Gawker
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media
Viacom Has 22 Reasons Not to Pay You
In March we told you about "Invoiceworks," Viacom's Kafkaesque new system for paying (or not!) its freelancers. How bad is it? We present to you, "22 Invoice Rejections at Once": More »
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19
Comment by cdmunch: Department stores have the same system- it's called "chargebacks." They use them to screw small designers and suppliers by deducting... 4 Responses | Other threads
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feuds
Jon Stewart and Jim Cramer Have Posses
The suits have jumped into the Jim Cramer-Jon Stewart drudge match: NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker and Viacom CEO Philippe Daumann traded jabs today over their corporate assets at today's McGraw Hill Media Summit. More »
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By John CookComment by Perhaps Not: Folksy Sex Troll: That's funny, they both look so masculine. Cramer even has a beard, for godsakes. Oh, posses. 2 Responses | Other threads
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gossip
Viacom's Nightmarish New Payment System
Yesterday we heard rumors that Viacom has introduced a new system for screwing its vendors out of getting paid on time. Today, more insight into the Kafka-esque world of "InvoiceWorks," from a real vendor! More »
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Comment by ninety_nine: I've used InvoiceWorks via another large entity. A little kludgy (requires IE), but provided your PO is in the system,... 3 Responses | Other threads
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Media Crack
Is Viacom Screwing its Vendors?
In your rumormongering Thursday media column: rumors of layoffs and shenanigans at Viacom and Sesame Street (updated), Felix Salmon jumps the Fort Polio ship, Jay Carney flackery, and a journalism grad is broken: More »
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Comment by MrInBetween: Jay Carney's secret: He was swept up in Bidenmania. 2 Responses | Other threads
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feuds
Jon Stewart-Jim Cramer Feud Widens Into Network Rumble
You have to hand it to Jon Stewart: The Daily Show host at least has the good sense to mock his "Basic Cable Personality Clash" with Jim Cramer the very moment it becomes mockable. More »
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By Ryan TateComment by somedayarealrainwillcome: Is anyone else growing tired and bored of Stewart's smugness or am i alone in that? 17 Responses | Other threads
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bloglash
Comedy Central Show To Mock Internet
Comedy Central will soon start production on Tosh.0, in which comedian Daniel Tosh makes fun of blogs, online videos, tweets, etc., oh-so-boldly reversing the usual flow of snark between the internet and television. More »
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By Ryan TateComment by leonleonleon: I like Daniel Tosh. He's nothing spectacular, but he's funny enough 3 Responses | Other threads
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Media Crack
More Viacom Layoffs Today?
In your gloomy Wednesday media column: More rumored Viacom layoffs today, Newsweek staffers are mad at the boss, Playboy might have to sell Playboy, and more!: More »
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oscars
Jon Stewart Misses Viacom Memo To Not Openly Hate On 'Benjamin Button'
Paramount probably could have lived with Jon Stewart's slobbering praise for Slumdog Millionaire last night on The Daily Show. If only it had stopped there. More » -
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the gays
Why the Portland Mayor Sex Scandal Is Good for the Gays
The media frenzy over a Portland sex-and-lies scandal is playing out in such classic fashion, it's easy to forget the protagonists — Mayor Sam Adams and his barely legal paramour, Beau Breedlove — are gay. More »
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By Owen ThomasComment by maxiepad: Breedlove was an aide to the mayor. They should not have been humping, please: "The CEO was caught fisting Timmy, his... 18 Responses | Other threads
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feuds
'Bromance' Crisis Averted in Viacom, Time Warner Settlement
After Viacom went blazingly public Wednesday with its threat of an MTV/Comedy Central/Nickelodeon blackout on Time Warner Cable, an 11th-hour truce settled the matter just in time for 2009. -
television
Threats To Take Away Your MTV Predictably Empty
Yesterday America fell to its knees, wailing, because Time Warner threatened to pull several networks off the air because of a spat with Viacom. Well it's all over now so return to the couch, sheep. More »
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Comment by Keef: I can understand Gawker feeling affinity with other ad-revenue-supported industries, but the coverage of this Time Warner/Viacom spat paints Time... 4 Responses | Other threads
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feuds
SpongeBob on Strike: Viacom Threatens to Pull 19 Channels From Time Warner
Ensnared in a vicious battle over 23 cents per customer, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Daily Show, South Park and the rest of Viacom's cable offerings may vanish tonight for 13 million Time Warner subscribers. -
disasters
Time Warner Cable To Lose Comedy Central, MTV In Viacom Spat
From New York to Los Angeles, Viacom channels like Comedy Central are set to flicker off cable systems in the first minute of 2009. Sumner Redstone's desperation finally impacted your life! More »
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By Ryan TateComment by SpacePope: Okay, Comedy Central is a loss. But MTV lost the last shred of music on that channel in, what,... 4 Responses | Other threads
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creative underclass
MTV Pays $500 Guilt Bonus To Screwed-Over Bloggers
MTV tacked on a $500 stocking stuffer to the final paychecks of those charity bloggers it was avoiding paying. Could it be the raunchy Viacom network believes in God? Or at least karma? More »
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By Ryan TateComment by i'm a bottle: I don't really know what to think of MTV and their applying for grants. Aren't their more worthy people... 6 Responses | Other threads
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sumner redstone
Billionaire Sacrifices Daughter To Stay Solvent
Sumner Redstone is so desperate for cash, he might not even be a billionaire any more. So he's decided his daughter will take the fall, and is embarrassing her with a huge public fight this morning. More »
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By Ryan TateComment by jerrica: Gee...and I thought my dad was a dick for ordering the filet mignon on the night I offered to pay... 4 Responses | Other threads
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creative underclass
Is MTV Hoarding Charity Cash From Workers?
Following our request for information yesterday, we heard from a good number of freelancers who said MTV was stiffing them on paychecks. Including people MTV got charity money to support. More »
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By Ryan TateComment by oneinsixbillion: One wrote that paychecks used to be paid promptly, but got cut later and later as 2008 wore on. Then,... 4 Responses | Other threads
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rumormonger
Is MTV Stiffing Freelancers On Christmas Paychecks?
Freelancers: Is MTV slow paying your recent invoices? Because one tipster tells us the Viacom subsidiary followed hundreds of layoffs with a policy to freeze outgoing payments October through January. More »
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By Ryan TateComment by Connie Lee: I interned for MTV this summer (not at 1515 Broadway, however, if that makes a difference) and was paid promptly... 3 Responses | Other threads
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internal memos
Viacom Employees: Holiday Cheer Is Not Allowed
Happy Holidays from Viacom, the home of hundreds of holiday layoffs! Employees, please observe these piddling, needless rules as you slave away in our caverns on Christmas. MEMO AHEAD: More »
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Comment by ddukbokki: Someone in my office put this crafty block thing that says "Jesus" near our entrance. Is that Kosher? 3 Responses | Other threads
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memos
Nickelodeon President Taking Christmas into Her Own Hands
Viacom, the parent company of MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, and Nickelodeon (among others), recently laid off 7% of their staff. That is 850 people, folks! But apparently, Nickelodeon president Cyma Zarghami doesn't think it's any reason to cancel Christmas, hosting a party for a chosen few— but Viacom's employee party was officially taken away this year due to lack of funds. This, of course, really pisses off the uninvited. Memo follows.
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By SheilaComment by gladys_kravitz: Jesus, Joanie, take that point size down several notches. 1 Responses | Other threads
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Pop Culture Doomsday
It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Hollywood Xmas: The Personnel Purging Begins
As you may have already heard, a staggering 850 people were laid off from Viacom today. Torrents of blood washed down the halls of MTV on both coasts, with added security in wading boots posted on every floor for "observation" (translation: making sure downsized employees don't try to swipe a promotional copy of Trivial Pursuit: TRL Edition on their way out of the building). More » -
john norris
John Norris A Victim Of MTV Layoffs?
The 850 layoffs at Viacom today—including hundreds at MTV—are claiming the livelihoods of tons of hardworking people who did their jobs well without ever receiving fame and fortune. And just like when a jumbo jet crashes with hundreds of souls aboard, the first question is: "Were any celebrities involved?" You know you were thinking that, you heartless swine. Well (according to an unconfirmed rumor from an inside tipster), your third-favorite MTV correspondent-for-life, John Norris, was laid off today. After the jump, we've got other reports from the Viacom scene. More » -
viacom
The Dreaded Viacom Layoffs: 850 People
The long-feared Viacom pre-post holiday layoffs are here, and they're not pretty. We heard earlier that as many as 300 layoffs might be coming at MTV today, but the total, Viacom-wide numbers are even worse: 850 people are being cut, about 7% of the company's global staff. And top management is "suspending salary increases" next year, if it makes you peons feel any better. The full internal memo that went out this morning is after the jump; if you know more about the specific breakdown of the layoffs, email us. UPDATES: additional memos from MTV and Paramount added below:
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Comment by misslinda: Wow, 850 people right before the holidays, that is harsh. You know what's a better time to lay off 850... 7 Responses | Other threads
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layoffs roundup
MTV Closing Rhapsody Office
- RealNetworks and Viacom subsidiary MTV closed down the entire New York office of their joint Rhapsody America online music venture, a tipster tells us, sending the roughly 25 staffers packing, albeit with severance. A lone Rhapsody staffer transferred to RealNetworks' New York office. The service will continue operating, via Real's west coast offices.
- The same tipster said more Viacom cuts are coming today. Someone else told us previously that MTV would lay off around 300 today.
- CNBC is said to be laying off up to 80 staff as soon as today, its first cuts under the $500 million cost reduction announced by parent NBC in October. [Post]
- NBC Universal cut about 30 people in advertising support and research nationwide, sparing staff at its successful cable networks. [TV Week]
- We're told, anonymously, that the Arizona Republic, Gannett's second-biggest newspaper, laid off 20 or more newsroom staff.
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By Ryan TateComment by pantallicarox: I work at another Gannett Newspaper (The News-Star) and we laid off about 10 people today. It was a nation... more » | Other threads
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mtv
Three Hundred Layoffs At MTV Thursday?
Chatter about big layoffs at Viacom and its MTV unit have been in the air for weeks, with firings at the latter recently expected Wednesday or Thursday of this week. Hell, the bloodletting may already have begun. But the latest gossip says the worst is yet to come: A gobsmacking 300 people coast to coast let go by the end of the week, one tipster claims. Higher level staff supposedly get their briefings Wednesday. It will be interesting to hear whether the company takes this opportunity to visit vengeance on the mistreated permalancers who embarrassed the company so badly last winter. We're ready to listen! -
sumner redstone
Redstone Dumps Video Game Biz
As predicted, Viacom chief Sumner Redstone sold his stake in Midway Games for pennies on the dollar, just for the tax benefits. We still think he'll eventually have to sell some or all of CBS to pay his $1.6 billion debt. [WSJ]
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Comment by SultanaEleusis: He never understood what those video games were about anyway. He was more into pinball. more » | Other threads
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sumner redstone
Panic Finally Breaks Desperate Billionaire
If Sumner Redstone had just sold his CBS stock back when it looked like he was in trouble, he might have gotten $10, even $15 per share. Instead he sold only what he was forced to, then wasted a lot of time huffing and puffing in the press about how he would never ever sell another CBS or Viacom share, even though $800 million was due in December. In the meantime CBS shares plummeted to less than $5, and only now is Redstone admitting the obvious: He may have to sell some of that stock. Reports the Times: More »
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By Ryan TateComment by belltolls: I love the swap meet feel of the new economic reality. 2 Responses | Other threads
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rumormonger
VH1 Layoff Prep?
The latest rumor is that MTV is planning a round of layoffs for early December. Now a tipster tells us that fellow Viacom property VH1 is holding a big HR meeting for department heads tomorrow. To sharpen the hatchet? Email us details. UPDATE: MTV layoffs are tentatively set for December 3 or 4, according to another tipster.
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Comment by Thatcornellguy: Looks like VH1 employees are having the BEST WEEK EVER! 2 Responses | Other threads
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layoffs
MTV Layoff Rumormonger
Rumors have been floating around for the last month that Viacom is planning a big round of layoffs. The latest: we hear that MTV is planning one round of cuts for early December, and another in January. Both would technically miss the holiday, making them appear slightly less Scrooge-like. If you have any details (or denials), email us.
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Comment by misslinda: MTV is so not relevant anymore unless you're a tween from the midwest. 2 Responses | Other threads
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disney
Thousands of Drunken Co-Worker Trysts in Jeopardy as Industry Cuts Back Holiday Parties
The odds that you remember the drunken, depraved glories of your employer's past holiday parties are virtually nil, so most of Hollywood shouldn't be too upset today to hear how the recession-to-be is affecting this year's big industry fetes. Variety reports that Disney and Viacom won't be celebrating at all, while other studios are scaling back their own events and even awards-season premieres to the extent their needy talent will allow. And if the global economic meltdown didn't feel like a crisis before, wait until you hear how the caterers will be hit: More » -
jackpot
Rock Band creators get $300 million rock-star bonus
Eran Egozy and Alex Rigopulos, the MIT-educated creators of Guitar Hero and Rock Band, have earned a $150 million bonus from Viacom, whose MTV unit bought the game. The pair are on track to earn an even bigger bonus in 2009. (Photo by Newsweek/John Huet)
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By Paul BoutinComment by sample032: Fuck this shit. Some of us can actually play a guitar. 4 Responses | Other threads
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sumner redstone
Sumner Redstone May Settle Loans Via Mortal Kombat
Desperate mogul Sumner Redstone may be able pay off some of his $1.6 billion in debt before half of it comes due in December. The solution: Sell off Midway Games, money-bleeding maker of classic arcade hits like Rampage, Spy Hunter and Mortal Kombat. Some $800 million in cash infusions for Midway were a major contributor to Redstone's debt and pissed off daughter Shari, according to the Wall Street Journal, which reported Monday morning that Shari just resigned as chairwoman to Midway, signaling a sale may be in the works.In addition to Midway, the Redstones are said looking to unload their slot machine company. What the hell is divorced ole Sumner supposed to do for fun??
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By Ryan TateComment by harvey_wallpaper: i wish i had 1.6 billion dollars because i would create a competition for redstone: 1. he gets two weeks to... 1 Responses | Other threads
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viacom
Ominous Viacom Memo: Need To 'Dramatically' Reduce Spending
Rumors of pending layoffs at Viacom have been floating around for weeks now. The media conglomerate is in terrible debt, and just yesterday announced that it's canceling its holiday parties from coast to coast. Today, a tipster has sent us an internal memo from Bob Bakish, the head of MTV Networks, that grimly alludes to "unprecedented economic challenges" that have caused a hiring freeze, and will affect spending "dramatically" through the entire coming year. Will the company start off the new year with a round of layoffs? Eminently possible. Bakish's full internal email, after the jump: More »
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Comment by Zorica: I got an email with "IMPORTANT" in the subject line this morning too. It was a link to a... 10 Responses | Other threads
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layoffs
Viacom Update: Holiday Party Canceled
We hear that the layoffs at Viacom are going to happen, but probably not tomorrow. Viacom just sent an internal email to employees telling them that the Holiday party is canceled—but everyone gets two extra days of vacation instead! To "relax and recharge for the coming year." That's pretty awesome. Unless you come back and get fired. Click through for the full memo. More »
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Comment by Penscribe: Consider they pay for all employees to get home after their holiday party, I think this is a HUGE savings... 8 Responses | Other threads
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sumner redstone
How Can Sumner Redstone Save Himself?
Sumner Redstone was the first major media mogul to get slammed by the economic downturn, and the Viacom chief's troubles continue. His pending divorce and the comical failure of his video game business are mere distractions. His bigger problem is that his company has $1.6 billion in debt to deal with, and Redstone is squabbling with his daughter about how to do it. For some, it's already too late; we hear that layoffs are coming down at Viacom tomorrow. But for the Redstones, there seem to be only three real options: More »
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Comment by Mymoustache: I thought the blood of christian virgins was supposed to take care of these economic downturns. 2 Responses | Other threads
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online advertising
Viacom turns MySpace bootlegs into an advertunity
A year ago, Viacom sued YouTube for one billion dollars, claiming YouTube was not blocking uploads of copyrighted Viacom material from Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, MTV, VH1 and others. Today, MySpace will join YouTube in running ads targeted to Viacom-owned clips, instead of deleting them. Auditude, a Palo Alto startup, provides the software that identifies Viacom-owned content. Remember when musicians believed all advertising was evil? Now, I'm looking forward to seeing a Big & Rich ad targeted against another Big & Rich ad, overlaid by another Big & Rich ad for a Big & Rich ad I haven't seen yet. Collect them all!
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By Paul BoutinComment by Uncle-Sam's Littlle Helper: Thanks! I tried to write you back on MySpace, but my network is running so slow because of all... more » | Other threads
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cbs
Stupid CBS Dominates Television; Sumner Redstone Still Losing Cash
When times are tough, Americans don't want television that makes you "think." They want television that's predictable, television that reruns the same god damn stories week after week with absolutely no sense of drama or uncertainty. Because who wants more uncertainty, in these uncertain days? This is why CBS—old, stuffy, worthless CBS—is now the best-rated television network of the fall season, may god have mercy on our souls. Too bad Sumner Redstone can't make any money off it, though! More »
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Comment by American Dreamer: Certain actors and actresses are poison on national t.v. They appear in a dozen t.v. shows or more which die... 5 Responses | Other threads
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digital music
MTV Music too little, too late — except for one thing
Imagine a website where you can view every music video known to man. Yes, that's what MTV.com should have been 10 years ago. Now that MTVmusic.com exists, what is it good for? Oh yes: A whole new way to rickroll your friends.
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By Owen ThomasComment by irrational-exuberance: since when has MTV had anything to do with music? 1 Responses | Other threads
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sumner redstone
Profligate Executive Owes Billion To 55 Lenders
It's almost enough to make you feel sorry for the belligerent old Viacom and CBS owner: Sumner Redstone is facing the sort of debt that would send most people into a nervous breakdown. First he has to weasel out of paying an $800 million Bank of America Securities loan before the end of December. But that's not the worst of it. He then most get unanimous consent from 55 separate institutions to refinance another $800 million loan. The Post thinks he might be toast: More »
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By Ryan TateComment by Private Hangnail: He must have purchased some sexy geriatric hookers. 3 Responses | Other threads
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sumner redstone
Bitter Sumner Redstone Clings To His Viacom And CBS Stock
Imagine you have $800 million due to various banks in two months, and your chief holdings are a couple of billion dollars in rapidly-declining CBS and Viacom stock. You've opened some delicate negotiations with the bankers into how you'll, uh, pay them. What do you do? If you're Sumner Redstone, you immediately take the obvious option — sell some more shares! — off the table, and then proclaim you don't know how all this happened because you don't really run your company (National Amusements). Then in the future, presumably, you can tell your mouthy daughter you were "forced" to sell her movie theater chain because it was the only option left, ha ha. That'll teach her to try and be your successor! That's just how Sumner rolls, said the Wall Street Journal: More »
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By Ryan TateComment by Private Hangnail: It's like the ghost of Howard Hughes inhabiting a geriatric Howdy Doody puppet. 1 Responses | Other threads
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moguls
Sumner Redstone Divorce Confirmed
It's official: Sumner Redstone's second marriage is finished, confirming our exclusive from Friday. Court papers were filed at the end of last week, according to the Los Angeles Times, and now the Viacom chief has issued a statement saying the split is "amicable" and that "we remain close and supportive friends." In other words, wife Paula Fortunato has finally, 14 months after divorce rumors surfaced, agreed to leave, perhaps because she got something beyond her "iron-clad prenup," once thought to be worth a flat $1 million, or because she's actually now earned $5 million, with the prenup now pegged at $1 million per year of marriage. Or maybe the former public school teacher is just tired of living with the mean mogul, 40 years her elder, and of hearing rumors he's been calling some famous comedian's wife. Whatever happened, Redstone is reaching into his pocket at a time when he can least afford it. Writes the LA Times:
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viacom
New York, 5:07 AM
Sat Jul 11
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