The corporate entity that eventually became Viacom Inc. originated as CBS Television Film Sales, established in 1952.

The appellation "Viacom" is derived from the phrase "Video & Audio Communications"; however, the company did not officially adopt this name in 1952.

Viacom was divested from CBS in 1971 due to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations that prohibited television networks from owning syndication entities.

The original purpose of CBS Television Film Sales was not to produce original content for the CBS network, but rather to handle the broadcast syndication of television programs.

Prior to the significant acquisitions of the 1990s, Viacom's primary business activities were centered on television program distribution and the operation of cable systems, not movie theaters.

The original mandate of CBS Television Film Sales was indeed the broadcast syndication of television programs.

What was the initial designation and primary function of the corporate entity that ultimately evolved into Viacom Inc.?

In what year did the corporate entity officially adopt the name "Viacom," derived from "Video & Audio Communications"?

What specific regulatory mandate precipitated Viacom's divestiture from CBS in 1971?

Prior to its substantial acquisitions in the 1990s, including Paramount Communications, what constituted Viacom's primary business focus?

Viacom's significant acquisitions during a key growth period included Paramount Communications and Blockbuster Video, but not the Walt Disney Company.

The 1994 acquisition of Paramount Communications by Viacom represented a pivotal moment, substantially broadening its asset portfolio and solidifying its position as a preeminent entertainment conglomerate.

Viacom's acquisition of CBS Corporation in 2000 effectively reunited the two entities and integrated CBS's cable channels, such as TNN and CMT, into Viacom's operational structure.

In 1995, Viacom divested its cable television division, which served approximately 1.1 million subscribers, to TCI.

In June 2004, Viacom's MTV Networks International completed the acquisition of VIVA Media AG, a German media entity.

Viacom completed the divestiture of its stake in the Blockbuster Video chain in October 2004.

Viacom's initial significant entry into the radio market occurred in 1980 with the acquisition of stations from Sonderling Broadcasting, not in 1971.

Following its 1994 acquisition of Paramount Communications, Viacom gained rights to various productions, including those associated with Aaron Spelling's entities.

Viacom divested from the broadcast radio business in 1997, but subsequently re-entered radio operations through acquisitions, notably Infinity Broadcasting.

Subsequent to the 2000 merger with CBS Corporation, the cable channels TNN and CMT were integrated into Viacom's MTV Networks division.

In 1994, Viacom acquired Paramount Communications, the parent entity of Paramount Pictures, not the other way around.

In 1995, Viacom Cable, which served approximately 1.1 million subscribers, was sold to Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI).

Viacom's acquisition of CBS Corporation, announced in 1999, was valued at approximately $35.9 billion, not $10 billion.

Viacom's acquisition of MTV Networks in 1985, completed in 1986, signified Viacom's strategic expansion into the broader mass media sector.

Identify the entity that was NOT among Viacom's significant acquisitions during the period of Sumner Redstone's leadership.

Which prominent film studio became part of Viacom's portfolio following the 1994 acquisition?

Until what year did Viacom operate its own cable television systems?

In 2004, MTV Networks International, a division of Viacom, acquired which German media company?

In October 2004, Viacom finalized the divestiture of its interest in which prominent video rental chain?

Which radio stations constituted the Sonderling Broadcasting acquisition by Viacom in 1980?

Following the 2000 merger with CBS Corporation, which cable channels, formerly under CBS, were integrated into Viacom's MTV Networks division?

Prior to its 2005 corporate division, Viacom possessed ownership of the Paramount Pictures film studio and prominent cable channels such as MTV and Nickelodeon.

Viacom Network Enterprises was established in 1987 with the mandate to manage the company's pay-per-view services and engage in strategic planning for its non-cable ventures.

Viacom Pictures was established in 1989 with the primary objective of producing feature films, predominantly for the Showtime network.

At the time of its 2005 corporate division, Viacom's primary broadcast networks were CBS and UPN, not ABC and NBC.

Simon & Schuster, a prominent book publisher, constituted a key asset within Viacom's portfolio prior to its 2005 corporate division.

Following its acquisition, BET was initially integrated into MTV Networks but was later reorganized into its own division, BET Networks, indicating it did not remain permanently integrated.

Viacom partnered with Chris-Craft Industries, not NBCUniversal, to launch the UPN network in 1995.

Westinghouse Licensing Corporation operated as an intellectual property holding subsidiary of Viacom, primarily engaged in brand licensing activities.

Established in 1987, Viacom Network Enterprises was tasked with managing properties and ventures that fell outside Viacom's primary cable television operations.

The UPN network, which commenced operations in January 1995, was established as a joint venture between Viacom and Chris-Craft Industries.

Identify the entity that was NOT part of Viacom's asset portfolio immediately preceding its 2005 corporate division.

What was the principal function of Viacom Network Enterprises, established in 1987?

Viacom Pictures, established in 1989, was primarily created to produce what category of content?

Identify a primary broadcast network that was under Viacom's ownership immediately preceding the 2005 corporate division.

Which prominent book publisher constituted a significant component of Viacom's asset portfolio before the 2005 division?

Following Viacom's acquisition of BET Holdings in 2001, what was the subsequent organizational structure of BET?

Viacom initiated the launch of the UPN network in January 1995 through a joint venture with which corporate entity?

Viacom underwent an official corporate separation into two distinct entities, CBS Corporation and Viacom, on December 31, 2005.

Following the 2005 corporate division, the entity designated as the legal successor to the original Viacom Inc. was the second CBS Corporation, not the second Viacom.

Subsequent to the 2005 corporate division, the second Viacom entity assumed control of assets such as MTV Networks and Paramount Pictures, while the second CBS Corporation retained the CBS broadcast network and Simon & Schuster.

The announcement in March 2005 regarding Viacom's intention to split was primarily motivated by a desire to address a stagnating stock price by separating high-growth divisions from slower-growth assets, not solely to divest underperforming cable systems.

Beyond financial considerations, internal rivalries among key executives and the controversy surrounding the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show were identified as contributing factors to the 2005 Viacom corporate division.

The 2005 corporate division of Viacom was strategically designed to segregate its high-growth divisions from its slower-growth assets, addressing concerns about stock performance.

The year 2005 is notable as it marked the announcement and subsequent completion of Viacom's division into two distinct companies: the second CBS Corporation and the second Viacom, finalized on December 31, 2005.

On what specific date did Viacom officially undergo its corporate division into two separate entities?

Following the 2005 corporate division, which entity was designated as the legal successor to the original Viacom Inc.?

Identify the assets that were retained by the second CBS Corporation subsequent to the 2005 Viacom division.

Beyond a stagnating stock price, what other factors contributed to the impetus for Viacom's 2005 corporate division?

CBS Corporation and Viacom re-consolidated in 2019, with the resultant entity initially operating under the name ViacomCBS, not Paramount Global.

The corporate entity resulting from the 2019 re-merger was renamed Paramount Global, this occurred in February 2022.

The 2019 re-merger of CBS Corporation and Viacom resulted in a combined entity initially named ViacomCBS, not ParamountCBS.

What was the initial corporate designation of the entity formed subsequent to the re-merger of CBS Corporation and Viacom in late 2019?

What is the current corporate name of the media conglomerate, established via the 2019 re-merger, which was adopted in February 2022?

Ralph Baruch is credited as the founder of Viacom and served as its inaugural Chairman, not CEO.

Sumner Redstone secured controlling interest in Viacom in 1987 via his ownership of National Amusements.

National Amusements, under the control of Sumner Redstone, held a majority voting interest in Viacom, not a minority one.

The pronunciation "VIE-uh-com" was favored by the company's founder, Ralph Baruch, whereas Sumner Redstone favored a different pronunciation after his acquisition.

National Amusements, under the control of the Redstone family, exerted majority voting power over Viacom, holding approximately 80% of its voting stock.

Who is recognized as the founder of Viacom, and what was his inaugural role within the organization?

Via which corporate entity did Sumner Redstone secure a controlling interest in Viacom in 1987?

What was the specific role of National Amusements within Viacom's corporate structure?

Which pronunciation of the name "Viacom" was favored by the company's founder, Ralph Baruch?