Media industry mourns death of former Viacom CEO
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Editor
| 12 August 2020
Tributes have been coming in across the media and TV industry following the death at the age of 97 of US media mogul Sumner M. Redstone, attributed with coining the phrase content is king.

Summer Redstone 12 Aug 2020After US military service where he was a cryptographer, Redstone went on to lead his family’s National Amusements company, which begun as a chain of drive-in cinemas, and in 1987 took a controlling stake of the Viacom media group. Redstone led Viacom for nearly 30 years as executive chairman of the board and also held the position of CEO from 1996 until 2005, during which time Viacom merged with CBS Corporation in 2000.

Upon the separation of the two companies in December 2005, Redstone served as executive chairman of the boards of CBS and Viacom. In February 2016, Redstone assumed the role of chairman emeritus for both companies.

Current CEO and president of the remerged ViacomCBS corporation Bob Bakish described Redstone as a brilliant visionary, operator and dealmaker, who had single-handedly transformed a family-owned drive-in theatre company into a global media portfolio.

“He was a force of nature and fierce competitor, who leaves behind a profound legacy in both business and philanthropy,” Bakish added. “ViacomCBS will remember Sumner for his unparalleled passion to win, his endless intellectual curiosity, and his complete dedication to the company. We extend our deepest sympathies to the Redstone family today.”