or


[06/15/05 - 12:00 AM]
Viacom Board of Directors Approves Creation of Two Publicly Traded Companies Following Spin-Off

[via press release from Viacom]

Viacom Board Of Directors Approves Creation Of Two Publicly Traded Companies Following Spin-Off

Tax-Free Spin-Off to Maximize Long-Term Potential of Businesses and Highlight Value of Leading Entertainment Brands

NEW YORK, June 14, 2005 -- Sumner M. Redstone, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), announced today that the Company�s Board of Directors has unanimously approved the creation of two separate publicly traded companies from the Company�s leading entertainment brands through a spin-off to Viacom stockholders.

The transaction will result in stockholders holding shares in both companies, and is expected to be tax-free to shareholders. Following the spin-off, which is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2006, Sumner Redstone will serve as Chairman and will be the controlling shareholder of the companies, which will both be headquartered in New York.

Viacom also announced that the Board of Directors has named Shari Redstone to the newly created position of Non-Executive Vice Chairman of the Board. Ms. Redstone, President of National Amusements Inc., has been a member of the Viacom Board since 1994. Additionally, in line with its ongoing corporate governance initiatives, the Company announced that Frederic V. Salerno, a member of the Viacom Board since 1994 and former Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of Verizon Communications Inc., has been appointed to the newly created position of Lead Independent Director. The appointment reflects Mr. Salerno�s role as Chair of the Board�s Nominating and Governance Committee.

Mr. Redstone said, �Today we celebrate our past successes by stepping forward to embrace the future. This transaction is the logical extension of the strategic vision that created Viacom and recognizes the inherent diversity of our assets as well as the changing business environment. We believe that this transaction will enable Viacom shareholders to fully benefit from the important gains we realized in building this Company by fully unlocking our significant untapped potential and creating new opportunities to build on our leadership positions, maximize earnings growth and fully exploit our considerable strengths.�

�I want to commend the Viacom Board of Directors and the Viacom management team for the careful and thorough strategic analysis that led to this important decision,� Mr. Redstone added. �The decision to create two new companies was the result of intense study by the Board, which worked closely with the Company�s management and carefully analyzed all strategic options before reaching its conclusion. The Board believes the transaction will result in two strong, focused and nimble companies, and will better enable management to directly impact and maximize the strengths of their respective businesses. Additionally, the Board believes that the transaction will provide current and potential stockholders with attractive investment options that are more closely aligned with their various investment objectives.�

Mr. Redstone added that the Board has formed a Special Committee, which he will chair, that will assist and monitor the process of creating the two companies. Also serving on the Committee will be Viacom Board members Shari Redstone, Frederic Salerno and Philippe Dauman. Ms. Redstone will serve as Vice Chairman of the Committee.

The new company created through the tax-free spin-off will retain the Viacom Inc. name and will be led by Mr. Freston. The new Viacom will be comprised of MTV Networks (including MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Comedy Central, CMT: Country Music Television, Spike TV, TV Land and many other networks around the world), BET, Paramount Pictures, Paramount Home Entertainment and Famous Music. The other company, to be called CBS Corporation, will be led by Mr. Moonves and will combine the CBS and UPN broadcast networks, Viacom Television Stations Group, Infinity Broadcasting, Viacom Outdoor, the CBS, Paramount and King World television production and syndication operations, as well as Showtime, Simon & Schuster and Paramount Parks. Additional announcements regarding specific details on the two new companies, including financial structures, management teams and a more detailed timetable for the process, will be made over the next several weeks.

�The new Viacom and CBS will have highly complementary business portfolios, leadership positions in their industries and superior management teams that have direct incentives to create greater shareholder value. In addition, each company will have distinct capital structures designed to generate higher returns. Under the leadership of Tom Freston and Leslie Moonves, shareholders of each company will benefit from more focused long-term and individualized approaches that will amplify the significant strengths of the respective businesses.

�The new Viacom will focus on organic expansion through the creation of cutting-edge content, unrivaled brands, specialized and highly desirable demographics and the continuing expansion of delivery platforms,� Mr. Redstone added. �We anticipate that this company�s stock will attract a higher trading multiple that can in turn be used for targeted acquisitions in promising areas. With the increased importance of wireless, online and video gaming businesses, the ability of the new Viacom to be opportunistic will be a distinct and powerful advantage. Additionally, we believe that the new Viacom�s significant cash flow generation will provide the opportunity for significant share repurchases.�

�The new CBS will be a strong generator of free cash flow with industry-leading positions across television and radio broadcasting, television production and out-of-home advertising. With industry leading positions in content creation and delivery, CBS will be extraordinarily well-positioned to maximize existing opportunities and execute on new areas designed to create value. Importantly, this company will also have the financial capability to return significant capital to stockholders through dividend payments and stock repurchases.�

Viacom is a leading global media company, with preeminent positions in broadcast and cable television, radio, outdoor advertising, and online. With programming that appeals to audiences in every demographic category across virtually all media, the company is a leader in the creation, promotion, and distribution of entertainment, news, sports, music, and comedy. Viacom�s well-known brands include CBS, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, VH1, BET, Paramount Pictures, Infinity Broadcasting, Viacom Outdoor, UPN, TV Land, Comedy Central, CMT: Country Music Television, King World, Spike TV, Showtime, Paramount Parks, and Simon & Schuster. More information about Viacom and its businesses is available at www.viacom.com.

Information About the Transaction

In connection with the proposed transaction, Viacom intends to file a Registration Statement on Form S-4 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors and securityholders are urged to read the Registration Statement and related materials that are filed with the SEC when they become available, because they will contain important information about the proposed transaction. Investors and securityholders will be able to obtain copies of these documents, and other documents containing information about Viacom, without charge, at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains both historical and forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather reflect the Company�s current expectations concerning future results and events. Similarly, statements that describe our objectives, plans or goals are or may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be different from any future results, performance and achievements expressed or implied by these statements. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made only as of the date of this document, and, under section 27A of the Securities Act and section 21E of the Exchange Act, we do not have any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.





  [june 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[10/06/26 - 10:03 AM]
Video: Tubi Drops Trailer for New Original Docuseries "Just One Before I Die" Featuring an Inside Look at the Buffalo Bills Fanbase
The five-episode docuseries features interviews with Chad Michael Murray, Dion Dawkins, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jim Kelly, Andre Reed, Adam Schefter, Nick Wright, and more.

[10/06/26 - 10:00 AM]
Video: Date, Trailer, Key Art Debut - Hulu's "Swipe Right on the Devil"
"Swipe Right on the Devil" premieres October 22 with all three episodes on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the US and on Disney+ internationally.

[10/06/26 - 09:48 AM]
Nashville Sets the Stage for New Season of HGTV's Hit Home Renovation Competition Series "Rock the Block" Slated for 2027
"Rock the Block," which attracted 16.4 million viewers across linear and streaming to its last run, will feature seven fresh episodes hosted by popular carpenter, craftsman and design expert Ty Pennington.

[10/06/26 - 09:20 AM]
Acorn TV Welcomes Frasier's Peri Gilpin as Guest Star in Highly Successful Brooke Shields-led Murder Mystery, "You're Killing Me"
Gilpin will guest star as Allie's (Shields) sister, Audra Chandler, a critically acclaimed writer with more awards than William Faulkner.

[10/06/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Peacock Debuts Official Trailer & New Images for "The Good Daughter"
Rose Byrne, Meghann Fahy, Brendan Gleeson, Olivia Williams, and Harper Steele star in the series, premiering November 12.

[10/06/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "All the Queen's Men" - Season 5 Part 2 - Official Trailer - Paramount+
With Madam's (Eva Marcille) life hanging by a thread and the shooter still at large, the dancers of Eden are left shaken and uncertain.

[10/06/26 - 09:00 AM]
New Docuseries "The Boy Who Stole Billions?" with Exclusive Interviews from Crypto FTX Founder Sam Bankman-Fried Coming to Prime Video
The three-part docuseries from Propagate will premiere in November.

[10/06/26 - 07:29 AM]
WWE Money in the Bank Streams Saturday, October 10 Exclusively on the ESPN App with ESPN Unlimited Plan
ESPN will also debut the WWE Money in the Bank Special on Wednesday, October 7, at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

[10/06/26 - 07:01 AM]
Netflix Taps IMG as Production Partner for FIFA Women's World Cup Brazil 2027
The tournament will mark Netflix's most ambitious sports production to date.

[10/06/26 - 06:01 AM]
Roku Greenlights New Limited Series "Scarlett Holmes" Starring Lucy Hale
A modern descendant of Sherlock Holmes, "Scarlett Holmes" (Lucy Hale) has inherited her family's legendary powers of observation, but instead of solving crimes, she takes on mysteries of love, dating, and relationships.

[10/06/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Heartland" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Jessica Chastain, Garrett Hedlund, Carter Faith, Ross Lynch, Paul Sparks, Jennifer Nettles and John Hawkes star in the film, premiering November 13.

[10/06/26 - 06:01 AM]
The Television Academy and Prime Video Announce Historic, Multiyear Deal to Exclusively Stream the Emmy Awards Globally
The historic pact succeeds the Television Academy's traditional "Wheel Deal" rotation among broadcast networks ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC, which concluded with this year's telecast.

[10/06/26 - 05:49 AM]
Apple TV Announces "The Choir," A New Comedic Drama from Ruth Jones and James Corden
The ensemble cast includes Tom Davis, Rosie Sheehy, Susan Brown, Jason Watkins, David Harewood, Alexandria Riley, Sylvestra Le Touzel, Tom Edden, Gary Lamont, Emily Lloyd-Saini, Stephen Leask, Luiis Rouf, Jo Foster, Evie Jones, and Farrah Abbassy.

[10/06/26 - 05:39 AM]
Paramount Completes Acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Creating a New Global Entertainment Leader, Skydance
The combination builds on the storied history of two of the world's most recognizable entertainment companies, forming a single creative powerhouse.

[10/06/26 - 03:31 AM]
Video: "The Traitors Telugu" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
Hosted by Tejja Sajja, "The Traitors" is a brutal game of betrayal where 20 contestants face daily eliminations for a grand prize.