Showtime Networks (1983)

Showtime Networks, Inc. is the corporate division of media conglomerate CBS Corporation.

The company was established in 1983 as Showtime/The Movie Channel, Inc. after Viacom and Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment merged their premium channels, Showtime and The Movie Channel respectively, into one division. In 1984, American Express sold their interest in Warner-Amex to Warner Communications making Warner the new half-owner of Showtime/TMC. In 1985, Warner sold its half-interest to Viacom, making the company wholly owned division of Viacom. In 1988, the company was renamed Showtime Networks, Inc.

SNI along with CBS, The CW Television Network , Viacom Outdoor, Spelling Television, CBS Television Studios , CBS Television Distribution , CBS Studios International , Simon and Schuster and other entities became part of CBS Corporation when CBS officially split from Viacom in December 2005. SNI managed the CBS, Robert Redford and NBC Universal joint venture Sundance Channel until 2008, when it was sold to Cablevision's Rainbow Media.