As
Viacom buys CBS (pending approval - they may have to sell their stake in
UPN), it brings the story full circle: Viacom was a
spinoff from
CBS, a result of
FCC rules changes designed to loosen the grip of the (then) three
networks on TV programming. They made their name, at first, via
syndicated reruns of CBS shows; they branched out into originals, and, over the years, acquired
MTV (
Nickelodeon,
VH1, Nick at Nite, TV Land) and
Paramount (and
Madison Square Garden's properties).