[2] On January 12, 2018, CNBC reported that Viacom had re-entered talks to merge back into CBS Corporation, after the merger plan of AT&T-Time Warner and Disney's acquisition of most 21st Century Fox assets were announced.

[6][7] On March 30, 2018, CBS Corporation made an all-stock offer slightly below Viacom's market value, insisting that its existing leadership, including long-time chairman and CEO Les Moonves, oversee the re-combined company.

Viacom rejected the offer as too low, requesting a $2.8 billion increase and that Bob Bakish be maintained as president and COO under Moonves.

National Amusements agreed to make no proposal of a CBS Corporation-Viacom merger for at least two years after the date of the settlement.

CBS Corporation's board of directors was revamped with people who were open to merging; the re-merger was made possible with the resignation of Moonves, who had opposed all merger attempts.

[19] On August 7, CBS Corporation and Viacom separately reported their quarterly earnings as the talks about the re-merger continued.

[22][23][24] Upon the merger agreement, Viacom and CBS Corporation jointly announced they expected the transaction to close by the end of 2019, pending regulatory and shareholder approvals.