Company Town

Television: Viacom Inc. will keep its prime-time TV arm running as an independent production entity under the Paramount Television Group as part of its continuing reorganization after acquiring Paramount Communications Inc. for $10 billion. Viacom Productions will continue to be led by Perry Simon, the unit’s president, who reports to Paramount Television Group Chairman Kerry McCluggage. In continuing to serve as a stand-alone company, Viacom Productions will have its own creative affairs, business affairs, production, finance, talent and public relations workers.

* Books: “The Lion King” juggernaut continues for Walt Disney Co. The animated feature is already the top-grossing movie so far this year, and it has also spawned a top-selling album. Now, sources say, “The Lion King” book published by Disney’s Mouse Works division in Burbank is expected to premiere this weekend on the New York Times bestseller list at No. 8 in the fiction category, with some 2 million copies sold to date.