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CBS Broadcasting Inc. (CBS)
Cbs logo
Type Broadcast radio network and television network
Country United States
Availablity National
Founded by (as CBS) William S. Paley
Slogan "America's Most Watched Network"
Owner "Old" Viacom/CBS Corporation (2000-present)
Key People Leslie Moonves, Chairman of CBS
Launch Date (Television) July 1, 1941
Former names United Independent Broadcasters (1927)/ Columbia Phonographic Broadcasting System (1927–1928)

Columbia Broadcasting System (1928–1995 in official usage)

Picture format 480i (SD), 720p/1080i (HD)

CBS Broadcasting Inc. (CBS) is a major American television network. CBS started out as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the Eye Network or more simply The Eye, in reference to the shape of the company's logo. It has also been called the Tiffany Network, which alludes to the perceived high quality of CBS programming during the tenure of its founder William S. Paley (1927–1990). It can also refer to some of CBS's first demonstrations of color television, which were held in a former Tiffany & Co. building in New York City in 1950, thus earning it the name "Color broadcasting system" back when such a feat was innovative.

The network has its origins in United Independent Broadcasters Inc., a collection of 16 radio stations that was bought by William S. Paley in 1928 and renamed the Columbia Broadcasting System. Under Paley's guidance, CBS would first become one of the largest radio networks in the United States and then one of the big three American broadcast television networks. In 1974, CBS dropped its full name and became known simply as CBS, Inc. The Westinghouse Electric Corporation acquired the network in 1995 and eventually adopted the name of the company it had bought to become CBS Corporation. In 2000, CBS came under the control of Viacom, which coincidentally had begun as a spin-off of CBS in 1971. In late 2005, Viacom split itself and reestablished CBS Corporation with the CBS television network at its core. CBS Corporation and the new Viacom are controlled by Sumner Redstone through National Amusements, the parent of the two companies.

Broadcasting Medium

Ratings and Reception

Medium CBS01

A Promotional Image released by CBS during the sixth season.

After some ratings erosion during its fifth season, NBC renewed Medium for an abridged sixth season in early May 2009. However, within a week negotiations stalled over episode count and subsequently NBC decided not to renew the series despite the fact that it outperforms some of the network's renewed shows. Within 24 hours of NBC's cancellation, CBS, whose production arm produces the series, renewed the show for a full, 22-episode, sixth season, placing it in the Friday at 9:00 p.m. slot between fellow CBS in-house productions Ghost Whisperer and Numb3rs. CBS first aired this series with a rerun episode on July 21, 2009.

Medium's sxith season premiered on Friday, September 25, 2009 at 9pm and recieved 8.8 million in 5.7/10 households (two points above Ghost Whisperer) overnight, effectively winning the 9:00PM block [1]. The season continued its rating streak with the second and third episodes with 7.7 and 8.3 million viewers (5/9 and 5.2/9 households), with only a slight dip in ratings with the second episode[2] [3]. Despite the MLB playoffs, Medium's fourth episode performed well in the 9pm slot with 8 million (5.2/9)[4]. Tvbynumbers.com noted, despite boost in promotion the ratings from CBS, Medium was performing no better than Fox's last year reality series, The Ex-List.[5]. The 100th episode of Medium received a total of 8.4 million viewers, but suffered a slight ratings decrease with episodes six (7.69 million, 4.9/8)[6]. and seven (7.5 million, 4.9/9) [7]. The eighth episode saw a increase in ratings with 8.2 million [8] with a slight dip again with episodes nine (7.8 million viewers, 5.0/9 share in households)[9] and ten (6.9 million viewers, 4.4/7 households) [10].

As the sixth season drew to a close, Ghost Whisperer was considered a definite renewal, whereas Medium was once again on the bubble for renewal.[11] However, in a dramatic move from CBS, the network announced on May 18, 2010, that Medium was renewed for a seventh season, while seven other series, including Ghost Whisperer, were canceled by the network.[12] TVbytheNumbers.com speculated that the decision was made because Medium is fully owned by CBS, while Ghost Whisperer was split between CBS and ABC.[13] Upon its return in September 2010, Medium took over the Friday 8 p.m. slot vacated by Ghost Whisperer.

On October 26, 2010, CBS ordered the seventh season cut from 22 to 13 episodes.[14] On November 15, 2010, Arquette told Entertainment Weekly that the show "got canceled" and had only two more episodes to shoot. She also said the writers were excited that they would be able to end the show properly.[15] On November 18, series creator Glenn Gordon Caron posted to both the Medium Facebook page and the CBS forums, stating that the show had been canceled and that the series finale would be broadcast on January 21, 2011.[16] CBS confirmed the cancellation with a press release on December 21, 2010, which also confirmed the series finale date of January 21.[17]

External Links

References

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