Viacom18

Indian media venture

Viacom18 Media Private Limited

Type| Joint venture
Industry| Television
Founded| November 2007; 16 years ago (2007-11)
Headquarters| Mumbai, Maharashtra, India[1]

Key people

| Jyoti Deshpande (CEO)
Owners| TV18 (73.91%)
Bodhi Tree Systems (13.08%)
Paramount Networks EMEAA (13.01%)
Subsidiaries| Viacom18 US
Viacom18 Media
Viacom18 Digital Ventures
Roptonal
The Indian Film Company[2]
Viacom18 Studios
JioCinema
Website| Viacom18.com

Viacom18 Media Private Limited is an Indian media company based in Mumbai, India. Founded as a joint venture between TV18 and Viacom18 (Now Paramount Global), since 2014 the TV18 has been the majority shareholder in the company since April 2023, with Paramount Networks EMEAA and Bodhi Tree Systems owning minority stakes.[3] It was founded in 2007 and owns various channels, as well as content production studios in India.

## History[edit]

### Early history and founding[edit]

In January 2010, Viacom18 went international with the launch of Colors in United States. The channel is called Aapka Colors. In July 2010, it got into 50/50 distribution joint venture with Sun Network to form Sun 18.[4]

In December 2011, Viacom18 launched Nickelodeon Sonic, targeting young adults.[5]

In January 2014, TV18 acquired the non-Telugu language TV assets of ETV Network for ₹2,053 crore, with a permission to use ETV brand name.[6]

In March 2015, Viacom18 decided to rebrand all five non-Telugu language ETV regional general entertainment channels. ETV Marathi, ETV Gujarati, ETV Kannada, ETV Bangla, and ETV Odia were rebranded into Colors Marathi, Colors Gujarati, Colors Kannada, Colors Bangla, and Colors Odia respectively.[7]

The company also owns Viacom18 Studios. On 31 January 2018, TV18 announced its acquisition of Viacom's majority in the joint venture, taking operational control and leaving Viacom with minority interest.[8] On 1 October 2019, Viacom18 launched Colors HD in Malaysia on Astro Malaysia; every serial will be served with Malay and English subtitles.[citation needed]

More recently, the company had signed a deal with the National Basketball Association in order to deliver live NBA games to all of their own networks.[9]

### Attempted mergers with Sony and Zee, partnership with Bodhi Tree Systems[edit]

In June 2020, Sony's Indian unit Sony Pictures Networks India was in talks with Viacom18 about a merger, with the talks getting advanced much later. If the merger was successful, Sony would be 74% shareholder in the merged company.[10] However, in October 2020, Reliance Industries,[11] the majority share holder in Viacom18, called off the merger.[12][13]

In June 2021,[14] reports stated Viacom18 and Zee Entertainment Enterprises were reportedly in talks about a merger.[15] However, Zee denied any talks about a potential merger with Viacom18,[16] later entering talks with Sony Pictures Networks India, which was also in talks about a merger with Viacom18 earlier.[17]

In January 2022, there were reports that Lupa India, an investment company set up by Uday Shankar and James Murdoch, were in the final stages of picking up a 39% stake in Viacom18.[18] thereby turning Paramount Global into a minority shareholder with a 10% share in the company.[19] In April 2022, Reliance announced that Bodhi Tree Systems, a company founded by Shankar and Murdoch with backing from the Qatar Investment Authority,[20] would make a US$1.8 billion investment in Viacom18 to "jointly build India’s leading entertainment platform and pioneer the Indian media landscape's transformation to a ‘streaming-first’ approach." As part of the venture, JioCinema—a streaming service owned by Reliance's mobile operator Jio—would be brought under Viacom18. Paramount would remain a stakeholder and content partner. The deal was approved by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in September 2022.[21][22] The sale was completed on 17 April 2023, with Bodhi Tree acquiring a 13.08% stake in the venture, and diluting Paramount Global's stake to 13.01%.[23]

## Owned channels[edit]

### On-air channels[edit]

Following are the distribution channels available from TV18:[24]

Channel  | Launched  | Language  | Category  | SD/HD availability  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

Colors TV | 2008  | Hindi | General Entertainment  | SD+HD  |
Colors Rishtey | 2014  | SD  | Previously Rishtey
Colors Cineplex | 2016  | Movies  | SD+HD  | Formerly Rishtey Cineplex (original)
Colors Cineplex Bollywood | 2021  | SD  |
Colors Cineplex Superhits | 2022  | Previously Rishtey Cineplex (relaunch)
MTV | 1996  | Youth  | SD+HD  | Formerly MTV HD+
MTV Beats | 2016  | Music  | Formerly MTV Indies
Sports18 Khel | 2022  | Sports  | SD  |
Colors Infinity | 2015  | English | General Entertainment  | SD+HD
Comedy Central | 2012
VH1 | 2005  | Music
Sports18 1 | 2022  | Sports
Sports18 2 | 2023  | SD
Sports18 3
Nickelodeon | 1999  | Hindi
Tamil
Telugu
Malayalam
Bengali
Marathi
Gujarati
Kannada | Kids
Nickelodeon Sonic | 2011
Nick Jr. | 2012  | Hindi
English
Nickelodeon HD+ | 2015  | HD  |
Colors Bangla | 2000  | Bengali | General Entertainment  | SD+HD  | Previously known as ETV Bangla
Colors Bangla Cinema | 2019  | Movies  | SD  |
Colors Gujarati | 2002  | Gujarati | General Entertainment  | Previously known as ETV Gujarati
Colors Gujarati Cinema | 2019  | Movies  |
Colors Marathi | 2000  | Marathi | General Entertainment  | SD+HD  | Previously known as ETV Marathi
Colors Odia | 2002  | Odia | SD  | Previously known as ETV Odia
Colors Kannada | 2000  | Kannada | SD+HD  | Previously known as ETV Kannada
Colors Super | 2016  | SD  |
Colors Kannada Cinema | 2018  | Movies
Colors Tamil | Tamil | General Entertainment  | SD+HD
History TV18 | 2011  | Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi  | Information  | SD+HD  | Joint Venture by A&E

### Upcoming channels[edit]

Channel  | Language  | Launching date  | Genre  | Availability

|
|
|
|

Colors Next  | Hindi | 2024  | GEC  | SD
Colors Studio  | English | Movies
Colors Marathi Cinema  | Marathi
Colors Tamil Cinema  | Tamil
Colors Telugu  | Telugu | GEC  | SD+HD
Colors

Malayalam

| Malayalam
Colors Bhojpuri  | Bhojpuri
Colors Punjabi  | Punjabi
History TV18 Marathi  | Marathi | Information

## See also[edit]

* Paramount International Networks
* Paramount Networks EMEAA
* Network18 Group

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Viacom18 Media Pvt. Ltd". Viacom18.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
2. ^ "TV18 Broadcast Ltd (CRD)" (PDF). BSEIndia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015.
3. ^ "Corporate restructure complete for India's Network18". rapidtvnews.com. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
4. ^ "Beefing Up The Bouquet". business.outlookindia.com. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
5. ^ "Viacom18 launches its new channel 'Sonic Nickelodeon' in India". India Infoline. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
6. ^ "Network18 finishes Rs 2,053-cr deal to acquire ETV stakes". The Economic Times. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
7. ^ "ETV re-branding to Colors". Retrieved 4 March 2015.
8. ^ "TV18 to increase stake to 51% in Viacom18, the JV with Viacom Inc". Viacom18. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
9. ^ "Viacom18 inks three-year media rights deal with NBA - Exchange4media". Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
10. ^ IANS (21 July 2020). "Sony to own 74% after merger with Viacom 18, to battle Disney Star". National Herald. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
11. ^ "Reliance Industries calls off merger of Viacom18 with Sony". The Times of India. PTI. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
12. ^ Jha, Lata (5 October 2020). "Sony's slated merger with Viacom18 now called off". mint. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
13. ^ "Jio | Mukesh Ambani: With Jio in mind, Mukesh Ambani's RIL calls off merger of Viacom18, Sony". The Economic Times. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
14. ^ Laskar, Anirudh (20 June 2021). "Viacom18 and Zee Entertainment in early merger talks". mint. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
15. ^ "Viacom18 and Zeel eyeing a merger?". Indian Television Dot Com. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
16. ^ "ZEEL denies any potential merger deal with Viacom18 - Exchange4media". Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
17. ^ "ZEEL starts due diligence process for merger with Sony Pictures Networks". The Financial Express. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
18. ^ Gupta, Surajeet Das (27 January 2022). "Uday Shankar, James Murdoch firm to pick up 39% stake in Viacom 18". Business Standard India. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
19. ^ Laghate, Gaurav. "Uday Shankar, James Murdoch plan to pick up nearly 40% in Viacom18, Reliance to retain majority stake". The Economic Times. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
20. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (9 February 2022). "James Murdoch, Uday Shankar Set Bodhi Tree as $1.5 Billion Qatar-Backed Media Investment Venture". Variety. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
21. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (27 April 2022). "James Murdoch's Bodhi Tree, Reliance, Viacom18 Strike $2 Billion Deal to Create Giant Indian TV and Streaming Company". Variety. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
22. ^ "CCI approves merger of Jio Cinema OTT with Viacom18 Media". The Economic Times. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
23. ^ "Bodhi Tree-Viacom18 deal: Why the new deal points towards Reliance's aggressive push in broadcasting business". Business Today. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
24. ^ "Our Channels - On Air". viacom18.com.

## External links[edit]

* Official Site

* v
* t
* e

Network18 Group

Key people|

* Mukesh Ambani
* Adil Zainulbhai
* Rahul Joshi

Companies|

* TV18
* Viacom18
* AETN18
* Web18

Channels|

| TV18|

* News18 India
* News18 Lokmat (JV)
* News18 Urdu
* News18 Rajasthan
* News18 Uttar Pradesh Uttarakhand
* News18 Bihar-Jharkhand
* News18 Bangla
* News18 Odia
* News18 Kannada
* News18 Kerala
* News18 Tamil Nadu
* News18 Assam-North East
* Home Shop 18 (Shop CJ)

Viacom 18 (JV)|

* Colors TV
* Colors Bangla
* Colors Cineplex
* Bollywood
* Superhits
* Colors Gujarati
* Colors Infinity
* Colors Kannada
* Cinema
* Colors Marathi
* Colors Odia
* Colors Rishtey
* Colors Super
* Colors Tamil
* Comedy Central
* MTV
* Beats
* Nickelodeon
* Nick Jr.
* Sonic
* Sports18
* 1
* 2
* Khel
* Vh1

AETN18 (JV)|

* History TV18

Franchise|

* CNN-News18
* CNBC TV18
* CNBC Awaaz
* CNBC Bajar

Defunct channels|

* FYI TV18
* ETV Network
* BR18

Web portals|

* Firstpost
* HomeShop18
* In.com
* Moneycontrol.com
* Voot
* Yatra.com

Publications|

* Forbes India (Franchise)
* Overdrive
* Better Photography
* Better Interiors

* v
* t
* e

Paramount

Corporate directors|

* Bob Bakish (President and CEO)
* Shari Redstone (Non-Executive Chair)

CBS
Entertainment
Group|

| Flagship assets|

* CBS
* CBS Sports
* CBS Sports Radio
* CBS Sports Network
* The CW (12.5%)

|

BET Media Group|

* BET
* BET Her
* BET Jams
* BET Soul
* Production
* BET Studios
* VH1

CBS News
and Stations|

* CBS News
* CBS News Radio
* CBS O&O
* KCBS-TV
* KCNC-TV
* KDKA-TV
* KOVR
* KPIX-TV
* KTVT
* KYW-TV
* WBBM-TV
* WBZ-TV
* WCBS-TV
* WCCO-TV/KCCW-TV
* WFOR-TV
* WJZ-TV
* WWJ-TV
* Ind.
* KCAL-TV
* KMAX-TV
* KPYX
* KSTW
* KTXA
* WBFS-TV
* WKBD-TV
* WLNY-TV
* WPKD-TV
* WPSG
* WSBK-TV
* WTOG
* WUPA
* Start TV
* WBXI-CD
* Network
* Fave TV

Production &
distribution|

* CBS Studios
* Big Ticket Entertainment
* CBS Eye Animation Productions
* Late Night Cartoons, Inc.
* CBS Media Ventures
* Dabl
* CBS Home Entertainment

Digital media|

* CBS MoneyWatch
* CBS Sports Digital
* CBSSports.com
* 247Sports
* MaxPreps
* Scout.com
* CBS Watch
* Last.fm

Streaming|

* Paramount+
* original programming
* original films
* Showtime
* Pluto TV
* BET+
* Noggin
* CBS News Streaming Network
* CBS Sports HQ

U.S. Media
Networks|

| MTV Entertainment Group|

* Comedy Central
* CMT
* CMT Music
* Logo TV
* MTV
* MTV2
* MTVU
* MTV Classic
* MTV Live
* Tr3s
* MTV Entertainment Studios
* MTV Animation
* Paramount Network
* Pop TV
* Smithsonian Channel
* Showtime Networks
* Showtime
* The Movie Channel
* Flix
* Production
* Documentary Films
* PPV
* Digital
* TV Land

|

Nickelodeon Group|

* Nickelodeon
* Nick at Nite
* Nick Jr. (block)
* Nick Jr. Channel
* NickMusic
* Nicktoons
* TeenNick
* Production
* Awesomeness
* Nickelodeon Animation Studio
* Nick Digital
* Avatar Studios
* Paws, Inc.

Paramount
Pictures|

* Paramount Animation
* Paramount Players
* Nickelodeon Movies
* Paramount Home Entertainment
* Paramount Music
* Paramount Television Studios
* United International Pictures (co-owned with Universal Pictures)
* Miramax (49% stake)
* Republic Pictures

International
Networks|

* v
* t
* e

Paramount Networks Americas

Pan-American|

* Comedy Central
* MTV
* Club MTV
* MTV 00s
* MTV 80s
* MTV Hits Europe
* MTV Live
* Nickelodeon
* Nick Jr.
* NickMusic
* TeenNick
* Paramount Network
* Telefe Internacional

Brazil|

* Comedy Central
* MTV
* MTV 00s
* MTV Live
* Nickelodeon
* Nick Jr.
* NickMusic
* Paramount Network
* Telefe Internacional

Argentina|

* Telefe
* Córdoba
* Rosario
* Santa Fe

Chile|

* Chilevisión

Production arms|

* Porta dos Fundos (51% JV)
* TIS Productions (majority stake)

Defunct|

* MTV Brasil
* MTV Hits Brazil
* MTV Hits Latin America
* MTV Jams
* MTV Puerto Rico (licensed)
* Nick 2
* Nicktoons
* Smithsonian Channel
* VH1 Brazil
* VH1 Classic Europe
* VH1 Classic United States
* VH1 Europe
* VH1 HD
* VH1 Latin America
* VH1 MegaHits
* VH1 Soul

See also|

* Paramount Global
* Paramount Media Networks
* Paramount International Networks

* v
* t
* e

Paramount Networks EMEAA

European headquarters: Madrid
Asian headquarters: Singapore

MTV|

* Africa
* MTV Base
* France and French-speaking regions
* Germany
* Global
* Club MTV
* MTV 00s
* MTV 80s
* MTV 90s
* MTV Hits
* MTV Live
* India
* Israel
* Italy
* MTV Music
* Japan
* Netherlands
* Poland
* Portugal
* Spain
* Switzerland
* Taiwan
* UK and Ireland
* MTV 80s
* MTV 90s
* MTV Hits
* MTV Music

Nickelodeon|

* Arab world
* Africa
* Asia
* Malaysia
* Philippines
* Central/Eastern Europe
* Ukraine
* Croatia
* Serbian
* Slovenia
* Denmark
* Europe
* Flanders
* France and French-speaking Switzerland
* Nickelodeon Junior
* Nickelodeon Teen
* Germany
* Austria
* German-speaking Switzerland
* Greece
* Nickelodeon Plus
* Iberia
* Israel
* Italy
* Netherlands
* NickMusic
* Poland
* Scandinavia
* Sweden
* Turkey
* Wallonia
* Pakistan
* TeenNick

| Nick Jr.|

* Arab world
* Africa
* CIS, Ukraine and Georgia (previously Russia and Belarus)
* Germany, Austria and Switzerland
* Greece
* Italy
* Netherlands
* Portugal
* Scandinavia
* Southeast Asia
* Turkey

|

Nicktoons|

* Arab world
* Africa
* Europe
* Germany
* Netherlands
* Scandinavia

Comedy Central|

* CIS and Georgia
* Flanders
* France
* Germany
* Austrian subfeed
* Swiss subfeed
* Hungary
* Italy
* Netherlands
* Poland
* Polsat Comedy Central Extra
* Romania
* Spain
* Ukraine

Paramount|

* Paramount Network
* International
* Netherlands

Other|

* BET
* Ego
* Game One
* Hot Comedy Central
* J-One
* JV's with AMC Networks International
* CBS Europa
* CBS Reality
* Super!
* VH1

Defunct
channels|

* CBS Action Poland
* Comedy Central
* Extra
* Family Netherlands
* Sweden
* Kindernet
* MTV
* Adria
* Australia and New Zealand
* Austria
* Belgium
* Czech Republic and Slovakia
* China
* Denmark
* Eesti
* Finland
* Greece
* Hungary
* Lithuania and Latvia
* Middle East
* New Zealand
* Nordic
* Norway
* Pakistan
* Romania
* Russia, CIS and Georgia
* Sweden
* Turkey
* Ukraine
* Southeast Asia
* Indonesia
* Philippines
* Original
* MTV Pinoy
* MTVph
* Thailand
* MTV Base
* MTV Brand New
* Germany
* Italy
* Netherlands
* MTV Classic
* Australia and New Zealand
* Italy
* Poland
* Club MTV
* Australia
* MTV Hits
* Australia and New Zealand
* Italy
* MTV Idol
* MTV Music
* Greece
* Poland
* MTV Music 24
* MTV Plus
* MTV Pulse
* France
* Italy
* MTV Rocks
* MTV2 Pop
* Nickelodeon
* Russia, CIS and Georgia
* QOOB
* Spike
* Hungary
* Italy
* Russia
* UK
* TeenNick
* Italy
* Flanders
* Netherlands
* The Box
* The Music Factory
* Flanders
* Live HD
* Nederland
* TMF Dance
* TMF NL
* TMF Pure
* VH1
* Adria
* Denmark
* Europe
* Germany
* Poland
* Russia
* VH1 Classic
* VIVA
* Austria
* Germany
* Hungary

See also|

* Paramount Global
* Paramount Media Networks
* Paramount International Networks
* Paramount Networks UK & Australia
* Rainbow S.p.A. (30% stake)
* List of Paramount channels

* v
* t
* e

Paramount Networks UK & Australia

A subsidiary of Paramount Global

United Kingdom
& Ireland|

* Comedy Central1
* Comedy Central Extra
* Legend2
* Legend Xtra
* MTV
* MTV 80s
* MTV 90s
* MTV Hits
* MTV Music
* Nickelodeon
* Nicktoons
* Nick Jr.
* Nick Jr. Too
* True Crime2
* True Crime Xtra

| UK-only|

* Channel 5
* 5Action
* 5Select
* 5Star
* 5USA
* Milkshake!
* My5
* MTV Live

|

Ten Network Holdings
(Australia &
New Zealand)|

| Network 10|

* Adelaide
* Brisbane
* Melbourne
* Perth
* Sydney

|

Multichannels|

* 10 HD
* 10 Bold
* 10 Peach
* Nickelodeon
* TVSN
* gecko

Other|

* CMT
* Comedy Central
* MTV
* Classic
* Club
* Hits
* Nickelodeon (Australia and New Zealand)
* Nick Jr.
* NickMusic
* OzTAM3

Related|

* Canwest
* Network 10 programs

Defunct|

* 5Spike
* 10 daily
* BET International
* CBS Justice1
* MTV
* Base
* Classic
* Club
* Extra
* Flux
* Music
* OMG
* Rocks
* Shows
* Nicktoonsters
* Smithsonian Channel
* Spike
* Spree TV
* Ten Guide
* TMF
* VH1
* Classic
* VH2
* Viva

* 175% with Sky Group
* 2with AMC Networks International UK
* 333% with Seven Network & Nine Network

Miscellaneous
holdings|

* Bellator MMA
* Paramount Consumer Products
* Paramount Global Content Distribution
* Philo (unknown stake)
* Porta dos Fundos (51% JV)
* Viacom18 (13.01% JV)
* VidCon
* WhoSay

Defunct/former
holdings|

* AXS TV
* Blockbuster
* BNET
* CBS Cable
* CBS Eye on People
* CBS Films
* CBS Innertube
* CBS Productions
* CBS Radio
* CBS Records
* CBS Telenoticias
* CNET
* Chowhound
* CNET Video
* Download.com
* UrbanBaby
* ZDNET
* SmartPlanet
* TechRepublic
* Comedy Central Films
* DreamWorks
* Epix
* Famous Music
* FindArticles
* Free FM
* GameSpot
* GameFAQs
* GameRankings
* Giant Bomb
* GameTrailers
* Harmonix
* HDNet Movies
* IFilm
* Infinity Broadcasting
* Insurge Pictures
* King World Productions
* Metacritic
* MetroLyrics
* MovieTickets.com
* Neopets
* Nickelodeon on Sunset
* Nick Records
* onGamers
* Paramount Digital Entertainment
* Paramount Famous Productions
* Paramount Parks
* Paramount Stations Group
* Paramount Vantage
* Rainbow S.p.A. (30%)
* Bardel Entertainment
* Colorado Film
* Republic Pictures
* Simon & Schuster
* Shockwave
* Spelling Television
* TV Guide
* TV.com
* Clicker.com
* UPN
* USA Network
* VersionTracker
* VH1 Uno
* Viacom Entertainment Store
* Westinghouse Broadcasting
* Westinghouse Licensing
* Worldvision Enterprises

See also|

* Viacom (1952–2005)
* Viacom (2005–2019)
* CBS Corporation
* Gulf and Western Industries
* Paramount Communication, Inc.
* National Amusements
* Westinghouse Electric Corporation
* Criticism
* News
* United Paramount Theatres
* Television programs
* 2019 merger of CBS and Viacom
* Buildings and facilities
* CBS Broadcast Center
* CBS Building
* Ed Sullivan Theater
* One Astor Plaza
* Radford Studio Center

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