CBS Studios International

CBS Studios International
Paramount Global Content Distribution · Public domain · source
Name	CBS Studios International
Type	Subsidiary
Industry	Television production and distribution
Founded	2009
Founder	ViacomCBS predecessors
Headquarters	Los Angeles, California, United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	George Cheeks; David Nevins; Shari Redstone
Parent	Paramount Global

CBS Studios International is the international distribution, production and channel operations arm historically associated with the American television studio lineage of CBS Corporation and later integrated into Paramount Global. The unit managed global sales, format licensing, channel ownership and production partnerships for catalogues originating from CBS Television Studios, Showtime Networks, MTV Networks and legacy libraries such as Paramount Television and Simon & Schuster-era assets. It operated across territories including United Kingdom, Australia, India, Brazil and Japan, negotiating with broadcasters like BBC, ITV, Star India, Sky Group and HBO-affiliated distributors.

History

Founded in the late 2000s during corporate realignments involving Viacom and CBS Corporation, the entity consolidated international rights for series such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The Good Wife, NCIS and Survivor while coordinating with legacy catalogues including Mission: Impossible and The Twilight Zone. Early expansion involved deals with broadcasters like NBCUniversal's international arms and joint ventures with regional programmers such as Canal+ in France and Televisa in Mexico. The 2019 re-merger of Viacom and CBS Corporation into ViacomCBS (later renamed Paramount Global) reshaped the unit’s remit, integrating assets from Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and CBS Interactive. Over time, strategic shifts mirrored changes in global distribution models led by streamers such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and regionals like iQiyi.

Corporate structure and ownership

The division reported through corporate channels aligned with Paramount Global executive leadership including CEOs like Bob Bakish and board members tied to controlling shareholder Shari Redstone. Its governance intersected with subsidiary studios such as CBS Studios and premium networks like Showtime, and coordinated legal and licensing work with Paramount Pictures’ international legal teams. Operational oversight connected to regional heads in offices across London, Singapore and São Paulo, liaising with local regulators like the Ofcom in United Kingdom and licensing bodies in Canada and Australia.

International distribution and licensing

As a distributor the unit licensed finished episodes, format rights and remakes to broadcasters including BBC One, ITV1, Channel 4, TF1 and ZDF. It negotiated format adaptations of reality and scripted properties with production houses such as Endemol Shine Group, Fremantle, Banijay and regional producers like Eyeworks and Keshet International. Major rights deals were struck with global platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Studios and transactional services like iTunes and Google Play. Licensing encompassed territories across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America, often requiring coordination with unions like SAG-AFTRA for talent reuse and with local broadcasters such as Telefónica and MTG.

Production and co-productions

The company co-produced local-language versions and original productions in partnership with studios including Sony Pictures Television, Warner Bros. Television Studios, ITV Studios and StudioCanal. Projects ranged from adaptations of franchises like Big Brother-style formats and licensed dramas to original commissions with regional networks such as Network Ten in Australia and TV Globo in Brazil. Co-production finance often involved public funding bodies such as Screen Australia and tax incentive programs in Canada and United Kingdom, and collaborations with creative talent associated with producers from Shonda Rhimes-affiliated companies and showrunners who previously worked on Law & Order or The Twilight Zone revivals.

Television channels and streaming operations

The division operated and managed branded channels and digital services in partnership with operators such as Sky Group, Virgin Media and cable platforms including Comcast and Liberty Global. It oversaw international feeds, scheduling and advertising sales through deals with agencies like WPP and Publicis Groupe, and managed SVOD and FAST channel launches on platforms like Roku and smart-television platforms from Samsung and LG. Streaming relationships included licensing catalogs to major streamers Paramount+ after the re-merger, and transactional VOD agreements with retailers including Amazon and Apple.

Notable programs and franchise adaptations

Key global properties handled by the unit included franchises and series such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, NCIS, Survivor, The Good Wife, Blue Bloods and resurrected franchises like Star Trek through coordination with Paramount Pictures. The company also managed reality and format exports and adaptations connected to producers behind The Amazing Race and partnered with format owners like Syco Entertainment for talent-driven shows. Its catalog licensing extended to award-recognized series that had ties to institutions like the Emmy Award and the Golden Globe Awards.

International markets and partnerships

Strategic markets included United Kingdom, Germany, France, India, China (through licensed partners), Japan and Latin America, with distribution partners such as TF1 Group, ProSiebenSat.1, Canal+ Group, Rai and TelevisaUnivision. Partnerships often involved multi-year output deals with pay-TV operators like Sky Atlantic and public broadcasters like BBC and ABC (Australia), and collaborations with regional streamers including Hotstar and iQIYI. The unit engaged with co-production partners across Europe and Latin America, linking to independent producers such as Gaumont and regional networks like Telefe.

Category:Television production companies of the United States