Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment

Categories: Media companies of the United States | Television stubs

Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment Company (WASEC) was a joint venture run by Warner Communications and American Express. In 1984, Warner acquired Amex's other half in the company.

WASEC was primarily known for its key assets, MTV, Nickelodeon, VH1, Showtime, and The Movie Channel.

In 1985, after Viacom purchased WASEC from Warner, it was split into two strategic divisions under the Viacom umbrella (which still remains to this day).

The divisions are:

• MTV Networks including
  • MTV
  • MTV2
  • MTV Latino
  • Comedy Central
  • Nickelodeon/Nick At Nite
  • TV Land
  • The-N
  • Noggin
  • Nickelodeon GAS
  • Nicktoons TV
  • VH1
  • Logo
  • CMT
  • Spike TV

• Showtime Networks including
  • Showtime
  • The Movie Channel
  • The Sundance Channel (co-owned between Robert Redford, Viacom, and NBC Universal)

Following the expected spin-off of the new CBS Corporation from Viacom, Showtime will be owned by CBS, while Viacom will continue to own MTV Networks.