According to a report by Bloomberg, Shari Redstone is considering a move to recombine Viacom with CBS Corporation CBS after more than 10 years of operating as two separate companies. Bringing the two companies together under the same umbrella would "reunite the two pillars" of the Redstone family's media empire.
There is, however, one problem. The Bloomberg report suggested that CBS' investors could "blanch at the idea" of taking on Viacom's "struggling" cable and studio networks.
Meanwhile, CBS' CEO Leslie Moonves hasn't received any sort of indication that a deal is in the works. After all, the executive remains "on good terms" with members of the Redstone family, and Shari Redstone also serves as a vice chair of CBS and at Viacom.
A merger between Viacom and CBS is one option to consider, but taking any sort of action may be easier now than it has been in the past.
The Redstone family settled a dispute with Viacom's former CEO Philippe Dauman and board member George Abrams earlier this month. The outgoing executives were replaced with Shari Redstone herself and people backed by her.
"Shari has done a masterful job re-asserting herself at Viacom," Paul Sweeney, a Bloomberg Intelligence analyst, was quoted as saying. "Les's main strength is programming. Viacom is in dire need of improved programming at both its cable networks and its Paramount film studio."
Do you have ideas for articles/interviews you'd like to see more of on Benzinga? Please email feedback@benzinga.com with your best article ideas. One person will be randomly selected to win a $20 Amazon gift card!
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Comments
Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.