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CBS Productions was the production arm of the CBS television network, now a part of CBS Corporation, formed in 1952 to produce shows in-house, instead of relying solely on outside productions. Its first production was CBS Television Workshop, a drama anthology series. It featured an early appearance of Audrey Hepburn.
Later productions of note included the Original Perry Mason, The Twilight Zone, Gunsmoke, The Wild Wild West, Hawaii Five-O, Touched by an Angel, Walker, Texas Ranger and 1998-2006 episodes of The King of Queens, the CSI franchise and season 1 of 90210.
Prior to 1978, CBS Productions was credited in its entertainment programs merely as "The CBS Television Network". From 1978-1995, the company was known as CBS Entertainment Productions.
Distribution rights to most CBS-produced entertainment programming, especially those that debuted prior to 1971, was acquired that year by Viacom Enterprises, the syndication unit of Viacom, which was created to spin out CBS's domestic syndication and cable television operations. CBS retained ownership of these programs with at least one exception—the Terrytoons library, which was acquired by Viacom with the split, as CBS saw no value in the cartoons. Viacom and CBS rejoined in 1999 with Viacom's acquisition of CBS. In 2004, CBS Productions merged with Paramount Network Television.
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