CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation is the broadcast television network brand of Paramount Global, distributing news, sports, primetime drama, daytime, and late-night programming across the US and Canada via over-the-air affiliates, pay-TV carriage, and Paramount+ streaming.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1927
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What CBS Corporation does
CBS Corporation is the broadcast television network brand within Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA), distributing primetime, daytime, late-night, news, and sports programming across the United States and Canada. The network reaches viewers through over-the-air transmission to approximately 220 local affiliate stations, carriage agreements with cable, satellite, and telecommunications providers, authenticated streaming via TV provider apps, and dedicated live-TV streaming channels including CBS News 24/7, CBS Sports HQ, CBS Sports Golazo Network, and branded channels such as 60 Minutes and 48 Hours. Content is anchored by long-running franchises including NCIS, FBI, The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful, The Price Is Right, and 60 Minutes, supplemented by new scripted series (Tracker, CIA, Beyond the Gates), game shows (Hollywood Squares), and competition programming (America's Culinary Cup).
The underlying technology stack combines traditional broadcast television infrastructure with digital streaming capabilities delivered through the CBS.com website, mobile applications on iOS and Android, and deep integration with the Paramount+ streaming platform. CBS Studios functions as the in-house production arm generating scripted and unscripted content for the network and Paramount+. The network has continuously provided FCC-compliant accessibility services since 2002, including closed captioning and audio description exceeding federal requirements.
Revenue is generated through four primary streams: national television advertising sold on a CPM basis across dayparts (advertising revenue); affiliate and retransmission consent fees paid by pay-TV providers for the right to carry CBS network programming (subscription/recurring); content licensing of CBS library and original programming to international broadcasters and syndication markets (licensing/royalties); and subscription revenue via Paramount+ streaming tiers. CBS serves three core customer groups: mass-market general television viewers, national advertisers seeking reach and brand-safe environments, and pay-TV distributors requiring must-have network content for their channel bundles. Following the 2019 merger with Viacom and 2022 rebrand to Paramount Global, CBS no longer reports as a standalone public entity; the legacy CBS Corporation ticker (NYSE: CBS) was retired in connection with the merger.
CBS Corporation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CBS Corporation
- Legal name
- CBS Corporation (operating as brand of Paramount)
- Website
- https://cbs.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1927
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- CBS Corporation is the broadcast television network brand of Paramount Global, distributing news, sports, primetime drama, daytime, and late-night programming across the US and Canada via over-the-air affiliates, pay-TV carriage, and Paramount+ streaming.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CBS Corporation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Broadcast Television Networking
- NAICS
- Television Broadcasting Stations (516120), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)
- SIC
- Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)
- akta.pro primary industry
- National General-Entertainment Broadcast Networks (MPABAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Program Distribution to Stations & Affiliates (Domestic) (MPABAMAC), Off-Network Syndication (Reruns/Library Series) (MPABAMAA)
Keywords
Where CBS Corporation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
CBS Corporation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Advertising Revenue: CBS generates primary revenue through the sale of advertising inventory during its broadcast programming, including primetime shows, sports broadcasts, news programs, and daytime programming. CPM-based pricing for national television advertising.
- Affiliate/Carriage Fees: Revenue from cable, satellite, and telecommunications providers for the right to carry CBS network programming on their systems. Fees are negotiated based on channel positioning and subscriber reach.
- Content Licensing: Licensing of CBS library content, original programming, and formats to international broadcasters, streaming platforms, and syndication markets.
- Paramount+ Streaming Subscription: Through Paramount Global's streaming service, CBS content contributes to subscription revenue. CBS branded channels and original programming are available on Paramount+ platform.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Advertising rates based on CPM and program context |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
CBS Corporation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CBS Corporation operates a major American broadcast television network delivering primetime, daytime, late night, and classic programming across news, sports, drama, comedy, reality, and game-show genres to mass US audiences. Distribution occurs through over-the-air broadcast to approximately 220 affiliate stations, authenticated streaming via Paramount+, pay-TV carriage agreements, and branded 24/7 streaming channels. The company monetizes its content primarily through national television advertising, affiliate/carriage fees, subscription streaming via Paramount+, and content licensing.
Product overview
CBS Corporation operates as a major American broadcast television network and streaming content company, offering a comprehensive portfolio of television programming through multiple distribution channels. The core offering consists of the CBS TV Network broadcasting primetime, daytime, late night, and classic television shows, complemented by the CBS News and CBS Sports sub-brands. CBS provides streaming access through Paramount+ and dedicated live TV streaming channels including CBS News 24/7, CBS Sports HQ, and CBS Sports Golazo Network. The entertainment portfolio includes popular drama series (Tracker, CIA), game shows (The Price Is Right, Hollywood Squares), soap operas (The Bold and the Beautiful, The Young and the Restless), and reality competition (America's Culinary Cup). Accessibility services include closed captioning and audio description for visually impaired viewers. The company also operates Beyond the Gates as its latest soap opera entry.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CBS Studios: Television production studio producing scripted and unscripted content for CBS network and other platforms.
- CBS News
- CBS Sports
- America's Culinary Cup
- CIA
- Tracker
- The Price Is Right
- The Bold and The Beautiful
- The Young and The Restless
Products and services
- CBS TV Network CBS's primary broadcast television network offering primetime, daytime, late night, and classic television programming across multiple genres including drama, comedy, reality, game shows, news, and sports, distributed over-the-air to approximately 220 local affiliate stations and accessed by all US households regardless of pay-TV subscription.
- CBS News CBS's news division providing national and international news coverage, including CBS Evening News, CBS Mornings, Face the Nation, and CBS News Sunday Morning, targeting US viewers seeking trusted national news across broadcast and streaming.
- CBS Sports CBS's sports broadcasting division covering NFL, NCAA sports, UEFA Champions League, WNBA, BIG3, and other sporting events, targeting US sports fans seeking live event coverage and analysis.
- Paramount+ Subscription streaming service offering on-demand access to CBS content, original programming, and live TV streaming for consumers seeking cross-device access to Paramount Global's content library.
- CBS Sports Golazo Network 24/7 streaming channel offering soccer coverage including UEFA Champions League, with in-depth analysis, watchalongs, and live reactions for US soccer fans.
- CBS News 24/7 Round-the-clock news streaming channel providing continuous news coverage for viewers seeking always-on access to CBS News programming.
- CBS Sports HQ Streaming channel providing sports news and highlights coverage for sports fans seeking on-demand and live sports updates.
- Closed Captioning Services FCC-compliant closed captioning for CBS Television Network programming including CBS News, CBS Daytime, CBS Primetime, CBS Late Night, and CBS Sports, serving deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers.
- Audio Description Services Audio description services providing narrated descriptions of key visual elements for visually impaired viewers, with CBS voluntarily exceeding FCC requirements to cover nearly the entire primetime schedule and 100% of educational/informational programming.
Quantifiable outcome
- Network television's #1-rated daytime series (The Price Is Right)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use CBS Corporation
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CBS Corporation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
CBS Corporation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- Sony Pictures TelevisionmajorCBS and Sony settled a legal dispute over distribution rights for Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune. The settlement concluded litigation that had raised questions about the shows' future distribution. Terms of the settlement were not specified.
- Paramount GlobalcoreCBS is a primary brand within Paramount Global's portfolio. Content is distributed through Paramount+ streaming platform. The partnership includes shared production resources, cross-promotion, and integrated streaming services. CBS Studios produces content for the Paramount+ platform.
- TV Providers (Cable, Satellite, Telecom)coreCBS maintains carriage agreements with major pay-TV providers for distribution of its broadcast network and branded channels. Providers offer CBS content through their channel lineups and streaming apps with TV provider authentication.
- UEFA (Union of European Football Associations)majorCBS broadcasts UEFA Champions League soccer content through its CBS Sports Golazo Network, providing 24/7 coverage of European soccer including live matches, analysis, and watchalongs for US audiences.
- Dick Wolf (Wolf Entertainment)majorDick Wolf produces FBI franchise (FBI, FBI: Most Wanted, FBI: International) and CIA for CBS. The partnership represents one of CBS's most successful drama franchises, with multiple interconnected series airing across CBS programming.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CBS Corporation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- ITV: UK commercial broadcaster with a comparable broadcast-plus-streaming model (ITVX) and a focus on entertainment, news, and sports. Operates outside CBS's primary US market but offers a comparable business model benchmark.
Broad incumbents
- The Walt Disney Company: Parent of ABC, ESPN, Hulu, and Disney+. Competes with CBS across broadcast, sports rights, and streaming, and is the most diversified direct competitor to Paramount Global's portfolio.
- BBC: UK-based public/commercial broadcaster with a comparable mix of news, entertainment, and sports, plus global content distribution. Functions as a broad international peer in commercial broadcasting and news.
- Warner Bros. Discovery: Major US media conglomerate operating HBO, Max, CNN, Discovery, TBS, and a partial ownership of The CW. Overlaps with CBS in scripted content, news, and streaming distribution.
- Comcast (NBCUniversal parent): Parent of NBC, Peacock, Universal Pictures, and Sky. Competes with Paramount Global on broadcast, streaming, and filmed entertainment, and is a primary rival in sports rights bidding.
- Paramount Global: CBS's parent conglomerate (NASDAQ: PARA), encompassing Paramount+, Showtime, MTV, Nickelodeon, BET, and Paramount Pictures. The parent entity provides the strategic and financial context for CBS and is the publicly traded security through which investors access CBS.
Direct peers
- The CW: The CW is a US broadcast network that is jointly owned by Paramount Global (CBS's parent) and Warner Bros. Discovery. Competes in the same broadcast advertising market with a younger-skewing entertainment and sports lineup.
- NBCUniversal (NBC): NBC operates the other major US broadcast television network with comparable primetime, news, sports (NFL, NBA, Olympics), and streaming (Peacock) assets. Directly competes with CBS for advertisers, affiliates, audiences, and sports rights.
- Fox Corporation: Fox operates a major US broadcast network with comparable sports rights (NFL, MLB, college football) and entertainment programming. Direct competitor for broadcast advertising dollars and sports rights auctions.
- ABC (Disney): ABC is one of the original Big Four US broadcast networks, owned by The Walt Disney Company. Competes directly with CBS in primetime entertainment, news, and sports, and is integrated with Disney's Hulu/Disney+ streaming ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CBS Corporation social profiles
Digital presenceCBS Corporation compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
CBS Corporation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CBS Corporation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
CBS Corporation subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
CBS Corporation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CBS Corporation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A7 records
Investments7 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CBS Corporation
What does CBS Corporation do?
CBS Corporation operates a major American broadcast television network delivering primetime, daytime, late night, and classic programming across news, sports, drama, comedy, reality, and game-show genres to mass US audiences. Distribution occurs through over-the-air broadcast to approximately 220 affiliate stations, authenticated streaming via Paramount+, pay-TV carriage agreements, and branded 24/7 streaming channels. The company monetizes its content primarily through national television advertising, affiliate/carriage fees, subscription streaming via Paramount+, and content licensing.
Is CBS Corporation a public or private company?
CBS Corporation is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was CBS Corporation founded?
CBS Corporation was founded in 1927. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is CBS Corporation based?
CBS Corporation is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does CBS Corporation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Advertising Revenue is the primary driver. The others are affiliate/Carriage Fees, content Licensing and paramount+ Streaming Subscription.
Who are CBS Corporation's main competitors?
ITV is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are The Walt Disney Company, BBC, Warner Bros. Discovery, Comcast (NBCUniversal parent) and Paramount Global. Direct peers are The CW, NBCUniversal (NBC), Fox Corporation and ABC (Disney).
Does CBS Corporation have an API?
No public API is recorded for CBS Corporation.
What industry is CBS Corporation in?
CBS Corporation's product category is Broadcast Television Networking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABAAAA, National General-Entertainment Broadcast Networks, with a secondary code of MPABAMAC, Program Distribution to Stations & Affiliates (Domestic). Its NAICS code is 516120 and its SIC code is 4833.