CBS - REDSTONE PREDICTS CSI WILL SINK LENO

REDSTONE PREDICTS CSI WILL SINK LENO

Sumner Redstone, the chairman of both Viacom and CBS, appeared to have lost none of his feistiness when he appeared on CNN's Larry King Live Wednesday night. Asked about NBC's decision to air a nightly Jay Leno variety show in its 10 00 p.m. hour in the fall, Redstone remarked, " CSI will beat the hell out of Leno." (CBS's CSI airs at 9 00 p.m., although CSI New York and CSI Miami each air at 10 00 p.m.) Redstone was upbeat throughout the interview, predicting, "I think we're in the beginning of a bull market" that presages an economic turn-around. He suggested, however, that rival Rupert Murdoch may not see much of a turn-around because of his extensive newspaper holdings. "The newspaper is dying. I'm not sure there will be newspapers and its one business I'd never be in. ... The reason we have not gone to newspapers is because its a slow growth industry and I think they are dying. I'm not sure there will be newspapers in 10 years. I read newspapers every day. I even read Murdoch's Wall Street Journal. " As for himself, he alluded to last year's movie the curious Case of Benjamin Button, in which Brad Pitt's character grows younger instead of older. "I'm the curious case of Mr. Redstone," the 85-year-old mogul said. "I have no intention of ever retiring or of dying." He also maintained that at his businesses, he "treats everyone like a member of my family." Commented Los Angeles Times columnist Joe Flint "Considering that his latest marriage ended after five years, he's estranged from his son, Brent, and has a tense relationship with his daughter, Shari, we're not so sure how much comfort Viacom employees should take in that."

30/04/2009