Paramount Rights

Paramount Rights is a multinational content sales and distribution arm owned by Paramount Global that is responsible for the global distribution, sales, and content licencing operations for programming from Paramount's television channels and production groups, as well as content from third-party producers, as well as distribution for physical and digital home media formats.

It was formed in 2004 by Viacom as CBS Paramount International Television, a result of a merger between two television companies, CBS Broadcast International and Paramount International Television. Since September 26, 2006, the company has been part of the CBS Television Distribution Group. In May 2009, CBS Paramount International Television was renamed CBS Studios International. In 2020, they became ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group. Following the rebranding of ViacomCBS to Paramount Global on February 16, 2022, the company became Paramount Global Distribution Group. It was eventually adopted its current name on September 5, 2022.

In addition to distributing the libraries of currently active Paramount properties, Paramount Rights also distributes the Rysher Entertainment library (owned domestically by Vine Alternative Investments), the King World Productions library (including Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, distributed on behalf of Sony Pictures Television), and certain HBO Max shows internationally like Made for Love and Station Eleven as well as former HBO shows Deadwood and Oz. The division also owns CBS Media Ventures, which produces first-run syndication programming in the United States.

CBS Broadcast International
CBS Broadcast International was formed in 1981 to sell CBS-produced news, sports and entertainment programing to foreign markets as well as to non-broadcast and new technology markets in the U.S.

It was eventually combined into CBS Worldwide Enterprises, and later to be combined with CBS Theatrical Films into the marketing unit CBS Productions (unrelated to the later company of the same name) on December 17, 1984. In the summer of 1985, CBS Productions, CBS News and Columbia House partnered to produce a videocassette The Vietnam War with Walter Cronkite.

Later that year, CBS shut down its theatrical production unit, and CBS Broadcast International was split off from the production unit after they had to shut down the theatrical business, restoring the CBS Broadcast International moniker. In 1988, it has plans to provide the CBS Evening News to BSB in 1989. CBS Broadcast International produced the syndicated episodes of the 1985 version of The Twilight Zone.

In 1997, CBS Broadcast International and Virgin Media Television had launched an alliance for programming to the global marketplace. Shortly afterwards, in 1998, CBS Broadcast International has named Stephanie Pacheco managing director of international sales.

Paramount International Television
Paramount International Television was originally formed in 1962, first as Desilu International, then in 1968 as Paramount Television International, initially a subsidiary of Desilu Productions, later Paramount Television to handle international sales of Desilu/Paramount properties. Bruce Gordon is the manager of the company since 1962. The company co-produced with the Ten Network, The Lost Islands in 1975. In 1983, it acquired distribution rights to the Australian miniseries Return to Eden.

In 1986, the international distribution unit has a partnership that they will exploit the rights to the Madison Square Garden properties. In 1987, the company, along with MCA TV International, had inked an agreement with Chinese Central Television, to offer a total of 100 drama hours, which combined, represent the largest license to date, and making it the two Hollywood studios the largest suppliers for foreign producers on Chinese TV. In 1990, it was considered to be an investor in the Nine Television Network.

In 1995, the international television unit launched a joint venture, which was headed by Peter Press. In 1998, James Dowaliby was tapped vice president of production, and Christopher Ottinger was named vice president of business development. Later this year, Paramount has plans to sign for an international co-production.

In 2000, it was a co-producer with Lionsgate to develop Jeremiah, but it was replaced by MGM.

ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group
CBS Paramount International Television was formed in August 2004 as a result of a merger between two television companies, CBS Broadcast International and Paramount International Television. It will be headed by Armando Nuarez Jr. In May 2009, CPITV was renamed CBS Studios International.

The company distributes the CBS Studios library as well as the Rysher Entertainment library (owned domestically by 2929 Entertainment), the King World Productions library and certain HBO shows internationally. On September 14, 2009, it was revealed that CBS Studios International struck a joint venture deal with Chellomedia to launch six CBS-branded channels in the UK during 2009. The new channels would replace Zone Romantica, Zone Thriller, Zone Horror and Zone Reality, plus timeshift services Zone Horror +1 and Zone Reality +1. CBS Reality, CBS Reality +1, CBS Drama and CBS Action launched on November 16, 2009, replacing Zone Reality, Zone Reality +1, Zone Romantica and Zone Thriller, respectively. On April 5, 2010, Zone Horror and Zone Horror +1 were rebranded as Horror Channel and Horror Channel +1. CBS Studios International licenses rights for the top international formats.

In 2010, CBS Studios International went into an equal joint venture with Reliance Broadcast Network Limited to form Big CBS Networks Pvt. Ltd. The network operates a general entertainment channel, Big CBS Prime a youth-oriented channel, Big CBS Spark, and a women's and urban couple-oriented channel, Big CBS Love.

In January 2011, CBS Studios International partnered with Australian company Ten Network Holdings to launch digital free-to-air channel Eleven. CBS Studios International held a 33% stake in the joint-venture company ElevenCo. Ten Network Holdings entered voluntary administration in June 2017. This ultimately led to CBS acquiring the entirety of Network Ten in November 2017. The network became a division of CBS Studios International.

On August 1, 2012, Chellomedia revealed that the European versions of Zone Romantica, Zone Reality and Club TV would be rebranded as CBS Drama, CBS Reality and CBS Action.

Following the re-merger deal between CBS and Viacom to form ViacomCBS in 2019, CBS Studios International and Viacom International Studios was re-merged again and the two companies becomes ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group.

Shows owned by other studios in the United States
A handful of TV series in the Paramount library was co-produced with other companies, in several cases, Paramount Rights only owns international rights. A listing of these shows and their American rights holders follow.

Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution/HBO Enterprises

 * Arliss (1996–2002)
 * Deadwood (2004–2006)
 * Oz (1997–2003)
 * Sex and the City (1998–2004)

Debmar-Mercury

 * The Dead Zone (2002–2007, TV rights owned by Debmar-Mercury and CBS)
 * Nurse Jackie (2009–2016)

Sony Pictures Television

 * The King of Queens (1998–2007, German rights owned by Koch Media)
 * Ladies Man (1999-2001)
 * Rules of Engagement (2007–2013)

NBCUniversal Global Distribution

 * Saved by the Bell (1989-1993)
 * The District (2000–04)
 * Kingpin (2003)
 * Worst Week (2008–09)
 * Wisdom of the Crowd (2017–18)
 * FBI (2017–present)
 * FBI: Most Wanted (2020–present)
 * The Lost Symbol (2021–present)
 * FBI: International (2021–present)

Disney Platform Television

 * Evening Shade (1990–1994)
 * Dave's World (1993–1997, CBS)
 * Martial Law (1998–2000)
 * Judging Amy (1999–2005)
 * The Education of Max Bickford (2001–2002)
 * Gary Unmarried (2008–2010)
 * A Million Little Things (2018–present)

Current
The company currently distributes movies from Paramount units including:


 * Paramount Pictures
 * Paramount Animation
 * Paramount Players
 * Nickelodeon Movies
 * Miramax

The company currently distributes TV programming from other Paramount units including:


 * Paramount Television
 * Paramount Media Networks
 * MTV Entertainment Studios
 * BET Studios
 * Nickelodeon
 * Nickelodeon Animation Studios
 * Showtime Networks
 * Paramount Media Networks International
 * Channel 5
 * Ten Network Holdings
 * CBS News
 * CBS Sports
 * CBS Media Ventures
 * Paramount+

Past activities
CBS Studios International had part ownership of former Australian subscription channels TV1 and SF Channel.

From 2006 to 2009, as CBS Paramount International Television, the company distributed the film libraries from Paramount Pictures and Republic Pictures.

It distributed the DreamWorks live-action library from 2006 to 2008.

In 2013, RTL Group and CBS Studios International announced its joint venture as RTL CBS Asia Entertainment Network in Southeast Asia, with the launch of RTL CBS Entertainment in September 2013. However, in January 2018, Blue Ant Media acquired the joint venture and its channels.

Before December 4, 2019, it had the ownership in Australian television company Ten Network Holdings and all CBS-branded channels across Europe that co-owned with AMC Networks International; these TV assets have been transferred to ViacomCBS Networks International, following the re-merger deal between CBS and Viacom to form ViacomCBS.