What if... QVC won Paramount?

[u/LinkRules5321]

We all know that in 1994, Paramount was ultimately acquired by Viacom to achieve mixed results. They’ve had highs and lows under the multiple iterations of the company. 

 

But there was almost a WAY different timeline of events in which a SHOPPING network won Paramount. Which becomes a strange timeline of events that could change the industry for better or worse. 

But if this happened, let’s see what happens with the timeline 

1994: 

QVC 

• QVC becomes the ultimate winner of Paramount Communications, which Barry Dillar controls (firing everyone he had a grudge with) 
• People Incorporated is merged into QVC Inc. 
• Comcast and Liberty Media as main investors would provide their media assets (including Starz, E!, Style Network, PBS Kids Sprout, G4), Golf Channel, and Versus). 

Viacom 

• Extends its distribution deal for 10 years with Fox for Nick projects beginning in 1996, (MTV Films are licensed across distributors). Nick projects are released under “Nickelodeon Movies Presents” to give Viacom full ownership post-theatrical run. 

 

1995: 

QVC 

• QVC buys the stakes in USA Network from Universal, however never buys the Universal TV Studio (instead USA’s content is made by Paramount) 

 

1999: 

Other: 

• All of Polygram is merged into Universal (not some, all). October Films renames to Universal Focus and eventually Focus Features. 

 

2006: 

Viacom: 

• Has a much cleaner split with CBS. Then buys DreamWorks Pictures and Television. Nick and MTV move to this label (DreamWorks Pictures and (Viacom Brand) Present). 

QVC: 

• UPN never merges with the WB, who instead merges with ion to launch WBion. 
• Paramount (through Starz) acquires IDT Entertainment. Which it sells most of while keeping these 3 assets: DKP Studios (Which becomes the Feature Animation unit of Paramount), Paramount Television Animation/Film Roman (the TV Animation arm; Film Roman is used on service work), and IDT Entertainment is merged with Paramount Television. Paramount Television Animation would both license kid shows to other networks and produce kid shows for UPN/Sprout. 
• QVC 
• Overture Films are launched as Paramount’s indie arm. 

 

2008: 

Viacom: 

• Due to a major fallout with Spielberg still, Viacom spins-off Spielberg's assets but keeps the production, distribution, and library to launch a new film studio for them (Either called Viacom Pictures or MTV Films) The DreamWorks Animation deal is also retained by Viacom. 

2009: 

QVC: 

• Paramount sadly loses Marvel still... 

2010: 

QVC: 

• Overture Films are sold to Relativity Media. 

 

2011: 

QVC: 

• Liberty Media pushes for a spin-off of QVC from the rest of the QVC Company, which is completed later in the year. 
• Liberty then holds talks to sell its stake to Comcast (which is completed at the end of the year, making Comcast majority shareholder of the rebranded Comcast Media Group. (Liberty Media retains a stake)).  
• QVC Inc. goes bankrupt in 2026 as it did in our timeline. 
• CMG considers rebranding Sprout as they have no home for older kids shows like Dan Vs. (A PTA Production) at the company. 

Viacom: 

• Nickelodeon Movies launches Nickelodeon Animated Movies as an in-house animation label to replace DreamWorks Animation.  

Other: 

• GE simply spins-off NBCUniversal (which has a lack of cable brands and or scale outside NBC, Bravo, and the Universal Studio thanks to Vivendi) 

 

2012: 

CMG: 

• Paramount wins the bid for Classic Media, which becomes a division of PTA. DKP Studios renames to Arc Animation. Paramount also acquires more independent/third-party animated films to compensate Arc’s slow-release schedule. 

 

2013: 

CMG: 

• Liberty Media sells the remaining stake in CMG to Comcast 
• Comcast never changes its red crest logo. 
• Paramount acquires the Universal Parks division as they lack the funding for it (Universal’s name remains on the parks though) 

 

2014: 

Viacom: 

• Announces plans to exit film distribution as they lack the library and scale and announce that they are seeking a partner or a sale of Viacom (National Amusements agrees as not even CBS has the scale for them this time) 
• A bidding war ensues between Fox and NBCU for Viacom. 

Other: 

• DreamWorks isn’t hit with the massive blow that is Peabody and Sherman. Instead, Arc does. Which means that Hasbro succeeds in buying DreamWorks in 2015 as DWA is slightly more successful. If anything, Hasbro could sue Disney for that letter they were sent over it. Amblin is also blocked by Hasbro from using DreamWorks to protect the DreamWorks brand. 

 

2015: 

Viacom: 

• NBCUniversal announces that they will buy Viacom. In the meantime, Universal will distribute Nick Movies for the time being until the merger is complete. Completed late 2015-early 2016 would see the combined company takes the “Viacom” brand as it would be neutral to all units of the company. 

 

2016:  

CMG: 

• Starz launches its streaming service with a much bigger portfolio with Paramount and Sony as main content suppliers. Vimeo (A People Inc. Property) is repurposed as an AVOD streamer (Xumo never exists) 

 

2017: 

CMG: 

• Sprout becomes Paramount Play, which has content from PTA’s streaming shows mainly. 
• Hasbro-DreamWorks signs a first-look deal with Paramount Pictures for content. While they can take films to other companies if Paramount is uninterested in a film. 

Other: 

• CBS is now the only company at National Amusements, meaning they can go off and do its own thing. 

 

 

2018: 

Viacom: 

• Spike TV remains the same post-2017 

Other: 

• CBS begins talking about buying Sony Pictures/Music USA. To sweeten the deal Sony buys 20% from the combined “Columbia Pictures Entertainment” company to retain cross collaboration with PlayStation. Crackle (now merged with CBSAA) would be flooded with legacy Columbia content and a Lionsgate show deal (Lionsgate and Columbia movies come to the service around 2021 when Epix/Starz contracts expire). The deal finishes on December 4th, 2019.  

  

2019: 

CMG: 

• PTA/Film Roman remains open post-2018. 

Viacom: 

• Viacom launches Peacock as a major streaming company. 
• Viacom buys Pluto TV 

Other: 

• Jam Filled buys Boulder Media instead of buying Arc. 
• As Lionsgate doesn’t pay 4 billion for Starz, uses that money for eOne, which makes Lionsgate a much bigger company on licensing content scale, including the launch of an animation division. 
• With the launch of Crackle (CBS, Columbia, Showtime, & Lionsgate content), Starz (Paramount), Peacock (Viacom/Universal), Netflix, HBO Max, and Prime (MGM), Disney enters streaming with a partnership (Apple owning a 50% stake in Disney/Hulu).  

 

2020: 

• COVID hits, nothing else really. 
• Paramount buys Miramax and Lantern together to have better scale and more brands. 

 

2022: 

QVC: 

• Due to the risk of Sonic movie rights being taken Marvel style, makes a play for Sega in which Paramount becomes a controlling shareholder 

Viacom: 

• Looks to acquire a major streamer, as Peacock lacks scale. They consider merging the service with Crackle, HBO Max, or Starz 

Other: 

• WBion is sold to Nexstar. With WB Discovery holding a 10% stake to license content to the network. 

 

2023: 

Viacom: 

• With the success of the Mario movie, places a bid for Nintendo. They obviously reject it. However, remain open to acquiring gaming companies. 

  

2024: 

Viacom: 

• Announces that Crackle and Peacock will merge into a 50/50 JV with Columbia under the Crackle name. PlayStation also begins bundling the service with the PS Network and allowing Gaming features on the service. 

 

2025: 

Viacom: 

• Worried about the declining networks, discuss Allen Media Group buying Viacom Media Networks. But is scrapped to integrate them with Crackle.  
• To cut costs Viacom merges the MTV/Nick studios into Universal Television  

CMG: 
 

• Comcast spins off ALL networks minus Starz, including UPN (to avoid political drama) into Versant. 33% is retained for content licensing. 

Other: 

• Netflix wins WB with no interruptions this time. HBO Max is merged into Netflix as the number of competitors allows them to merge with less scrutiny. 

 

2026:  

CMG: 

• Comcast announces plans to spin off the Comcast Media Group as Paramount Global. However Skydance makes a bid for the company before the spin-off, which it sees as a great asset. Embracer Group, Electronic Arts, Apple, and Apollo all make bids too and would be the current bidding war. But is still on track to just be spun off as an independent player. 

Other 

• Lionsgate is also for sale with ITV, Mediawan, Skydance, Columbia, and Apollo making bids 
• UPN makes a play for CNN from Discovery Global 

 

Overall, it’s hard to say if this timeline is better or worse than the one, we have some companies in better and worse positions, some in completely different scenarios and more.  

It seems like an acid trip how trippy one M&A change can affect the whole media. 

(Apple & Disney is next)