Viacom's Big Daddy.(Sumner Redstone)

Broadcasting & Cable, October, 2006 by Robins, J. Max

By J. Max Robins Years back, I was talking to a Viacom executive who was in the middle of a contract negotiation. 'How are you going to handle it?' I asked. 'I'm going to spend a lot of time being best friends with my bosses-wining and dining them, telling them exactly what they want to hear,' the executive said.

'I know it's sucking up, but sucking up works.' That little bit of wisdom came back to me last week when I watched PBS' Charlie Rose interview Viacom Chairman Sumner Redstone. Clearly on a public-relations jag to let Wall Street and the world beyond know that all is well in his kingdom since he cut loose CEO Tom Freston in September, the 83-year-old Redstone looked noticeably younger than he had in years. 'I think I look and act like a...

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