Viacom Productions

Viacom Productions
	File:Viacom Productions.svg Final logo, utilized from 1996 through 2004
Formerly	Viacom Enterprises (1971–1994)
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Television production; Movie production; Sports production;
Founded	July 4, 1971; 55 years ago
Defunct	Template:End date and age
Fate	Integrated into Paramount Network Television
Successor	Paramount Network Television
Headquarters	Los Angeles, California, United States
Products	Television production
Parent	Viacom (1971–1995); Paramount Network Television (1995–2004)

Viacom Productions, initially known as Viacom Enterprises, served as the television production arm of Viacom from 1971 until 2004. The division developed content spanning television, film, and sports before its integration into Paramount Television after Viacom acquired Paramount Pictures. This merger reflected a deliberate consolidation within Viacom's corporate hierarchy.

History

Established in 1971 to succeed CBS Films, Viacom Enterprises oversaw both film creation and distribution, delivering original television series to major broadcast networks. This spin-off was prompted by FCC regulations that barred networks from directly distributing their own programming. In 1977, Viacom launched a specialized prime-time programming division under the leadership of Richard Reisberg to bolster its presence in prime-time television markets.

The company's inaugural prime-time project for ABC was The MacKenzies of Paradise Cove. To enhance its development capabilities, Viacom secured agreements with independent writers and producers, notably recruiting industry figures such as Roland Kibbee and Dean Hargrove from Universal in 1977.

Thomas D. Tannenbaum assumed the presidency in 1984, providing strategic guidance during a period marked by industry expansion. After Viacom's acquisition of Paramount Communications in 1994, Viacom Enterprises merged with Paramount Domestic Television, transferring domestic rights of its content portfolio accordingly. Meanwhile, international distribution rights were assigned to Paramount International Television, and Viacom Productions became a division within Paramount Television.

Following the acquisition, notable successes included Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, which aired initially on ABC and subsequently on The WB, contributing significantly to the company's growth. Financial difficulties in the early 2000s led to Viacom Productions being absorbed into Paramount Network Television by 2004. The last series produced under the Viacom name were Ed and The Division.

Viacom Pictures

Between 1989 and 2011, the entity operated under the Viacom Pictures brand, producing both theatrical releases and made-for-television movies primarily for Showtime. The division discontinued theatrical film production around 1995 following Viacom's acquisition of Paramount Communications, which owned Paramount Pictures; however, it continued producing television films until ceasing operations in 2011.

Filmography

Title	Years	Network	Notes
The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine	1974–1976	CBS	Produced in partnership with Funhouse Productions and Yongestreet Productions
The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse and Heckle & Jeckle	1979–1981	CBS	Joint production with Filmation
Dear Detective	1979	CBS	Collaboration with Kibee-Hargrove Productions
The MacKenzies of Paradise Cove	1979	ABC	Co-produced alongside Blinn/Thorpe Productions
The Lazarus Syndrome	1979	ABC	Partnership with Blinn/Thorpe Productions for production
American Dream	1981	ABC	Produced in association with Mace Neufield Productions
Nurse	1981–1982	CBS	Jointly produced with Robert Halmi, Inc.
The Devlin Connection	1982	NBC	Co-production involving Jerry Thorpe Productions and Mammoth Films, Inc.
Amanda's	1983	ABC	Produced together with E&L Productions
Ace Crawford, Private Eye	1983	CBS	Co-produced by Conway Enterprises
The Master	1984	NBC	Collaboration with Michael Sloan Productions
Me and Mom	1985	ABC	Produced alongside Hal Sitowitz Productions
Easy Street	1986–1987	NBC
Matlock	1986–1995	NBC/ABC	Co-produced by The Fred Silverman Company and Dean Hargrove Productions
Frank's Place	1987–1988	CBS
Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures	1987–1988	CBS	Joint production with Bakshi-Hyde Ventures
Jake and the Fatman	1987–1992	CBS	Produced in cooperation with The Fred Silverman Company and Dean Hargrove Productions
Father Dowling Mysteries	1987–1991	NBC/ABC	Co-production by The Fred Silverman Company and Dean Hargrove Productions
Snoops	1989–1990	CBS	Partnership with Tima Love Productions and Solt/Egan Company for production
Max Monroe: Loose Cannon	1990	CBS	Co-produced alongside Dean Hargrove Productions
The Marshall Chronicles	1990	ABC	Collaboration with Sweetum Productions
Flying Blind	1992–1993	Fox	Produced jointly by Sweetum Productions and Paramount Network Television
Key West	1993	Fox
Diagnosis: Murder	1993–2001	CBS	Co-production involving 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	Produced in collaboration with Graz Entertainment
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch	1996–2003	ABC/The WB	Co-produced by Archie Comics, Hartbreak Films, and Finishing the Hat Productions (season one exclusively)
Oz	1997–2003	HBO	Seasons four and five 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	Produced jointly 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 alongside Haddock Entertainment
The 4400	2004–2007	USA Network	Season two produced by Paramount Network Television; final two seasons by CBS Paramount Network Television

Note

The 4400 was produced by Paramount Network Television during its second season and, after the 2005 division of Viacom and CBS Corporation, production shifted to CBS Paramount Network Television for the show's final two seasons.

Currently, all series originally produced by Viacom Productions are under the ownership of CBS Studios Productions, LLC, a holding entity, with distribution managed by CBS Media Ventures.

History

Viacom Pictures

Filmography

Note

See also