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).