Paramount: Viacom Inc. said Thursday that it...

Paramount: Viacom Inc. said Thursday that it has received the $1.25-billion infusion it needs from video rental giant Blockbuster Entertainment Corp. to take control of Paramount Communications Inc. Blockbuster, which will ultimately be acquired by Viacom as part of the three-way merger, receives 23 million shares of Viacom’s Class B common stock for its money. An agreement by the Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based company to put its money into the deal played a key role in enabling Viacom to defeat a rival bid for Paramount by home shopping channel QVC Network Inc. Blockbuster shareholders are expected to vote next month or in May on the company’s acquisition by Viacom.