by Timothy Chew
[1] Viacom Logo
About Viacom
Viacom is an American mass media company that specialises in entertainment content in over 160 countries across television, film, mobile and online platforms. Viacom is the parent company to many of the world’s most elite entertainment brands including MTV Networks, Nickelodeon, VH1, BET Networks, Comedy Central, SPIKE, TV Land, CMT, Paramount Pictures and many more [2].
Reaching approximately 700 million global subscribers, Viacom’s media networks have become one of the largest media conglomerates in the world [3].
Television Networks
[4] Viacom’s Media Network Brands
Viacom is home to a wide variety of television networks and has successfully developed original entertainment content that has reached a diverse audience [4]. MTV is best known for producing the MTV Video Music Awards, Nickelodeon is one of the most influential television channels in children’s entertainment and Comedy Central is America’s number one comedy channel. Viacom has produced many popular television shows including MTV’s Awkward and Teen Wolf, Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants and many more [4].
Film
[5] Paramount Pictures Logo
Paramount Pictures Corporation is a film production and distribution studio that is also a subsidiary of Viacom. Paramount is the distributor for DreamWorks Animation, Marvel, MTV Films, Nickelodeon Movies, Paramount Pictures, Paramount Classics and Paramount Vantage [4]. In 2014, Paramount grossed $953.6 million, becoming the sixth highest grossing film studio in the box office [6]. Paramount has produced many major blockbusters films including “Titanic“, “Transformers“, “Forrest Gump“, “Shrek” and “Iron Man” [7].
Financials
Viacom has remained well positioned financially this year. In the fourth quarter of 2014, Viacom’s revenue has increased 9% from $3.6 billion to $3.9 billion [8]. Viacom’s Media Networks annual year-end revenue has rose significantly from $9.6 billion to 10.1 billion [8]. However, Viacom’s film entertainment’s suffered a decrease in annual year-end revenue dropping from $4.2 billion to $3.7 billion [8]. Viacom’s year-end operating income has rose to 5% to a record breaking $4.13 billion from $3.9 billion in 2013 [8].
Key Executives
[9] Philippe Dauman, President and Chief Executive Officer
[10] Thomas E. Dooley, Chief Operating Officer
[11] Wade Davis, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development
Recent News
[12] Viacom Acquires Channel 5
Viacom Closes Acquisition of UK’s Channel 5
After announcing a deal on May 1st, Viacom has closed acquisition of British’s broadcaster Channel 5 for $725 million on September 10th [12]. This deal was made to expand Viacom’s investment in its entertainment content produced in the UK. In addition, Nickelodeon will be partnering with Channel 5’s pre-school program, Milkshake. Viacom and Channel 5 will collaborate to produce a new animated series called “Nella the Knight“, their first co-production which is under Viacom’s wing [12]. Viacom and Channel 5 will co-fund “Nella the Knight“, which will be produced in the UK. Channel 5 will also air episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles [12]. Besides that, MTV UK and Channel 5 are partnering to commission a new series called 10,000 BC. In 10,000 BC, 20 participants leave the comforts of their modern life and travel back to the Stone Age. This 10 episode series is set to premiere on Channel 5 in 2015 [12].
[13] Viacom and Sony Partnership
Viacom and Sony Inks Internet Distribution Deal
Viacom announced a major programming deal with Sony to license live and on demand programming for at least 22 Viacom cable networks including Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, SPIKE, and VH1 for Sony’s cloud-based TV service [13]. This agreement marks Viacom’s first deal to provide its networks for an Internet based live TV and Video On Demand service. Sony’s new cloud-based TV service will integrate live TV content with a dynamic experience people are accustomed to look for form their network. This new service will provide access to hundreds of hours of Viacom programming to over 75 million Internet-enabled Sony devices in the U.S [14].
Releases
[15] Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, directed by Jonathan Liebasman
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” is an action comedy film that made tremendous success in the box office this summer. The film was produced by highly acclaimed “Transformers” producer Michael Bay and directed by Jonathan Liebasman. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” was a recreation of the original comic series. On its opening weekend, this summer blockbuster locked in a staggering $65 million [16]. Since its release, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” has made $191 million in the US and $286 million in the international market. This film surprisingly remained number 1 in the box office on its first two weeks of release [16].Unlike many films released this summer, this film managed to surpass its budget within 3 weeks of its release, proving to be a major success [16].
[17] Interstellar, directed by Christopher Nolan
Interstellar
“Interstellar” is a Sci-Fi thriller starring Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway. The film is based on a team of explorers who travel to space on an adventure to search for a habitable planet that could potentially save the human race [17 . The film was director by Christopher Nolan. Unfortunately, “Interstellar” failed to reach its predicted $50 million on its opening weekend, and only made $47.5 million instead [18]. Although, “Interstellar” has not done quite as well domestically by only making $138 million since its premiere, it has been a major success in the foreign market making a whopping $331 million, surpassing its $165 million budget. Since its opening weekend, the film has made over $468 million worldwide proving to be a global success [19].
Upcoming Releases
[20] Eye Candy, MTV’s New Thriller
MTV Announces New Scripted Thriller
MTV announced a new scripted thriller series called “Eye Candy.” The new series is based on R.L Stine’s popular novel “Eye Candy.” The series is produced by Jason Blum and Catherine Hardwicke. “Eye Candy” revolves around tech genius, Lindy who is played by Victoria Justice [21]. Lindy begins online dating and suspects one of her strange suitors to be a potential serial killer. Lindy then partners with a team of hackers to solve these mysterious murders on the streets of New York. “Eye Candy” is an 10-episode, hour-long thriller that is set to premiere on January 12, 2015 [21].
Trailer [22].
[23] Mission Impossible 5, directed by Christopher McQuarrie
Mission Impossible To Release Fifth Film
The fifth instalment of the Mission Impossible franchise is hitting theatres next winter. The film is directed by Christopher McQuarrie and written by Drew Pearce. “Mission Impossible 5” is produced by Paramount and J.J Abrams’ Production Company, Bad Robot. In “Mission Impossible 5“, Tom Cruise will be returning to his role of Ethan Hunt. The previous film, “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol” set the record very high after grossing a staggering $695 million globally [24]. Mission Impossible 5 is set to release on December 25th, 2015. The film’s trailer has not been released [25].
Sources
[1] Viacom’s Logo, Variety.com, RT: 11/30/2014
[2] About Viacom, Viacom.com, RT: 11/30/2014
[3] “Advertising Revenue Drive Media Networks Business“, Marketrealist.com, RT: 11/30/2014
[4] Viacom Brands, Viacom.com, RT: 11/30/2014
[5] Paramount Pictures’s Logo, Paramountguilds.com, RT: 11/30/2014
[6] Studio Market Share, Boxofficemojo.com, RT: 11/30/2014
[7] Paramount’s All Time Box Office Results, Boxofficemojo.com, RT: 11/30/2014
[8] Viacom’s Fiscal Report 2014, Viacom.com, RT: 11/30/2014
[9] Philippe Dauman, Viacom.com, RT: 11/30/2014
[10] Thomas E. Dooley, Viacom.com, RT: 11/30/2014
[11] Wade Davis,Viacom.com, RT: 11/30/2014
[12] Viacom Closes Acquisition of Channel 5, Viacom.com, RT: 11/30/2014
[13] Viacom and Sony Partnership,Viacom.com, RT: 11/30/2014
[14] Viacom Inks Pact with Sony, Variety.com, 9/10/2014, RT: 11/30/2014
[15] Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Poster, Teenagemutantninjaturtlesmovie.com, RT: 11/30/2014
[16] Box Office Results, Boxofficemojo.com, RT: 11/30/2014
[17] Interstellar Poster, Interstellar-movie.com, RT: 11/30/2014
[18] “Interstellar Final Box Office Fails to Hit $50 Million Estimates”, Variety.com, 11/10/2014, RT: 11/30/2014
[19] Box Office Results, Boxofficemojo.com, RT: 11/30/2014
[20] Eye Candy Poster, Hollywoordreporter.com, 11/02/2014, RT: 11/30/2014
[21] MTV’s New Scripted Thriller, Viacom.com, RT: 11/30/2014
[22] Eye Candy Trailer, Youtube.com, RT: 11/30/2014
[23] Mission Impossible 5 Poster, Screenrant.com, RT: 11/30/2014
[24] Box Office Results, Boxofficemojo.com, RT: 11/30/2014
[25] “Mission: Impossible 5 to Hit Theaters in December 2015”, Hollywoodreporter.com, 11/13/2014, RT: 11/30/2014