CBS
On the 27th of January 1927, a radio network named United Independent Broadcasters began operations in Chicago. Arthur Judson, a New York City talent agent, founded the entity that would eventually become CBS. Just three months later, the Columbia Phonograph Company invested capital into the struggling group. This financial injection prompted a rebranding to the Columbia Phonographic Broadcasting System. By early 1928, Judson and Columbia sold the network to Isaac Levy and Leon Levy. These brothers owned WCAU, the Philadelphia affiliate station. They brought in William S. Paley as president of the organization. Paley was an in-law of the Levys. He quickly transformed the company's identity. In September 1928, Paley secured majority ownership with 51 percent of the business. Paramount Pictures acquired the remaining 49 percent shares in 1929. The Great Depression forced Paramount to sell its stake back to the network in 1932. CBS remained primarily independent for the next 63 years under Paley's leadership. The network grew from a small radio operation into one of the largest broadcasting systems in the United States.
The Price Is Right began production in 1972 on the CBS daytime schedule. Bob Barker hosted the show for 35 years before Drew Carey took over in 2007. It remains the longest continuously running daytime game show on network television. Wayne Brady currently hosts Let's Make a Deal, another long-running series. CBS airs three soap operas each weekday including The Young and the Restless which debuted in 1973. The Bold and the Beautiful started in 1987 while Beyond the Gates premiered in 2025. The network provided 22 hours of primetime programming Monday through Saturday from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern time. Sunday broadcasts run from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern time. Children's programming included Captain Kangaroo airing from 1955 to 1982 on weekday mornings. Animated series like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Garfield and Friends filled Saturday morning slots during the 1980s and 1990s. The network also produced specials such as A Charlie Brown Christmas starting in 1965. Over 30 Peanuts specials aired on CBS until 2000 when ABC acquired the rights.
Westinghouse Electric Corporation acquired the network in 1994. Two years later, the legal name changed to CBS Broadcasting Inc. In 1997, Westinghouse adopted the name CBS Corporation. Sumner Redstone controlled CBS Corporation through National Amusements. On the 4th of December 2019, Viacom and CBS re-merged to become ViacomCBS. This entity later became Paramount Global and now operates as Paramount Skydance Corporation. Following the sale, assets were reorganized into a new division called CBS Entertainment Group. CBS operated its radio network until 2017 when it sold the division to Entercom. Entercom is now known as Audacy, Inc. since 2021. Shareholders received a 72 percent stake in the combined Entercom company. CBS no longer owns or operates any radio stations directly. It still provides news broadcasts to affiliates under a long-term contract. The television network maintains over 240 owned-and-operated stations throughout the United States. Some of these stations are available in Canada via pay-television providers.
CBS began converting to high definition with the launch of its simulcast feed CBS HD in September 1998. That year, the network aired the first NFL game broadcast in high definition on November 8. The telecast featured the New York Jets against the Buffalo Bills. The Young and the Restless became the first daytime soap opera to broadcast in HD on the 27th of June 2001. Big Brother and Let's Make a Deal converted from standard definition to HD in 2014. This marked the end of a 14-year conversion process for the entire schedule. On the 4th of March 2021, CBS All Access rebranded as Paramount+. The service launched on the 28th of October 2014 at $5.99 per month. Users could view past and present episodes of CBS shows through the platform. In December 2018, the service launched in Australia under the name 10 All Access due to affiliation with Network 10. The network also transmits its master feed in 1080i high definition resolution. Seven affiliates transmit programming in 720p HD while others carry it in 480i standard definition.
The Eye device made its broadcast debut on the 20th of October 1951. William Golden conceived the logo based on a Pennsylvania Dutch hex sign and a Shaker drawing. Some design work may have been done by Georg Olden, one of the first African-Americans to attract attention in postwar graphic design. Frank Stanton insisted on keeping the Eye device during the following season. Lou Dorfsman replaced Golden after his death in 1959. Dorfsman oversaw all print and on-air graphics for 30 years. The eye has never been redesigned despite various applications over decades. A deconstructed eye motif appeared in October 2020 as part of a unified branding strategy. This campaign included a five-note sound trademark developed by Antfood. CBS News initially used the new imagery for coverage of the 2020 presidential election. CBS Sports launched its rebrand ahead of Super Bowl LV in 2021. In December 2022, local news operations began deploying the branding with new graphics and music packages. The network dropped the America's Most Watched Network tagline during this period. Chief marketing officer Michael Benson explained that they aimed to be something where people feel like they are part of the family.
Sky News broadcasts the CBS Evening News on channels serving the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Italy. In Canada, programming is carried through affiliates located near the border such as KIRO-TV in Seattle. Simultaneous substitutions allow Canadian providers to supplant American signals to protect domestic advertising revenue. Bermuda maintains an affiliation with Hamilton-based ZBM-TV locally owned by Bermuda Broadcasting Company. Mexico receives CBS programming through stations like KYMA-DT/Yuma and KVTV/Laredo. These signals reach northern Mexico over-the-air. In Hong Kong, the CBS Evening News aired live during early morning hours on ATV World. Networks maintain agreements to rebroadcast portions 12 hours after initial broadcast. In India, CBS maintained a brand licensing agreement with Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd for three channels including Big CBS Prime. These channels shut down in late November 2013. Following the Viacom-Viacom merger, Colors TV became a sister network through the Viacom18 joint venture. Australian broadcaster Network 10 has been owned by CBS Corporation since 2017. Its channels carry CBS programming alongside MTV and Nickelodeon content.
On the 26th of April 1980, CBS aired Gay Power, Gay Politics, an episode of the CBS Reports documentary series. The program faced accusations of purposeful misrepresentation regarding gay sexual practices. Six months later, the National News Council found that CBS had violated journalistic standards. In 1995, CBS refused to air a 60 Minutes segment featuring an interview with a former president of Brown & Williamson. This decision sent shockwaves throughout the television industry and led to the film The Insider. On the 8th of September 2004, CBS aired a controversial episode questioning George W. Bush's service in the Air National Guard. Four documents used in the story were not properly authenticated. Bill Burkett admitted to deliberately misleading producers about the documents' origins. Dan Rather filed a $70 million lawsuit against CBS in September 2007 but it was dismissed in 2010. In July 2018, Ronan Farrow published an article claiming thirty employees described harassment at CBS. Les Moonves resigned as chief executive on the 9th of September 2018 after six additional women raised accusations going back to the 1980s.
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Common questions
When did CBS begin operations as United Independent Broadcasters?
CBS began operations on the 27th of January 1927 under the name United Independent Broadcasters. Arthur Judson founded this radio network entity in Chicago before it evolved into the modern CBS brand.
Who purchased CBS from William S. Paley and when did ownership change hands?
Westinghouse Electric Corporation acquired CBS in 1994 and changed its legal name to CBS Broadcasting Inc two years later. The network subsequently became part of ViacomCBS which rebranded to Paramount Global after merging with CBS again on the 4th of December 2019.
What is the history of the CBS Eye logo design and who created it?
The CBS Eye device made its broadcast debut on the 20th of October 1951 and was conceived by William Golden based on a Pennsylvania Dutch hex sign. Frank Stanton insisted on keeping the logo during the following season while Lou Dorfsman oversaw all graphics for 30 years until his death in 1959.
Which shows are currently airing on the CBS daytime schedule and when did they start?
CBS airs three soap operas each weekday including The Young and the Restless which debuted in 1973 and The Bold and the Beautiful which started in 1987. Beyond the Gates premiered in 2025 as the third current soap opera on the network.
When did CBS convert its entire programming schedule from standard definition to high definition?
CBS completed its conversion to high definition in 2014 when Big Brother and Let's Make a Deal switched formats ending a 14-year process. The network began converting to HD with the launch of CBS HD in September 1998 and aired its first NFL game in HD on November 8 that same year.