CBS

CBS Broadcasting Inc.
	File:CBS logo.svg CBS logo, introduced in 1951
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Broadcasting, Television, Radio
Founded	1927; 99 years ago
Founder	William S. Paley
Headquarters	New York City, United States
Area served	United States, international (via pay television and over-the-air near borders)
Key people	William S. Paley (founder)
Products	Television network, radio network, programming
Owner	Paramount Global (via CBS Entertainment Group)
Parent	CBS Entertainment Group

CBS Broadcasting Inc., widely recognized as CBS (initially known as the Columbia Broadcasting System), is a prominent American commercial television and radio network. It functions as the primary asset within the CBS Entertainment Group, a subdivision of Paramount Global, alongside leading subsidiaries such as Paramount Pictures and MTV.

Established in 1927, CBS is based at the CBS Building in New York City and ranks among the "Big Three" television networks in the United States. Its key production sites include the CBS Broadcast Center and Paramount’s headquarters at One Astor Plaza in New York, as well as Television City and the CBS Studio Center located in Los Angeles. Often referred to as the Eye Network due to its distinctive eye emblem introduced in 1951, CBS is also nicknamed the Tiffany Network, a nod to its reputation for premium programming fostered by founder William S. Paley and early color television demonstrations held at the former Tiffany and Company Building in New York City.

History

The network began as United Independent Broadcasters, Inc., a radio network launched in Chicago by talent manager Arthur Judson in January 1927. By April of that year, investment from the Columbia Phonograph Company led to a rebranding as the Columbia Phonographic Broadcasting System (CPBS). In early 1928, Judson and Columbia sold the enterprise to Isaac and Leon Levy—owners of Philadelphia station WCAU—and their associate Jerome Louchheim. They appointed William S. Paley, related by marriage to the Levys, as president. Following Columbia Records’ exit from ownership, Paley renamed the company the Columbia Broadcasting System.

By September 1928, Paley had acquired majority control with a 51% stake. In 1929, Paramount Pictures purchased the remaining 49% but divested its shares during the Great Depression in 1932. Under Paley’s visionary guidance, CBS evolved into a dominant U.S. radio network and subsequently became one of America’s Big Three broadcast television networks. The 1940s marked CBS’s expansion into television, and in 1971 it spun off its broadcast syndication arm, Viacom. The company shortened its name to CBS, Inc. in 1974.

CBS was listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker "CBS". In 1994, Westinghouse Electric Corporation acquired CBS, renaming it CBS Broadcasting Inc. in 1996 and later adopting CBS Corporation in 1997. By 1999, control passed to the original Viacom entity that had separated from CBS in 1971. Following another split in 2005, Viacom re-established CBS Corporation through a spin-off concentrating on broadcast television, radio operations, select cable properties, and the CBS network.

Under the ownership of Sumner Redstone via National Amusements, CBS and Viacom reunited in December 2019 to form ViacomCBS (now known as Paramount Global), consolidating CBS assets within the CBS Entertainment Group.

CBS managed the CBS Radio network until its sale to Entercom (currently Audacy, Inc.) in 2017. Before divestiture, CBS Radio oversaw news and feature content for owned-and-operated stations and affiliates across major markets. Shareholders of CBS received a 72% interest in Entercom; however, CBS ceased direct ownership of radio stations while continuing to supply radio news programming and licensing its trademarks through long-term contracts. The television network operates more than 240 owned-and-operated and affiliated stations nationwide, with some accessible internationally via pay television or over-the-air broadcasts near borders.

Programming

By 2025, CBS schedules approximately 87½ hours of programming each week. Primetime programming is broadcast for 22 hours from Monday through Saturday, airing from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., and on Sundays from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific times, with adjustments made for the Central and Mountain time zones.

Weekday daytime shows are presented between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time. This block includes popular game shows such as The Price Is Right and Let's Make a Deal, as well as soap operas like The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful, and the 2025 addition, Beyond the Gates.

CBS News offers flagship programs including CBS Mornings, CBS Evening News, Face the Nation, and 60 Minutes. The late-night talk show The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is scheduled through May 2026, followed by reruns of After Midnight until September 2025, after which reruns of Comics Unleashed will air.

Major sporting events are covered on CBS Sports, featuring NFL matchups, PGA golf tournaments, and NCAA contests. At times, live sports broadcasts such as NFL on CBS result in primetime schedule delays. The weekend afternoons include the anthology series CBS Sports Spectacular.

Daytime

CBS leads among major networks with a daily daytime schedule totaling four and a half hours, anchored by the long-standing game show The Price Is Right. This program has been in production since 1972, with Drew Carey hosting since 2007 following Bob Barker’s 35-year tenure. Additionally, the network airs Let's Make a Deal hosted by Wayne Brady.

As the only commercial network continuing to air daytime game shows, CBS maintains a heritage of titles such as Match Game, Family Feud, and Wheel of Fortune. Historically, primetime game shows included panel formats like What's My Line?.

From October 2010 through December 2024, CBS broadcast the panel discussion program The Talk, featuring hosts such as Sheryl Underwood and Natalie Morales.

The soap opera lineup on CBS Daytime features enduring series like The Young and the Restless (since 1973), The Bold and the Beautiful (since 1987), along with the new series Beyond the Gates introduced in 2025. Among the Big Three networks, CBS has historically maintained the most extensive daytime soap opera roster, with notable former shows including Guiding Light and As the World Turns.

Children's programming

CBS aired the live-action children's program Captain Kangaroo from 1955 until 1984 and produced the news-oriented segment In the News between 1971 and 1986. Its children’s programming primarily consisted of animated series such as Mighty Mouse, Looney Tunes, Tom and Jerry, Scooby-Doo, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, Jim Henson's Muppet Babies, Garfield and Friends, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In 1997, CBS introduced Wheel 2000, a children's adaptation of Wheel of Fortune.

Beginning in September 1998, CBS outsourced its Saturday morning programming block. Initially, it partnered with Canadian animation studio Nelvana, presenting the CBS Kidshow until 2000 with series such as Anatole and Rescue Heroes. Subsequently, CBS collaborated with Nickelodeon, airing Nick Jr. on CBS from 2000 to 2005. This partnership leveraged corporate ties through Viacom, then CBS’s parent company, featuring both live-action and animated content aimed at older children.

Following the Viacom-CBS separation, CBS concluded its agreement with Nickelodeon in 2006 and partnered with DIC Entertainment, later acquired by Cookie Jar Group, to provide Saturday morning programming. Initially branded as KOL Secret Slumber Party on CBS, this block included new live-action and animated shows. After AOL’s KOL sponsorship ended in 2007, it was renamed KEWLopolis and featured programs like Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake. CBS extended its contract with Cookie Jar through 2012, rebranding the lineup as Cookie Jar TV starting in 2009.

On July 24, 2013, CBS teamed up with Litton Entertainment, known for producing educational blocks for ABC and The CW, to launch a Saturday morning lineup centered on live-action reality-based lifestyle, wildlife, and sports programming targeting teenagers aged 13 to 16. The Litton-produced CBS Dream Team premiered on September 28, 2013, replacing Cookie Jar TV. In 2023, this block was renamed CBS WKND.

Animated Primetime Holiday Specials

CBS was the original broadcaster of the animated primetime holiday specials derived from the Peanuts comic strip, beginning with the 1965 debut of A Charlie Brown Christmas. The network aired more than 30 Peanuts holiday specials through 2000, after which the broadcasting rights transferred to ABC. Additionally, CBS showcased animated holiday specials based on works by Dr. Seuss, starting with the 1966 airing of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. During the 1980s, CBS also presented multiple Garfield specials, which eventually led to the launch of the Garfield and Friends series running from 1988 to 1995. Another holiday classic on CBS was the stop-motion Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, produced by Rankin/Bass, though it originally premiered on NBC in 1964.

By 2011, only Rudolph and Frosty the Snowman continued to air on CBS; meanwhile, Apple acquired rights to the Charlie Brown specials, NBC took over The Grinch, and Boomerang obtained Garfield. These transitions illustrate larger trends in content licensing and distribution within the television industry.

Between 1973 and 1990, all CBS animated specials opened with a distinctive seven-second introduction featuring "A CBS Special Presentation" displayed in vibrant ITC Avant Garde font. This was accompanied by a jazzy theme adapted from the CBS crime drama Hawaii Five-O, serving as a consistent branding element before many CBS specials during that period.

Classical Music Specials

From 1958 through 1972, CBS aired the influential series Young People's Concerts, conducted by Leonard Bernstein. These broadcasts introduced classical music to a broad young audience, garnered several Emmy Awards, and were among the first programs transmitted from the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

CBS also televised three versions of Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker: two live broadcasts of George Balanchine’s production with the New York City Ballet in 1957 and 1958; a German-American filmed adaptation in 1965; and starting in 1977, the celebrated staging featuring Mikhail Baryshnikov alongside Gelsey Kirkland. This last rendition became a television staple before eventually moving to PBS.

In April 1986, CBS aired Horowitz in Moscow, a live piano recital marking Vladimir Horowitz’s return to Russia after more than six decades. Initially broadcast on CBS News Sunday Morning, its popularity resulted in a subsequent re-airing and a later DVD release.

That same year, CBS featured Carnegie Hall: The Grand Reopening during primetime—a rare commercial network classical music special celebrating the venue’s renovation. Performances included appearances by Leonard Bernstein and Frank Sinatra, underscoring CBS’s dedication to high-profile cultural programming beyond typical commercial offerings.

Cinderella

In an effort to compete with NBC’s televised Peter Pan, CBS produced its own musical adaptation of Cinderella, featuring music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Created expressly for television, this Rodgers and Hammerstein production originally aired live in color on March 31, 1957, starring Julie Andrews and attracting an audience exceeding 100 million viewers. A remake followed in 1965 starring Lesley Ann Warren and Ginger Rogers, which incorporated the additional song "Loneliness of Evening." Both versions have been rebroadcast multiple times and remain accessible on DVD.

National Geographic

Beginning in 1964, CBS aired primetime specials produced by the National Geographic Society. These programs featured prominent scientists such as Louis Leakey, Jacques Cousteau, and Jane Goodall, significantly boosting their international profiles. The specials benefited from narration by actors like Alexander Scourby, contributing to their popularity and paving the way for the launch of the National Geographic Channel in 2001. This channel was established as a joint venture between the National Geographic Society and Fox Cable Networks. The theme music composed by Elmer Bernstein for these specials became emblematic of the channel's brand.

Other notable specials

From 1949 through 2002, CBS was the broadcaster of the annual Pillsbury Bake-Off cooking competition, with hosts including Bob Barker and Alex Trebek.

The Miss USA pageant aired on CBS from 1963 until 2002, frequently hosted by CBS game show personalities such as Barker (1967–1987), who eventually departed due to ethical objections regarding fur prizes. The pageant's viewership peaked in the early 1980s but declined to roughly 7 million viewers by 2000–2001. In 2002, owner Donald Trump arranged a five-year contract to move the Miss USA, Miss Universe, and Miss Teen USA pageants to NBC starting in 2003. This arrangement ended in 2015 following controversies tied to Trump's political statements.

In 1977, CBS secured rights to film concerts during Elvis Presley’s final tour; the posthumous special Elvis in Concert was broadcast on October 3, 1977.

Since 1978, CBS has held exclusive broadcasting rights for The Kennedy Center Honors, an annual tribute to performing arts recorded each December and aired during the holiday season.

Stations

CBS owns and operates 15 stations and maintains affiliation agreements with an additional 228 television stations across all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Bermuda, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This network covers approximately 95.96% of U.S. households, reaching nearly 299.9 million Americans with television access. Although New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Delaware do not have locally licensed CBS affiliates, viewers in these states receive service from stations in neighboring markets.

In certain markets such as Harrisonburg, Virginia (WSVF-CD), Palm Springs, California (KPSP-CD), and Parkersburg, West Virginia (WIYE-LD), CBS collaborates with low-power stations. Many of these low-power outlets also offer digital simulcasts via subchannels of co-owned full-power stations. Moreover, CBS maintains numerous affiliations exclusively on subchannels primarily within smaller Nielsen markets; among these is KOGG in Wailuku, Hawaii, which retransmits programming from Honolulu’s KGMB affiliate.

Nexstar Media Group stands as the largest operator of CBS stations by number, owning a total of 49 affiliates including satellite stations. Tegna Media holds the greatest market reach among CBS operators with ownership of 15 affiliates situated in major markets such as Houston (KHOU), Tampa (WTSP), and Washington, D.C. (WUSA), collectively covering approximately 8.9% of the U.S. population.

Video-on-demand services

CBS provides video-on-demand access to its content through various channels, including its official website CBS.com, mobile applications compatible with iOS, Android, and Windows platforms, as well as a conventional VOD service named CBS on Demand, which is accessible through most cable and IPTV providers. The network also holds content distribution agreements with Amazon Video—exclusively streaming series such as Extant and Under the Dome—in addition to Netflix.

In contrast to other leading broadcast networks, CBS refrains from offering recent episodes on Hulu to preserve live audience numbers for major shows. Nevertheless, Hulu features older episodes of selected CBS programs under a licensing arrangement with CBS Television Distribution.

When the streaming app debuted in March 2013, CBS limited the availability of the newest episodes on iOS devices until eight days after their original airing, encouraging viewers to watch live broadcasts or use DVR and cable on-demand services within the same week. The introduction of Google Play and Windows 8 applications in October 2013 broadened the app’s offerings to include full episodes of all CBS series not tied to other streaming platforms.

Paramount+ (formerly CBS All Access)

On October 28, 2014, CBS unveiled CBS All Access, an over-the-top subscription streaming platform priced at $5.99 monthly ($9.99 for an ad-free experience), delivering both current and archived episodes of CBS programming. Launched shortly after HBO's OTT service, it marked the first OTT venture by a U.S. broadcast network. Initially accessible via CBS.com and mobile apps, it later expanded to Roku on April 7, 2015, and Chromecast on May 14, 2015. This service offers live broadcasts from local CBS affiliates across 124 markets, reaching approximately 75% of the U.S. population.

CBS All Access featured next-day availability of recent episodes, comprehensive archives of ongoing series, and an extensive collection of classic shows from CBS Television Distribution and ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks libraries. Additional content included exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and special event coverage.

The platform’s original productions, such as Star Trek: Discovery, The Good Fight, and Big Brother: Over the Top, strengthened its position in the competitive streaming landscape.

In December 2018, the service expanded into Australia as 10 All Access, aligned with the CBS-owned Network 10. Due to regional licensing constraints, the Australian version differed from its U.S. counterpart by offering complete seasons of Australian programs without commercial interruptions.

Following the re-merger of CBS and Viacom in September 2020, it was announced that CBS All Access would be rebranded as Paramount+ in early 2021. This relaunch incorporated content from the wider ViacomCBS portfolio to support global expansion and business development. The rebranding extended internationally, including Australia, officially taking effect on March 4, 2021.

CBS HD

CBS delivers its primary feed in native 1080i high definition; however, seven affiliates broadcast in 720p HD while another seven remain in 480i standard definition due to technical or equipment constraints. Additionally, some CBS stations simulcast programming in 1080p utilizing ATSC 3.0 multiplex channels—for instance, WNCN via WRDC (Durham, NC), WTVF through WUXP-TV (Nashville, TN), and KLAS-TV via KVCW (Las Vegas, NV).

The network introduced its HD simulcast channel, CBS HD, in September 1998 alongside the start of the 1998–99 season and aired its first NFL game in high definition that November. The transition from standard definition to HD for much of CBS’s programming began with the 2000–01 season; notably, The Young and the Restless became the first daytime soap opera broadcast in HD in June 2001.

By 2014, CBS had fully converted its lineup to high definition, with Big Brother and Let's Make a Deal being among the last shows upgraded from their original 4:3 standard definition format. This transition occurred later than competitors NBC, Fox, The CW, and ABC who completed their HD shifts earlier. Since then, all CBS content has been presented in full HD except for certain pre-2005 holiday specials still shown in a 4:3 SD format.

Up until September 2018, both CBS and The CW were among the final networks using 4:3 aspect ratio for promotional materials and on-screen graphics; on September 24, 2018, CBS adopted a widescreen 16:9 format for all non-news and sports programming. Litton Entertainment’s Dream Team continues to be framed in 4:3 for syndication purposes despite being produced in HD.

Logos

The original emblem of the CBS television network, used from the 1940s until 1951, displayed block letters "CBS" illuminated by an oval spotlight. The renowned Eye logo, introduced on October 20, 1951, was designed by William Golden, drawing inspiration from Pennsylvania Dutch hex signs and Shaker motifs. Although Golden is credited with the creation, some contributions may have come from CBS designer Georg Olden, a trailblazing African-American graphic artist. Following Golden’s passing in 1959, Lou Dorfsman assumed responsibility for CBS’s print and on-air visual identity for three decades.

The Eye has become an enduring and instantly recognizable emblem that has remained unchanged since its inception. During the 2006–2007 television season, Trollbäck + Company prominently featured the Eye within show titles and overall branding to underscore its significance. In the mid-to-late 1990s, the logo was also referred to as "Eyemark" when representing CBS’s domestic syndication arm after Westinghouse Electric acquired CBS. Eyemark Entertainment emerged from the consolidation of MaXaM Entertainment, Group W Productions, and CBS Enterprises before being absorbed into King World and subsequently Viacom.

This iconic Eye symbol influenced numerous broadcasters globally, inspiring logos for ATV (UK), Canal 4 (El Salvador), Televisa (Mexico), France 3, Latina Televisión (Peru), Fuji Television (Japan), Rede Bandeirantes and TV Globo (Brazil), as well as Canal 10 (Uruguay).

In October 2011, CBS commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Eye logo with special identification spots during primetime that showcased previous versions of the emblem.

Up until 2021, CBS employed a custom typeface based on Didot—closely related to Bodoni—as its official corporate font.

1980s

Throughout the 1980s, CBS launched several impactful image campaigns that established memorable slogans strengthening its market position. The "Reach for the Stars" campaign in 1981–82 utilized a space exploration theme linked to the launch of the space shuttle Columbia to highlight CBS’s rising ratings. In 1982, "Great Moments" connected beloved classics such as I Love Lucy with contemporary hits like Dallas and M*A*S*H. Between 1983 and 1986, the "We've Got the Touch" campaign featured vocals by Richie Havens and Kenny Rogers to emphasize CBS’s leadership in audience ratings.

The 1986–87 "Share the Spirit of CBS" campaign represented a strategic evolution by incorporating full computer-generated graphics and digital effects to preview the upcoming fall lineup while deepening brand engagement. Its success led to the follow-up "CBS Spirit" ("CBSPIRIT") campaign in 1987–88, which employed a distinctive swirling blue line graphic alongside program clips to sustain viewer interest; however, it omitted detailed schedule presentations.

For the 1988–89 season, CBS introduced "Television You Can Feel" or "You Can Feel It On CBS," aiming to evoke a refined emotional connection through sophisticated graphics and evocative imagery. Despite this effort, that season marked CBS’s most significant ratings drop. To address this challenge, the 1989–90 "Get Ready for CBS" campaign focused on energizing audiences by showcasing network stars preparing for the new season. This high-profile initiative included tailored promotional spots across CBS’s owned-and-operated stations and affiliates and pioneered a collaboration with national retailer Kmart through the "CBS/Kmart Get Ready Giveaway," which enhanced viewer participation and brand integration.

1990s

For the 1990–91 season, CBS introduced a promotional campaign featuring a jingle performed by the Temptations, which was a reinterpretation of their classic "Get Ready." The early part of the decade favored straightforward slogans such as "This is CBS" (1992) and "You're on CBS" (1995). Toward the end of the 1990s, momentum picked up with campaigns like "Welcome Home to a CBS Night" (1996–1997), later abbreviated to "Welcome Home" (1997–1999). This was succeeded by "The Address is CBS" (1999–2000), a tagline that harkened back to CBS’s radio heritage from the 1940s. Additionally, in 1992, CBS launched a distinctive four-note audio signature used in network identifiers and production company logos during the "Welcome Home" campaign period.

2000s

Throughout the 2000s, CBS experienced a ratings revival supported by the "It's All Here" campaign, which refreshed the four-note sound mark from 1992 for use in promotional content and production credits. In 2005, the network adopted the slogan "Everybody's Watching," reinforcing its status as "America's Most Watched Network." The following year saw the debut of the "We Are CBS" campaign, featuring voiceovers by Don LaFontaine. By 2009, CBS emphasized its distinctiveness with the "Only CBS" campaign, which worked alongside program-specific promotions. The slogan "America's Most Watched Network" was reintroduced in 2011 in conjunction with "Only CBS," reflecting the network’s robust financial results and increased market share.

2020s

In October 2020, CBS undertook a comprehensive rebranding initiative across all divisions aimed at strengthening brand recognition and market presence. This overhaul included a redesigned "deconstructed eye" logo and an original five-note audio signature created by Antfood, inspired by the earlier "This is CBS" tagline. As part of this effort, CBS Television Studios was renamed CBS Studios, while CBS Television Distribution became CBS Media Ventures. To promote a more inclusive brand image, traditional slogans such as "America's Most Watched Network" were retired, according to CMO Michael Benson.

Due to licensing agreements with third-party streaming platforms, CBS programming began featuring a CBS Studios production logo accompanied by billing phrases like "CBS Original" or "CBS Presents" in promotional materials. Concurrently, both CBS News and CBS Sports unveiled new logos and visual identities incorporating the deconstructed eye and sonic branding elements—CBS News launched this branding for its 2020 presidential election coverage, while CBS Sports rolled out its new look ahead of Super Bowl LV in 2021.

By December 2022, this branding was extended to local news operations within owned-and-operated stations under the umbrella of CBS News and Stations. These local outlets adopted the naming convention "CBS News (region)" to unify national and local streaming channels. The update included refreshed graphics and music featuring the eye motif and signature sound mark, replacing older packages such as Frank Gari’s "Enforcer."

International broadcasts

CBS programs are distributed globally through Paramount Global’s networks and content partnerships. Within North America, U.S.-based CBS affiliates provide access to audiences in Canada and Mexico. In markets including the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Italy, Sky News broadcasts the CBS Evening News.

Canada

In Canada, viewers can access CBS programming via cable, satellite, and IPTV providers through affiliates located near the U.S.-Canada border—examples include KIRO-TV in Seattle, WWJ-TV in Detroit, and WIVB-TV in Buffalo. Some of these stations are also receivable over-the-air in southern Canadian regions. Canadian broadcasters implement simultaneous substitution policies that replace U.S. signals with Canadian feeds airing identical programs to safeguard domestic advertising revenue.

Bermuda

In Bermuda, CBS is represented by its affiliate ZBM-TV located in Hamilton, which is operated by the Bermuda Broadcasting Company.

Mexico

CBS programming is available in northern regions of Mexico through affiliates situated near the U.S.–Mexico border, such as KYMA-DT in Yuma, Arizona, and KDBC-TV in El Paso, Texas, with over-the-air broadcasts extending into adjacent border areas.

Central America, the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean

In Central America, the Dominican Republic, and across the Caribbean, select U.S.-based CBS affiliates or feeds from owned-and-operated stations like WCBS-TV (New York) and WFOR-TV (Miami) are offered by subscription services. Since 2019, viewers in the U.S. Virgin Islands have accessed CBS content via WCVI-TV in Christiansted, which is owned by Lilly Broadcasting.

Guam

CBS’s presence in Guam is through the low-power station KUAM-LP based in Hagåtña. Due to Guam’s position west of the International Date Line, entertainment and non-urgent news programming are broadcast with a one-day delay; however, live events and breaking news are aired in real time. This timing affects live sports coverage, often resulting in early morning local broadcasts.

Puerto Rico

In Puerto Rico, CBS is distributed through a specialized feed from Erie, Pennsylvania’s affiliate WSEE-TV, which is retransmitted via translator W22FA-D located in Mayagüez.

South America

Subscription television providers in countries such as Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, and Colombia offer access to selected U.S.-based CBS affiliates or directly provide the main network feed from CBS owned-and-operated stations like WCBS-TV in New York City and WFOR-TV in Miami.

United Kingdom

On September 14, 2009, CBS Studios International collaborated with Chellomedia to introduce six CBS-branded channels to the UK market. These replaced several existing Zone-branded channels and timeshift services. The initial launch on November 16, 2009 included four channels: CBS Reality, CBS Reality +1, CBS Drama, and CBS Action (which was later renamed CBS Justice).

In April 2010, Zone Horror and its timeshift counterpart were rebranded as Horror Channel and Horror Channel +1.

Since 2017, a news-sharing agreement between CBS News and BBC News has been in place, succeeding previous arrangements where BBC partnered with ABC News and CBS collaborated with Sky News. This alliance strengthens their global news presence.

After Viacom's merger on December 4, 2019, Channel 5 became affiliated with CBS as a sister company. Nevertheless, CBS’s cooperation with the BBC remains unchanged since Channel 5 outsources its news production to ITN.

Australia

Since 2017, Australian free-to-air broadcaster Network 10 has been under the ownership of CBS Corporation, now part of Paramount Global. Network Ten’s suite of channels—including 10, 10 Peach, 10 Bold, and Nickelodeon—features programming from CBS alongside content from Paramount’s wider portfolio such as MTV and Nickelodeon. Before being acquired, CBS was a significant international supplier of programming to Network Ten. The network faced financial challenges during the mid-2010s partly due to expensive content agreements with CBS and 21st Century Fox. In June 2017, Network Ten entered voluntary administration with CBS as its primary creditor. The acquisition was finalized in November 2017, bringing Network Ten into CBS’s global operations and broadening its reach within the Australian market.

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, the CBS Evening News was originally transmitted live during the early morning hours on ATV World and later repeated on the International Business Channel via i-CABLE HOY. These broadcasters have arrangements allowing segments to be rebroadcast twelve hours following the initial transmission to complement local news schedules.

Philippines

Within the Philippines, CBS Evening News is available on the satellite channel Q, a sister station of GMA Network now known as GTV. Meanwhile, CBS This Morning is broadcast on Lifestyle, which has since been rebranded as Metro Channel. CBS entertainment series such as CSI, Late Show with David Letterman, and Survivor are shown on Studio 23 (currently S+A) and Maxxx, both under the ownership of ABS-CBN Corporation. The program 60 Minutes airs on CNN Philippines within their Stories segment, featuring several reruns throughout the week.

India

CBS entered a brand licensing partnership with Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd., launching three CBS-branded channels: Big CBS Prime, Big CBS Spark, and Big CBS Love, all of which ceased operations by late 2013. Following the CBS-Viacom merger, the Hindi-language channel Colors TV became an affiliated network through the Viacom18 joint venture with TV18.

Israel

In 2012, Israeli networks Zone Reality and Zone Romantica were rebranded to CBS Reality and CBS Drama respectively. Distributed by providers Yes and Hot, only CBS Reality remained available as of 2018.

"Gay Power, Gay Politics"

On April 26, 1980, CBS broadcast "Gay Power, Gay Politics" as part of the CBS Reports series, documenting the political emergence of San Francisco's LGBTQ community. The program faced criticism for its inaccurate portrayal and dissemination of misinformation, including contentious coverage related to the 1979 mayoral race. It focused heavily on gay sexual behavior and made unsupported assertions regarding causes of death in the area. Journalist George Crile III conducted confrontational interviews reflective of a period when homophobic attitudes were exploited by conservative Christian groups. Six months later, the National News Council determined that CBS had breached journalistic ethics by airing this report.

Brown & Williamson interview

In 1995, CBS opted not to air a 60 Minutes episode featuring an interview with a former head of research and development at Brown & Williamson, then ranked as the third-largest tobacco company in the U.S. This choice ignited debate over potential legal interference in editorial decisions and raised questions about journalistic principles, affecting both television and journalism sectors. The episode inspired Michael Mann’s 1999 film The Insider.

Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy

In 2004, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) imposed a $550,000 fine on CBS—the largest penalty for federal decency violations—after singer Janet Jackson’s right breast was briefly revealed during the live broadcast of the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show produced by MTV. CBS issued an apology and denied prior awareness of the incident. This event prompted tighter broadcast regulations and sparked debates surrounding censorship and free speech. Subsequently, the FCC increased its maximum indecency fine from $27,500 to $325,000. However, in 2008, a federal court in Philadelphia overturned this fine, ruling it "arbitrary and capricious."

Killian documents dispute

On September 8, 2004, CBS broadcast a contentious 60 Minutes Wednesday episode that scrutinized then-President George W. Bush's Air National Guard service during 1972-73, just prior to the 2004 Presidential election. The report was based on documents subsequently claimed to be counterfeit. CBS acknowledged that four of these documents lacked proper verification and revealed that source Bill Burkett had "intentionally deceived" a producer regarding their provenance.

In January 2005, CBS terminated four staff members connected to the segment's development. Former CBS anchor Dan Rather initiated a $70 million lawsuit in 2007 against CBS and its former parent company Viacom, alleging mismanagement of the story and his forced exit as chief anchor. Portions of the lawsuit were dismissed in 2008, and by 2010, the entire case was thrown out with Rather’s appeal rejected.

Hopper dispute

In January 2013, Dish Network’s digital video recorder "Hopper with Sling" received CNET’s CES "Best in Show" accolade. Nevertheless, CBS Interactive—a division of CBS—disqualified the Hopper due to ongoing legal battles with Dish over its AutoHop feature, which enables users to bypass commercials. Consequently, CNET stopped reviewing products from companies engaged in litigation with CBS and instead awarded the "Best in Show" to the Razer Edge tablet.

Lindsey Turrentine, CNET’s editor-in-chief, admitted the conflict of interest and pledged to avoid similar situations in the future. This controversy also prompted the resignation of senior writer Greg Sandoval from CNET. Subsequently, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) declared that CNET would no longer select the CES Best in Show winner because of CBS interference, transferring this responsibility to other technology media outlets. Ultimately, the award was jointly bestowed upon both the Hopper with Sling and Razer Edge.

Harassment accusations

In July 2018, The New Yorker published reports from thirty current and former CBS employees detailing experiences of harassment, gender bias, or retaliation within CBS. Six women specifically accused CEO Les Moonves of harassment and intimidation. By September 6, 2018, negotiations were underway among CBS board members regarding Moonves’s exit. On September 9, six additional women came forward with allegations dating back to the 1980s, leading to Moonves’s resignation as CEO that same day.

Alleged acquiescence to Trump Administration

In 2025, CBS attracted criticism for purportedly yielding to demands from the Trump administration, partially to facilitate federal approval of the Skydance-Paramount merger. In April of that year, 60 Minutes editor Bill Owens resigned, citing diminished editorial independence amid a lawsuit filed by Trump.

On July 17, Stephen Colbert announced that his iteration of The Late Show would conclude in May 2026 with the retirement of the franchise. Although CBS attributed this decision to financial considerations, doubts persisted regarding the underlying reasons. Several other late-night hosts publicly expressed support for Colbert by making cameo appearances on the July 20 episode.

Presidents of CBS Entertainment

Executive	Term
Arthur Judson	1927–1928
William S. Paley	1928–1946
Frank Stanton	1946–1971
Louis Cowan	1957–1959
James Thomas Aubrey	1959–1965
Michael Dann	1963–1970
Fred Silverman	1970–1975
Arthur R. Taylor	1972–1976
John Backe	1976–1980
B. Donald Grant	1980–1987
Kim LeMasters	1987–1990
Jeff Sagansky	1990–1994
Peter Tortorici	1994–1995
Leslie Moonves	1995–1998
Nancy Tellem	1998–2004
Nina Tassler	2004–2015
Glenn Geller	2015–2017
Kelly Kahl	2017–2022
Amy Reisenbach	2022–present

References

External links

CBS Eye-dentity Logo Guidelines