Then in 1994 VIACOM bought out Blockbuster and, for payment, making Huizenga a major VIACOM stockholder.

By the beginning of 1995 Blockbuster owned 3,057 stores and franchised 1,000 more. During 1995 they expected to add 650 stores. Its 650 European stores operate under the RITZ and BLOCKBUSTER VIDEO EXPRESS names. Blockbuster stores are located in Germany, Britain, Columbia, Peru and Thailand.

VIACOM is a diversified entertainment and publishing company with five operating categories: 1) Networks and Broadcasting; 2) Entertainment; 3) Video and Music/Theme Parks; 4) Publishing; and 5) Cable Television.

Under networks/broadcasting the operate MTV, MUSIC TELEVISION, SHOWTIME, NICKELODEON/ NICK AT NITE and VHI MUSIC FIRST plus 12 TV and 12 radio stations. Under their entertainment sector, they own PARAMOUNT PICTURES, and 77% of SPELLING ENTERTAINMENT.

The BLOCKBUSTER family of businesses [BLOCKBUSTER MUSIC, DISCOVERY ZONE (49.6%), and CATAPULT ENTERTAINMENT (35%)] and PARAMOUNT PARKS (Carowinds, Great America, Kings Dominion, Kings Island, and Wonderland) plus BLOCK PARTY (new entertainment centers) make up the video/music theme park section.

Under publishing VIACOM owns SIMON & SCHUSTER, MACMILLAN, and PRENTICE HALL. Its cable segment serves 1.1 million customers but is for sale.

Salomon Bros considers VIACOM a "premier global media company with an enticing mix of retail distribution, cable programming, filmed entertainment, syndication and licensing, radio/television broadcasting, and publishing assets. This panoply of assets positions the company at the forefront of the burgeoning arena of interactive multimedia." (5/96) With over $10 billion in sales, VIACOM is a very dominant media company.