Viacom (the OTHER part of the old Viacom, the one that doesn't hold any interest in Paramount Parks) is still considering a China theme park:

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/04/26/business/viacom.php

Go figure.

Wow now that sounds weird. If Viacom wanted to stay in the park business, why did they give Paramount Parks to CBS, who know wants out. You think Viacom would still want the Paramount Parks. This is nuts.

Wow now that sounds weird. If Viacom wanted to stay in the park business, why did they give Paramount Parks to CBS, who know wants out. You think Viacom would still want the Paramount Parks. This is nuts.

That would be insane if Viacom ends up buying the parks from CBS. What a waste of time!

That would be crazy. What would even be the point. Unless it's a way for CBS to earn revenue. Who knows.

I think the new Viacom sees major growth opportunities in the China theme park business, but sees the US business as mature...(as in very slow to no growth).

I am not sure that I can disagree!

I agree. It is ironic to give up its North American theme parks, which produce reliable income, and enter the risky business of opening a theme park in China.

I agree. It is ironic to give up its North American theme parks, which produce reliable income, and enter the risky business of opening a theme park in China.

Not only is the potential reward (and risk) higher in China, but to the average investor, China theme parks are "sexy," which investments in US theme parks certainly are NOT. (Even if Bill Gates does invest in them!)

yeah...China and India both are the hot markets right now. I'm surprised that no one has built a park in India yet... (Yes, India still has terrible poverty, but they also have a middle class bigger than the entire US population.) I have an Indian friend whose family business is a movie studio...I keep telling him to tell his Dad that they need to get into the theme park business

What I think is really odd about that article is that it never mentioned the fact that Viacom had previously owned a theme park division...

Back when they started talking about this it was investors in China putting up the money for it. It was like buying a Paramount Park franchise deal. Viacom would be at risk of only making money from it.

This is nothing new they have been talking about this for around 4 or 5 years now.

Just a thought but if these investors want one Paramount Park why not sell them all to them. The 7 billion sounds like a little much for one park to me. 7 billion would build 7 Universal IOA parks.

Captain, there is something called "vicarious liability." If Paramount's name is on that property, they could potentially be held liable for any incidents that occur there. The theory is that the plaintiff trusted the park in part because they trusted the Paramount name and either considered it an endorsement or thought Paramount owned and operated it. Also that if Paramount is going to share in the profits in exchange for lending its name, it cannot totally evade liability. Whether or not that true is under Chinese law, who knows?

Here in the USA there is something called DBA Doing Business As. I don't know if they have a liability when it is done this way. I don't think the Chinese have any rights so if they get hurt there they are on their own.

If the case is as you say it would be like OCC would have a liability with a American Chopper toy that someone else made because it had their name on it.

Here in the USA there is something called DBA Doing Business As. I don't know if they have a liability when it is done this way. I don't think the Chinese have any rights so if they get hurt there they are on their own.

If the case is as you say it would be like OCC would have a liability with a American Chopper toy that someone else made because it had their name on it.

Speaking as a claims rep I can pretty much guarantee that OCC would be put on notice of a suit; even if not able to be collected from.