Viacom's Paramount Studio in Trouble (CBS parent): Aw, shucks!

[Liberty Belle]

VIACOM BANKING ON PARAMOUNT CHANGES

The company has a lot riding on the executive who comes in to run its stagnant Paramount film studio.

http://nytimes.com/2005/01/05/business/media/05place.html


Viacom is the parent company of CBS, which recently fired several journalists over the Bush National Guard "memogate" and demoted Dan Rather. The so-called "Independent Panel" CBS had investigated the whole mess was actually just two Republican sell-outs: a former cabinet official for Bush Sr. and an Iran-Contra conspirator, according to Greg Palast.

If you're fed up with Viacom's right-wing propoganda and politicizing of CBS News (once the most trusted news program in America), you might think twice before seeing a Paramount movie. Better yet, tell Viacom--and your local box office--why you'll be skipping their next movie showing.

[Jayster84]

1. Wait a second.

I work for Viacom. There the closest MSM friend the the left has. You should focus on FOX, CNN, MSNBC, NBC, Disney, ABC and many others first.

[Liberty Belle]

2. I've lost respect for CBS and Viacom, since the Dan Rather/memogate

fiasco. The so-called independent panel CBS had to investigate that (resulting in 4 people losing jobs) was actually composed of just two people--a former Reagan cabinet official and a co-conspirator in the Iran-Contra scandal, according to BBC investigative journalist Greg Palast. (www.gregpalast.com)

CBS was no better than the other networks or cable news stations when it came to covering (or not covering) electoral fraud, either.

Plus, Summer Redstone, Viacom's CEO, has stated that he believed Republicans are better for big media companies. Clearly his bias has impacted the news coverage, I'd say.

While CBS still does the occasional anti-administration story, it's lost the teeth that it once had, and I imagine Dan Rather's demotion will have a chilling effect on anyone else there who might have wanted to do some real investigative reporting on the Bush administration.

[AP]

3. Brad Gray's first job was working for Harvey Weinstein's concert promotion

business, and Harvey's out of job pretty soon IIUC.

I wonder if he'll bring Harvey and Bob into Paramount if he gets the job running the studio.

[zann725]

4. Actually Paramount is one of the nicer studios in the city...

and Sherry Lansing who just left was close to actual retirement age. She had a long history of blockbuster hits over the years, and had an admirable "run" as head of 20th Century Fox in the 80's.

Paramount has also over the years produced many of the long-running TV series (particularly sitcoms).

If they've fallen down in their "win" column...that happens with all the studios time-to-time. I would not boycott them to punish Sumner Redstone about CBS.

Plus, I don't know about you...but when times are truly "dark," the best medicine for me is a trip to a movie theatre...and all is tolerable again.