Viacom

Viacom "is a leading media conglomerate with an extensive portfolio of cable TV and film production assets. Its MTV Networks unit runs such cable networks as Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and the family of MTV channels (MTV, MTV2, VH1). Viacom also owns Black Entertainment Television, which airs programming on BET, BET Gospel, and BET Hip Hop. In the film business, Viacom operates through Paramount Pictures, which includes the DreamWorks imprint. Chairman Sumner Redstone controls a majority of Viacom through his National Amusements movie theater chain."

At the end of 2005 CBS was separated from Viacom. Viacom Chairman Sumner Redstone still has more than 70% voting control over CBS through his National Amusements cinema chain.

Background

During 2003-4, Viacom refused to run advertisements of MoveOn.org [1], [2], [3]

• In February 2003, the grass-roots advocacy group-solicited donations from its email members to raise $75,000 to place an anti-war ad on billboards in four major American markets. The group claims that they raised the amount from members in two hours. When they approached Viacom Outdoor -- a division of Viacom and the largest outdoor-advertising entity in North America -- the company refused to post the ads, according to MoveOn.
• In March 2003 MTV, another Viacom-owned entity, refused to accept a commercial opposing war in Iraq, citing a similar policy against advocacy spots that it says protects the channel from having to run ads from any cash-rich interest group whose cause may be loathsome. The youth-oriented music station regularly airs recruitment ads for the U.S. Army.
• In January 2004, CBS rejected a request from MoveOn to air, during the forthcoming SuperBowl event, a 30-second ad that criticizes the Bush administration's run-up of the federal deficit, saying that it violated the network's policy against accepting "advocacy advertising" [sic].
  • At the same time, CBS is allowing ads placed on the docket by the White House's anti-drug office. According to Adage.com, Super Bowl 2004 will also include product spots for AOL, Bayer and GlaxoSmithKline, DaimlerChrysler, FedEx, FritoLay, GM, H&R Block, Monster WorldWide, the NFL, Pepsi Cola, Philip Morris, Procter & Gamble, Sony Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Universal Studios, Visa USA, and Warner Brothers.

Political contributions

Viacom gave $149,000 to federal candidates in the 2006 election cycle through its political action committee - 37% to Democrats and 63% to Republicans.

Lobbying

Open Secrets gives the total lobbying expenses in 2006 for Viacom plus CBS as $6,915,000.

Personnel

Key executives with 2007 pay:

• Sumner M. Redstone, Founder and Executive Chairman, $16,436,125 (also exercised $28,904,000 in options)
• Philippe P. Dauman, Chief Executive Officer, President, $11,190,049
• Tom Dooley, Chief Financial Officer, Senior Executive Vice President, $2,400,000 (2006)
• Michael D. Fricklas, Executive Vice President, $4,100,079
• Judy McGrath, Chairman of MTV Networks and CEO of MTV Networks

Selected board members:

• Shari Redstone, Non-Executive Vice Chair of the Board
• Robert K. Kraft, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Kraft Group, which includes the New England Patriots
• Frederic V. Salerno, Retired Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of Verizon

Contact details

1515 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
Phone: 212-258-6000
Fax: 212-258-6464
Web: http://www.viacom.com

SourceWatch Resources

• echo chamber
• globalization
• media control
• media reform
• TV Watch
• Ellen V. Futter - former board member
• Ralph Baruch

External Resources

• Corporate Website viacom.com with links to its subsidiaries and components
• Profile at openairwaves.org
• Viacom Corporate Timeline at CJR