GECs
Viacom exploring division of business: Redstone
MUMBAI: Division for shareholders benefit and further unlocking of value! That is what media conglomerate Viacom chairman and CEO Sumner M. Redstone is looking to achieve this fiscal.
He has announced that he is exploring with the board of directors the possible division of its businesses into separate publicly-traded companies.
Redstone said that Viacom’s Board has authorised the company to explore the separation as a means to achieve important corporate objectives and to better deliver value to shareholders in a tax-efficient manner.
Viacom expects to announce further details regarding the possible separation in the second quarter of the year.
Redstone said, “Viacom has an outstanding stable of assets with leadership positions and excellent future prospects and I have for several months been considering various alternatives to maximize our business opportunities in a way that would best serve our shareholders. It is clear that, despite our success in operating our businesses for maximum return, Viacom’s businesses have inherently different growth characteristics and investment attributes that appeal to different types of investors.
“Furthermore, it has also become clear that this important distinction is likely to continue to limit Viacom’s ability to receive full value for its assets and its prospects in the investment community. We believe that a separation of our businesses into distinct and strong operating entities would allow us to optimise our capital structure and create unique investments that are more appealing to investors with different objectives.”
Redstone avered that the new publicly-traded entities could each pursue strategic paths that would maximise their long-term potential. The separation could highlight high-growth businesses, such as MTV Networks. The first entity would be operated by Viacom co-COO Tom Freston. Redstone maintains that this could give Viacom added flexibility to pursue internal growth and to enhance these operations through the creation of an attractive high-multiple currency that could be used for accretive acquisitions.
Redstone states that separation would allow the company to deliver greater value to shareholders. The second entity would be operated by Viacom co-COO Les Moonves. This would combine CBS broadcast television businesses with the outdoor business and free cash flow operations, such as radio. This group of assets would also have the potential to participate in a programme of stock buybacks and increased dividends Redstone noted.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… connection because this time, the game isn’t just about winning, it’s about who’s with you. Sony Pictures Networks India is gearing up to launch a new reality game show, Tum Ho Naa, expanding its unscripted slate with a format that promises both emotion and engagement.
The show will premiere soon on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV, with Rajeev Khandelwal stepping in as host. Known for his measured screen presence and selective choices, Khandelwal’s return to television adds a layer of familiarity and credibility to the upcoming format.
While specific details of the gameplay remain under wraps, the positioning suggests a reality format that leans as much on emotional resonance as it does on competition, an increasingly popular blend in Indian television, where audiences are gravitating towards content that offers both stakes and storytelling.
Khandelwal, reflecting on his return, noted that his choices have often been guided by instinct rather than convention, describing Tum Ho Naa as a project that feels “close to the heart”. His association also signals Sony’s continued focus on anchoring new formats with recognisable faces who bring both relatability and depth.
The launch comes at a time when broadcasters are doubling down on original non-fiction formats to drive appointment viewing, even as digital platforms expand parallel reach. By placing the show across both linear television and OTT, Sony appears to be aiming for a dual-audience strategy capturing traditional viewers while engaging digital-first consumers.
As the countdown to premiere begins, Tum Ho Naa positions itself not just as another game show, but as a reminder that sometimes, the biggest prize on screen isn’t the jackpot, it’s the journey shared along the way.
