Related Party Transactions

6 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2011

Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Abstract]

Related Party Transactions

NOTE 8. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

National Amusements, Inc. (“NAI”), directly and through a wholly-owned subsidiary, is the controlling stockholder of both Viacom and CBS Corporation (“CBS”). Sumner M. Redstone, the controlling shareholder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NAI, serves as our Executive Chairman and Founder and as the Executive Chairman and Founder of CBS. Shari Redstone, who is Sumner Redstone's daughter, is the President and a director of NAI, and serves as non-executive Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of both Viacom and CBS. George Abrams, one of the Company's directors, serves on the boards of both NAI and Viacom, and Frederic Salerno, another of the Company's directors, serves on the boards of both Viacom and CBS. Philippe Dauman, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, also serves on the boards of both NAI and Viacom.Transactions between Viacom and related parties are overseen by the Company's Governance and Nominating Committee.

Viacom and NAI Related Party Transactions

NAI licenses films in the ordinary course of business for its motion picture theaters from all major studios, including Paramount. During the six months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011,Paramount earned revenues from NAI in connection with these licenses in the aggregate amounts of approximately $11million and$12 million,respectively.

Viacom and CBS Corporation Related Party Transactions

In the ordinary course of business, the Company is involved in transactions with CBS and its various businesses that result in the recognition of revenues and expenses by Viacom. Transactions with CBS are settled in cash.

Paramount earns revenues and recognizes expenses associated with the distribution of certain television products into the home entertainment market on behalf of CBS. Under the terms of the agreement, Paramount is entitled to retain a fee based on a percentage of gross receipts and is generally responsible for all out-of-pocket costs, which are recoupableprior to any participation payments to CBS. Paramount also earns revenues from CBS through leasing of studio space and licensing of certain film products. Additionally, the Media Networks segment recognizes advertising revenues from CBS.

The Media Networks segment purchases television programming from CBS. The cost of such purchases is initially recorded as acquired program rights inventory and amortized over the estimated period that revenues will be generated. Both of the Company's segments recognize advertising expenses related to the placement of advertisements with CBS.

The following table summarizes the transactions with CBS as included in the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements:

		Quarter Ended			Six Months Ended
CBS Related Party Transactions		March 31,			March 31,
(in millions)		2012		2011	2012		2011
Consolidated Statements of Earnings
Revenues	$	54	$	79	$	144	$	187
Operating expenses	$	72	$	96	$	181	$	226
					March 31,		September 30,
					2012		2011
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Accounts receivable					$	5	$	6
Other assets						1		1
Total due from CBS					$	6	$	7
Accounts payable					$	3	$	1
Participants' share and residuals, current						162		162
Program rights obligations, current						94		73
Program rights obligations, noncurrent						185		243
Other liabilities						33		37
Total due to CBS					$	477	$	516

Other Related Party Transactions

In the ordinary course of business, the Company is involved in related party transactions with equity investees, principally related to investments in unconsolidated variable interest entities (“VIEs”). These related party transactions primarily relate to the provision of advertising services, licensing of film and programming content, distribution of films and provision of certain administrative support services for which the impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements is as follows:

		Quarter Ended			Six Months Ended
Other Related Party Transactions		March 31,			March 31,
(in millions)		2012		2011	2012		2011
Consolidated Statements of Earnings
Revenues	$	57	$	48	$	117	$	86
Operating expenses	$	35	$	22	$	53	$	31
Selling, general and administrative	$	(4)	$	(4)	$	(8)	$	(8)
					March 31,		September 30,
					2012		2011
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Accounts receivable					$	97	$	88
Other assets						1		2
Total due from other related parties					$	98	$	90
Accounts payable					$	14	$	32
Other liabilities						11		10
Total due to other related parties					$	25	$	42

All other related party transactions are not material in the periods presented.