 ABC co-production with Blinn/Thorpe Productions
The Lazarus Syndrome 1979 ABC co-production with Blinn/Thorpe Productions
American Dream 1981 ABC co-production with Mace Neufield Productions
Nurse 1981-1982 CBS co-production with Robert Halmi, Inc.
The Devlin Connection 1982 NBC co-production with Jerry Thorpe Productions and Mammoth Films, Inc.
Amanda's 1983 ABC co-production with E&L Productions
Ace Crawford, Private Eye 1983 CBS co-production with Conway Enterprises
The Master 1984 NBC co-production with Michael Sloan Productions
Me and Mom 1985 ABC co-production with Hal Sitowitz Productions
Easy Street 1986–1987 NBC
Matlock 1986–1995 NBC/ABC co-produced by The Fred Silverman Company (Intermedia Entertainment Company in season 1) and Dean Hargrove Productions (Strathmore Productions in seasons 1–2), (season 9 only)
Frank's Place 1987–1988 CBS
Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures 1987–1988 CBS co-production with Bakshi-Hyde Ventures
Jake and the Fatman 1987–1992 CBS co-produced by The Fred Siverman Company and Dean Hargrove Productions (Strathmore Productions in season 1)
Father Dowling Mysteries 1987–1991 NBC/ABC co-produced by The Fred Silverman Company and Dean Hargrove Productions
Snoops 1989-1990 CBS co-production with Tima Love Productions and Solt/Egan Company
Max Monroe: Loose Cannon 1990 CBS co-production with Dean Hargrove Productions
The Marshall Chronicles 1990 ABC co-production with Sweetum Productions
Flying Blind 1992–1993 Fox co-production with Sweetum Productions and Paramount Network Television
Key West 1993 Fox
Diagnosis: Murder 1993–2001 CBS co-produced by The Fred Silverman Company and Dean Hargrove Productions
Deadly Games 1995–1997 UPN
Townies 1996 ABC
The Adventures of Corduroy 1996–1997 home video only co-produced by Graz Entertainment
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch 1996–2003 ABC/The WB co-produced by Archie Comics, Hartbreak Films, and Finishing the Hat Productions (for season 1 only)
Oz 1997–2003 HBO seasons 4–5 only; co-production with The Levinson/Fontana Company and Rysher Entertainment
The Hoop Life 1999–2000 Showtime
The Beat 2000 UPN
Ed 2000–2004 NBC co-produced with NBC Productions and Worldwide Pants
The Division 2001–2004 Lifetime co-produced by Kedzie Productions
Baby Bob 2002–2003 CBS
Jake 2.0 2003–2004 UPN
The Handler 2003-2004 CBS co-production with Haddock Entertainment
The 4400 2004–2007 USA Network season 2 by Paramount Network Television, last 2 seasons by CBS Paramount Network Television

Note

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The 4400 continued as a Paramount Network Television production for season 2. The show became a CBS Paramount Network Television production for its last two seasons after the Viacom/CBS split at the end of 2005.

All shows from Viacom Productions are now owned by CBS Studios Productions, LLC., a holding company, and distributed by CBS Television Distribution.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Schneider, Michael (2004-06-16). "Viacom Prods. now part of Par". Variety. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
  2. ^ "Viacom heats up" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 17, 1972. p. 46. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  3. ^ "Viacom sets up group for prime-time shows" (PDF). Broadcasting Magazine. February 21, 1977. p. 47. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  4. ^ "Back-ups" (PDF). Broadcasting. 1978-05-22. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  5. ^ "Dean Hargrove". IMDb. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  6. ^ "Fates & Fortunes" (PDF). Broadcasting. 1984-08-20. Retrieved 2021-11-24.
  7. ^ "VP new factor in syndication" (PDF). Broadcasting. 1994-02-21. Retrieved 2021-10-08.
  8. ^ "It's showtime for Viacom" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 24, 1989. p. 70. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
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