Viacom is one of the largest conglomerates in the world, containing many popular cable and movie networks. Here are the following companies that Viacom owns:
Cable Networks
Atom Entertainment
AddictingGames
Atom.com
AtomUploads.com
Logotv.com
newnownext.com
Shockwave
BET Networks
BET
BET Event Productions
BET Gospel
BET Hip Hop
BET International
BET Mobile
BET Pictures
Centric
CMT
CMT Loaded
CMT Mobile
CMT On Demand
CMT Pure Country
CMT Radio
Colors
Comedy Central
Jokes.com
GameTrailers
GT Marketplace
GoCityKids
Logo
AfterEllen.com
AfterElton.com
MTV Networks
MTV
MTV Books
MTV Hits
MTV Jams
MTV2
MTVN International
Flux
Game One
Lazona.com
MTV Boombox
MTV OVERDRIVE
MTV Revolution
QOOB
TMF (The Music Factory)
Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas
VIVA
mtvU
mtvU.com
RateMyProfessors.com
Neopets
Nick at Nite
Nick Jr.
Nickelodeon
The Click
Nick Arcade
Nick GAS
Nickelodeon Consumer Products
Nicktoons Network
TeenNick
Palladia
ParentsConnect
Quizilla
Spike TV
Spike Filmed Entertainment
TV Land
VH1
VH1 Classic
VHUno
Vspot
Viacom International Media Networks
Film
Paramount Pictures Corporation
MTV Films
Nickelodeon Movies
Paramount Animation
Paramount Home Entertainment
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Vantage
Viacom Digital
EPIX
TheGodfather.com
iCarly.com
TheLastAirbenderMovie.com
PetPetPark.com
SouthParkStudios.com
Other
Rainbow Group (Minority Interest)
Before exploring Viacom, I had no idea how many companies were running underneath it. Honestly, I was surprised. I learned that Viacom is a company that definitely relies on advertising to fund their many channel outlets. Typically, I think that they air different commercials targeting different audiences on their various channels (for example, airing acne commercials on MTV or airing commercials for new toys on Nickelodeon.) I also learned, from Viacom’s annual report, that Viacom intakes fees from cable companies, just for being officially attached to the conglomerate. I think that Viacom is a large enough company already, but it may benefit Viacom if they were to horizontally integrate by possibly picking up some music media outlets as well. Mainly, Viacom distributes film and television shows to the public via various outlets like Paramount or Cable Television networks. I think that they do a great job in running their company, but some of their television networks (like MTV channels) are losing their popularity over the years. They are synergistic in that Viacom works with various tv channels and shows, regardless of the content. For example, they run Southparkstudios.com, which airs one of my favorite shows of all time. However, Viacom also airs children’s tv shows on cable television and also iCarly.com, a teen show. Viacom works well with both adult and children’s content, in my opinion. I feel that since Viacom picked up all of the TV networks, it is really focusing on advertising as a point of business, so that they can fund their projects for Paramount or other movies. It is good that they do not run legitimate news stations, because I feel that those stations would be riddled with advertising focusing on the consumer instead of informing the public on the actual news.
I got this information from the Columbia Journalism Review and Viacom’s website:
http://www.cjr.org/resources/?c=viacom
http://ir.viacom.com/secfiling.cfm?filingID=1193125-12-471870&CIK=1339947
