CBS and Viacom were once part of the same company, known as Viacom, but were split in 2005 into separate entities, both controlled by Sumner Redstone. His daughter, Shari Redstone, has been pushing to reunite the companies under one corporate umbrella. Moonves has been opposed to the deal.
CBS said its current “management team has the full support of the independent board members” in the ongoing litigation involving National Amusements. The legal case is being played out in Delaware court.
National Amusements jumped into the controversy with a statement denying what it called “the malicious insinuation that Ms. Redstone is somehow behind the allegations of inappropriate personal behavior by Mr. Moonves or today’s reports.”
“Ms. Redstone hopes that the investigation of these allegations is thorough, open and transparent,” the company said.
Moonves, one of the most powerful executives in media, has led CBS for two decades, including the 12 years since it split from Viacom.
He revived the company, which operates the CBS network, Showtime and other entities, with hit shows like “NCIS” and “The Big Bang Theory.”
He also introduced separate streaming CBS and Showtime services as more people “cut the cord” and watch TV online. The network consistently tops in prime-time ratings.
While CBS’s stock took a hit, Viacom’s rose sharply as investors anticipated that a combination of CBS and Viacom could become more likely should Moonves be forced out. Viacom closed up 4.6 percent.
Moonves was the No. 2 highest paid CEO of a major public company in 2017, according to an analysis by The Associated Press and Equilar, an executive data firm. He made $68.4 million last year, behind only chip maker Broadcom’s CEO.
Before joining CBS, he was president of Warner Bros. Television, where he oversaw the development of hit TV shows “Friends” and “ER.”
Moonves, who is married to TV personality and CBS producer Julie Chen, was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2013. He also won the Milestone Award from the Producers Guild of America that year.
Associated Press Technology Writer Mae Anderson contributed to this report.
Article Appeared @https://www.seattletimes.com/business/cbs-investigates-misconduct-claims-following-report-on-ceo/