CBS To Acquire TV Guide?

[DToTheJ]

Or at least half of it, anyway?
http://www.deadline.com/2013/03/cbs-acquiring-tv-guide-partner-with-lionsgate/

 

[TheBigA]

Well, kind of. They're buying half of the TV Guide Network cable channel. That gives them access to another cable channel for their content. CBS, via CBS Television Distribution, owns Entertainment Tonight, which would be right at home on TV Guide.

The interesting thing here is that CBS is buying cable channels. Back when CBS and Viacom split, the idea was that Viacom would have all the "new media" like cable. CBS would be a traditional media company. But that has changed as CBS started their own Sports Network. Now this. So they're expanding in an area that was once reserved for their corporate cousin. No one seems to be stopping them.

 

[Morgan Wick]

Well, kind of. They're buying half of the TV Guide Network cable channel. That gives them access to another cable channel for their content. CBS, via CBS Television Distribution, owns Entertainment Tonight, which would be right at home on TV Guide.

The interesting thing here is that CBS is buying cable channels. Back when CBS and Viacom split, the idea was that Viacom would have all the "new media" like cable. CBS would be a traditional media company. But that has changed as CBS started their own Sports Network. Now this. So they're expanding in an area that was once reserved for their corporate cousin. No one seems to be stopping them.

Then again, CBS did get Showtime as a result of the split, and may have already had then-CSTV. CBS may have belatedly realized cable is where the money is these days, especially where sports are concerned. If they pull the split today, I wonder if CBS keeps one cable channel to turn into a sports network. Worth noting that Viacom's cable channels tend to be more downmarket.

 

[TheBigA]

Worth noting that Viacom's cable channels tend to be more downmarket.

Hmmm...not many cable channels that AREN'T downmarket. There was a time when Bravo and A&E were similar to PBS. Not any more. The History Channel runs reality shows most of the time. Reality TV is what moved MTV into extreme profits.

 

[Morgan Wick]

Still, Viacom's channels tend to be the trashiest on cable, and sports and Showtime are relatively classy.

 

[BD Sullivan]

Worth noting that Viacom's cable channels tend to be more downmarket.

Hmmm...not many cable channels that AREN'T downmarket. There was a time when Bravo and A&E were similar to PBS. Not any more. The History Channel runs reality shows most of the time. Reality TV is what moved MTV into extreme profits.

Back in the early 80's, CBS had their own cable channel (brilliantly named "CBS Cable") that showed only the PBS-type high brow stuff like ballets, classical music concerts, etc. It lasted 14 months:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBS_Cable

 

[FredLeonard]

The pattern repeats. Media start upmarket and move downmarket. Even PBS and NPR. Now it's cable's turn. Mencken was right: Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.

 

[ding12]

Well, kind of. They're buying half of the TV Guide Network cable channel. That gives them access to another cable channel for their content. CBS, via CBS Television Distribution, owns Entertainment Tonight, which would be right at home on TV Guide.

The interesting thing here is that CBS is buying cable channels. Back when CBS and Viacom split, the idea was that Viacom would have all the "new media" like cable. CBS would be a traditional media company. But that has changed as CBS started their own Sports Network. Now this. So they're expanding in an area that was once reserved for their corporate cousin. No one seems to be stopping them.

Yes, I was thinking the same thing. It is interesting that CBS is getting in the basic cable channel business, when it had that but was split from it, when Viacom split into two companies. But now they are split, and not related as in corporate cousins, and essentially just competing companies, esp. now with CBS in the basic cable channel business in the same arena as Viacom.

 

[ding12]

Worth noting that Viacom's cable channels tend to be more downmarket.

Hmmm...not many cable channels that AREN'T downmarket. There was a time when Bravo and A&E were similar to PBS. Not any more. The History Channel runs reality shows most of the time. Reality TV is what moved MTV into extreme profits.

Back in the early 80's, CBS had their own cable channel (brilliantly named "CBS Cable") that showed only the PBS-type high brow stuff like ballets, classical music concerts, etc. It lasted 14 months:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBS_Cable

There was also another basic cable network with the CBS name in it that CBS owned: CBS Eye on People in the late 90s, which became Discovery People.

 

[jegrant]

I was probably the only viewer of CBS EoP toward the end... Good idea, but yeah, not broad enough to get any kind of audience.

 

[radiolives]

CBS should flip TV Guide with CBS Sports Network. That way it gets CBS Sports Network out there and away from digital only. Not like anyone will miss TV Guide Channel.

 

[Markxxx]

Nothing like beating a dead horse, or half of it