CBS Corporation Becomes Worldwide Distributor Of CSI, The World’s Most Successful Television Franchise

CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS) will assume control of all international television distribution for the CSI franchise, effective immediately, with the closing of a 2007 agreement with GS Capital Partners, a private equity fund managed by Goldman, Sachs & Co. GS Capital Partners had previously purchased Alliance Atlantis’ financial interest in the CSI franchise, and will remain 50/50 partners with CBS in the franchise.



CBS Paramount International Television, a division of CBS Corporation, will take over existing international agreements and will be responsible for all future sales around the world of the three CSI series.



The CSI franchise is a global phenomenon which consists of CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, CSI: MIAMI and CSI: NY. The three series enjoy impressive ratings in the U.S. and abroad. CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION is the number one scripted series in America; it joins CSI: MIAMI and CSI: NY in ranking number one in their respective time periods and placing in the top 10 of all drama series on U.S. television. Internationally, all three series of the CSI franchise currently rank among the top 20 U.S. series in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. Each series in the franchise is licensed in over 180 territories.



“We are thrilled to be able to add the world’s most popular franchise to our portfolio,” commented Armando Nuñez, Jr., President, CBS Paramount International Television. “Alliance Atlantis did a fantastic job selling the CSI series around the world and we look forward to continuing to work with broadcasters worldwide to maintain and expand the success in their territories. The opportunities for this franchise are endless as we collaborate with current and potential buyers to find new windows and new technologies to satisfy the viewer demand for these series.”



“We are pleased to strengthen our partnership with CBS in the CSI franchise. We have tremendous respect for their worldwide distribution capabilities and resources, and believe that this further collaboration will enhance the value of our combined ownership in this very unique media property for years to come,” said Gerry Cardinale, a managing director and head of media investments for GS Capital Partners.





The CSI franchise is produced by CBS Paramount Network Television and GS Capital Partners-owned Alliance Atlantis Productions, in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Television. CBS Television Distribution has sold the domestic syndication rights to the franchise within the U.S. since the inception of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation in October of 2000.



About CBS Paramount International Television

CBS Paramount International Television is one of the most diverse suppliers of current and library programming to the international television marketplace featuring drama, comedy, talk, court, game shows, reality, entertainment news, news and movies of the week from a catalog of over 70,000 hours. Programming from CPITV can be seen in over 200 countries and in more than 30 languages. Additionally, the Division supervises the development and production of television programming customized for the international marketplace and producing product with international partners. CPITV offers programming from CBS Paramount Network Television, CBS Television Distribution, CBS Productions, King World Productions, Showtime, CBS News and Spelling Television.





About CBS Corporation

CBS Corporation is a mass media company with constituent parts that reach back to the beginnings of the broadcast industry, as well as newer businesses that operate on the leading edge of the media industry. The Company, through its many and varied operations, combines broad reach with well-positioned local businesses, all of which provide it with an extensive distribution network by which it serves audiences and advertisers in all 50 states and key international markets. It has operations in virtually every field of media and entertainment, including broadcast television (CBS and The CW – a joint venture between CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment), cable television (Showtime and CSTV Networks), local television (CBS Television Stations), television production and syndication (CBS Paramount Network Television and CBS Television Distribution), radio (CBS Radio), advertising on out-of-home media (CBS Outdoor), publishing (Simon & Schuster), interactive media (CBS Interactive), music (CBS Records), licensing and merchandising (CBS Consumer Products), video/DVD (CBS Home Entertainment), in-store media (CBS Outernet) and motion pictures (CBS Films). For more information, log on to www.cbscorporation.com.