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WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
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CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Date of Report (date of earliest event
reported): January 17, 1996
VIACOM INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 1-9553 04-2949533
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(State or other (Commission (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of File Number) Identification No.)
incorporation)
1515 Broadway, New York, New York 10036
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 258-6000
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Item 5. Other Events.
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On January 17, 1996, Viacom Inc. ("Viacom") announced the following changes
in executive officers and Board of Directors: Sumner M. Redstone, Chairman of
the Board of Viacom, assumed the additional responsibilities of Chief Executive
Officer of Viacom, replacing Frank J. Biondi, Jr. Philippe P. Dauman and Thomas
E. Dooley were appointed Deputy Chairmen in addition to their current positions
as Executive Vice Presidents. Mr. Dooley was also named a Director of Viacom. A
copy of the press release, dated January 17, 1996, related to the
above-described events is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
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(c) The following exhibit is filed as part of this report on Form 8-K:
99.1 Press Release issued by Viacom Inc.
dated January 17, 1996.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
VIACOM INC.
Date: January 18, 1996 By: /s/ Philippe P. Dauman
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Name: Philippe P. Dauman
Title: Deputy Chairman,
Executive Vice President,
General Counsel and
Chief Administrative
Officer
EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit No. Description
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99.1 Press Release issued by Viacom Inc. dated January 17, 1996
EXHIBIT 99.1
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SUMNER REDSTONE TO ASSUME ADDED RESPONSIBILITIES
AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF VIACOM
Company Creates New Executive Committee Consisting of Key Company Managers
Changes Aimed at Creating More Aggressive, Hands-On Management
to Capitalize on Business Opportunities
N.Y., N.Y., (January 17, 1996) -- Sumner M. Redstone, Chairman of the Board of
Viacom Inc. (Amex: VIA and VIAB) announced today that he is taking on the
additional responsibilities of Chief Executive Officer of the Company, replacing
Frank J. Biondi, Jr., effective immediately. Mr. Biondi, who had served as
President and CEO of Viacom since 1987, will be leaving the Company.
Mr. Redstone said that Viacom has created a new Executive Committee. The
Executive Committee will be responsible for developing and executing strategies
to strengthen the overall Company, as well as coordinating the flow of
information between Viacom's business units and pursuing company-wide
initiatives. Many of the decisions Viacom makes as a Company affect more than
one division, and the Executive Committee will help ensure that the Companys
management expertise is spread across all of the operating units of the Company
to benefit the entire corporation.
Mr. Redstone stated, We live in a world of dramatic international expansion; a
world where the technological revolution is accelerating rapidly; and, we live
in a world where there is an awesome and growing concentration of power.
Meanwhile, Viacoms operations are farflung and more diverse, ranging from a
challenging studio business on the West coast to rapidly evolving business
ventures throughout the world. In that world, an entrepreneurial, aggressive,
responsive, hands-on management style is the most effective way to capitalize on
the enormous opportunities of Viacom. The changes I am announcing today will
create just that kind of management.
The new Executive Committee will be comprised of, in addition to Mr. Redstone:
Steven R. Berrard, President and Chief Executive Officer of Blockbuster
Entertainment Group Philippe Dauman, Executive Vice President, General
Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer, Viacom Inc. Jonathan L. Dolgen,
Chairman of Viacom Entertainment Group Tom Dooley, Executive Vice
President, Finance, Corporate Development and Communications, Viacom Inc.
Tom Freston, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MTV Networks Edward D.
Horowitz, Senior Vice President Technology, Viacom Inc. and Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of Viacom Interactive Media Jonathan Newcomb,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Simon & Schuster.
In addition to the creation of the new Executive Committee, Mr. Redstone has
appointed Mr. Dauman and Mr. Dooley Deputy Chairmen, roles they will assume in
addition to their current positions as Executive Vice Presidents. Mr. Dauman is
currently a member of the Board of Viacom and Mr. Dooley will become a member of
the Board effective immediately.
Mr. Redstone stated, "I want to thank Frank Biondi for his important
contributions to Viacom over the years. He has helped us to become the success
we are today, and I wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.
Mr. Redstone continued, "Todays organizational changes will make Viacom more
nimble and more aggressive. They will allow us to streamline our decision-making
process and allow us to more quickly take advantage of the myriad opportunities,
as well as to respond more rapidly to, the challenges that exist both
domestically and internationally. With the industry undergoing dramatic changes
and unprecedented consolidation, nothing less can be acceptable. We have made
enormous progress in achieving our vision for the Company, but what has been
accomplished is not enough. Our Company is strong. It has the most powerful
collection of entertainment brands in the industry and we've never had greater
opportunities. We need to seize these opportunities quickly and we intend to.
"We are fortunate that Viacom has remarkable management depth and breadth and
today's changes are designed to take advantage of those strengths and to exploit
them aggressively," Mr. Redstone continued. "The creation of the new Executive
Committee will strengthen the ability of our senior executives to make decisions
as quickly and expeditiously as possible. I look forward to the opportunity to
work even more closely with our senior management team -- each of whom is more
than qualified to run his own public company -- and take an even greater hands
on role in the direction of the Company than in the past.
Our senior executives who will constitute the Executive Committee, Steve
Berrard, Philippe Dauman, Jonathan Dolgen, Tom Dooley, Tom Freston, Ed Horowitz
and Jon Newcomb, are some of the most creative executives in their respective
fields. Under their guidance, Viacom has strengthened its leadership positions
in every one of our businesses. Based on their outstanding track records and
shared ambitious goals for the Company, I am confident that Viacom will move
forward to new heights."
"I have worked with Philippe Dauman and Tom Dooley for almost ten years and I am
pleased to name them Deputy Chairmen of Viacom, in addition to their current
roles as Executive Vice Presidents. They are extremely talented executives and
will help execute our corporate strategies expertly.
Philippe Dauman, 41, has been Executive Vice President, General Counsel and
Chief Administrative Officer of Viacom since March 1994 and also serves on the
Boards of Viacom subsidiaries Spelling Entertainment and Discovery Zone. He has
been a member of Viacoms Board of Directors since 1987 and a Director of Viacoms
parent National Amusements since 1993. Prior to joining Viacom as General
Counsel, Mr. Dauman was a partner of the New York based law firm of Shearman &
Sterling, where he had spent his entire legal career, and had served as
principal outside counsel to Viacom.
Thomas Dooley, 39, has been Executive Vice President, Finance, Corporate
Development and Communications of Viacom since March 1994. Mr. Dooley has been
at Viacom for 16 years and has held various financial and operating positions
throughout the Company including Senior Vice President, Corporate Development,
President, Interactive Television, Vice President, Finance and Treasurer and
Director of Corporate Financial Planning. Mr. Dooley also serves as a Director
of Starsight Telecast, Inc.
Steve Berrard, 41, has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of
Blockbuster Entertainment Group since 1993. The division includes Blockbuster
Video, Blockbuster Music, Showtime Networks, Paramount Parks,
SpellingEntertainment Group, Virgin Interactive Entertainment and Discovery
Zone. Mr. Berrard has held various positions at Blockbuster since joining the
Company in 1987 including Senior Vice President-Chief Financial Officer and Vice
Chairman.
Jonathan Dolgen, 50, has been Chairman, Viacom Entertainment Group, which
oversees the operations of the Paramount Motion Picture Group and the Paramount
Television Group, since 1994. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Dolgen served as
President of Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group and was a member
of Sony Pictures Board of Directors. Earlier in his career, he held the
positions of Chairman of Twentieth Television, a subsidiary of Twentieth Century
Fox, and Executive Vice President of Columbia Pictures.
Tom Freston, 50, has held the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of MTV Networks since 1989. Mr. Freston was a member of the original team that
launched MTV in 1981 and has played a key role in extending the Companys brands
into new businesses including licensing, merchandising, barter syndication sales
and international program syndication.
Ed Horowitz, 48, has been Senior Vice President, Technology for Viacom since
1988 and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Viacom Interactive Media since
1994. Mr. Horowitz has been one of the nations pioneers in attempting to
establish a digital standard for compression for the transmission of High
Definition Television (HDTV). He is a member of the Special Panel which will
assist the Advisory Committee on Advanced Television Service in formulating a
system recommendation to the Federal Communications Commission.
Jonathan Newcomb, 49, was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of
Simon & Schuster in 1994 after serving as President and Chief Operating Officer
for three years. Prior to joining Simon & Schuster, Mr. Newcomb spent fourteen
years at McGraw-Hill, where after holding various positions, he became President
of McGraw-Hills Financial and Economic Information Group.
Viacom Inc. is one of the worlds largest entertainment and publishing companies
and a leading force in nearly every segment of the international media
marketplace. The operations of Viacom include Blockbuster; MTV Networks;
Paramount Parks, Paramount Pictures; Paramount Television; Showtime Networks
Inc.; Simon & Schuster; Viacom Interactive Media; cable systems serving 1.2
million customers; as well as radio and television stations, and movie screens
in 11 countries. Viacom also has a majority interest in Spelling Entertainment
Group and a substantial interest in Comedy Central; Discovery Zone; and USA
Networks, including the Sci-Fi Channel. National Amusements Inc., a closely held
corporation which owns and operates close to 1,000 movie screens in the U.S. and
the U.K., is the parent company of Viacom Inc.
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Contact: Carl Folta/Viacom
(212) 258-6352