VIACOM SHARES TRY -- BUT FAIL -- TO RECOVER

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	PET STORE OWNER OUT-PIMPED BY VIACOM Sep 4 2006
	The operator of an English boutique for pets called Pimp My Pet figures that if (more)
	WERE GRAZER'S CONGRATULATIONS TO REDSTONE REALLY IN ORDER? Aug 25 2006
	Producer Brian Grazer is reportedly contradicting statements by Viacom Chairman Sumner Redstone that he phoned (more)
	TOP TALENT AGENCY MAY BOYCOTT PARAMOUNT Aug 24 2006
	The head of Hollywood's leading talent agency has condemned Viacom chief Sumner Redstone's castigating comments (more)

VIACOM SHARES TRY -- BUT FAIL -- TO RECOVER
Thursday, September 7 2006

Shares in Viacom, which had dropped 7.6 percent since Monday's announced ouster of CEO Tom Freston, appeared to be rebounding in early trading today (Thursday), then suddenly slumped back to its opening level at midday as published concerns by analysts about the effect of the firing continued to pour out. Today's (Thursday) Los Angeles Times published an article suggesting that Freston's removal could have a devastating effect on MTV, which Freston nurtured to become Viacom's primary source of profits. Others suggested that the firing could place Paramount chief Brad Grey in the untenable position of having to negotiate deals while a sword of Damocles hangs over his head. But today's New York Post published a quote from Rich Greenfield of Pali Research that concluded, "We can only hope that new management ... will provide us with a clear sense of what is wrong with Viacom now, what needs to be done and what, if any, strategic pieces Viacom is missing."

REDSTONE DECIDED TO DUMP FRESTON FIRST, THEN CRUISE
Wednesday, September 6 2006

Sumner Redstone had already decided to fire Viacom CEO Tom Freston a week before he got rid of Tom Cruise, according to reports that came to light Tuesday. Philippe Dauman, who was selected to replace Freston, told today's (Wednesday) Daily Variety that he received an offer from Redstone three weeks ago. (Only a few weeks earlier, Redstone had told the Wall Street Journal that "he could imagine 'no circumstance' under which he would dismiss Mr. (more)

FRESTON OUT AT VIACOM
Tuesday, September 5 2006

Viacom Chairman Sumner Redstone, who reportedly severed Viacom's ties with Tom Cruise last month without informing Viacom CEO Tom Freston of his decision, is now parting ways with Freston himself. The company said today (Tuesday) that Freston has quit and that he'll be replaced by longtime industry executive Philippe Dauman. Freston became CEO and president of Viacom last January when Redstone spun off its broadcast television operations into a separate company, CBS Corp. Viacom also (more)