• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place

2

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

3

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster

1

Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place

2

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

3

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster
Arts & EntertainmentViacom

Viacom Chair Is Moving Forward With Paramount Sale

By
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Down Arrow Button Icon
June 9, 2016, 12:49 PM ET
Photograph by Mel Melcon — LA Times via Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Viacom chairman Philippe Dauman is fighting his mentor and boss in court for control of the media giant, but on Thursday, he said he is still moving forward with plans to sell off a major chunk of Viacom’s 104-year-old movie studio

At a conference hosted by Gabelli & Company, a New York brokerage firm, Dauman said that Viacom is currently involved in “detailed discussions” with a group of potential partners to sell a roughly 49% stake in film studio Paramount Pictures.

Dauman described a potential deal as a “tax-efficient transaction” that he said would “essentially unlock value of approximately $10 or more per Viacom share” if it moves forward successfully. He also hinted at even more potential dealmaking down the road, adding that any party that buys a stake in Paramount would “likely” be a potential strategic partner for the whole of Viacom in the future.

An epic power struggle atop Viacom is playing out publicly amid court battles over the mental acuity of Sumner Redstone, the 93-year-old mogul whose National Amusements holding company controls roughly 80% of voting shares in both Viacom and CBS (CBS). Dauman is currently fighting a move by Redstone to remove him and fellow Viacom board member George Abrams from the trust that will control Viacom and CBS after Redstone’s death. Redstone’s National Amusements recently changed Viacom’s bylaws to require the unanimous approval of the company’s board to approve any deal involving Paramount, citing a need to protect “long-term interests of shareholders.”

At a Q&A session at the conference, Dauman joked about the legal drama that has been chronicled in the business press, including Fortune. “It’s a lot more fun being involved in creating the content then in being the content,” Dauman said, to laughs.

Dauman confirmed on Thursday that the company is moving forward with deal talks after whittling down the list of prospective buyers from more than 40 strategic partners to a smaller group of “major, global” potential buyers, though he admitted that Viacom’s initial goal of selling a stake in Paramount by the end of June “is going to slip somewhat” on account of the ongoing legal obstacles.

“We are going to proceed deliberately, thoughtfully, and thoroughly with our board as we perfect and move forward with a transaction,” Dauman said.

The delayed stake sale is just one of the side-effects of the ongoing saga involving Sumner Redstone’s media empire and the dissolution of the billionaire’s relationship with Dauman, who, on Thursday, described the mogul as “a great friend for over 30 years.” And, it comes at a time when Dauman has faced criticism of his leadership as Viacom’s shares are down about 35% over the past 12 months.

“Paramount’s had a tough year. It’s no secret,” Dauman admitted at the conference on Thursday. Of the six major U.S. film studios, Paramount is currently fifth in terms of overall box-office gross in 2016 at a little more than $350 million domestically, which is not even one-quarter of the amount that market leader Walt Disney’s (DIS) films have made, according to Box Office Mojo. Last year, Paramount finished sixth in terms of overall domestic box office, just ahead of mid-major studio Lionsgate (LGF). Paramount’s recent slate of films has disappointed, with Zoolander 2, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows failing to make much of an impression at the box office. Star Trek Beyond is coming out soon.

Dauman promised a “vibrant pipeline” of new films to boost Paramount’s box-office results going forward, noting that the studio will continue to set a target of 15 new movie releases each year. The Viacom chairman also stressed the importance of targeting emerging foreign movie markets as a growing source of revenue. Dauman said Paramount plans to release a new film from the profitable Transformers franchise, which typically performs well overseas, every year for the next several years.

With regard to Dauman’s intent to tap foreign markets, potential buyers for the Paramount stake have included Chinese companies like Dalian Wanda, which previously approached Paramount and has been building a global movie and entertainment presence with assets including theaters and studios. China’s movie industry is rapidly expanding and the country is set to overtake the U.S. as the world’s largest movie market sometime next year.

About the Author
By Tom Huddleston Jr.
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Arts & Entertainment

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Arts & Entertainment

powell
InvestingSports
Premier League Lacrosse adds Rob Mac, Glen Powell to investors group in historic $100 million funding round
By The Associated PressJune 30, 2026
9 hours ago
swiss
EuropeHeat
It’s so hot in Switzerland that yodelers are standing in fountains
By Jez Fielder and The Associated PressJune 30, 2026
10 hours ago
Dave Portnoy
SuccessCareers
Dave Portnoy quit an $80K sales job to start Barstool—he hand-delivered papers in a secondhand van while living with his girlfriend’s mom for 6 years
By Preston ForeJune 29, 2026
1 day ago
bm
PoliticsWhite House
As Bill Maher accepts Mark Twain Prize, the funniest thing is the tarp draped across the Kennedy Center
By Steven Sloan and The Associated PressJune 29, 2026
1 day ago
The CEO behind Grand Theft Auto VI doesn’t play video games, but analysts say he has put $1.5 billion behind the biggest game launch of the decade
Big TechVideo Games
The CEO behind Grand Theft Auto VI doesn’t play video games, but analysts say he has put $1.5 billion behind the biggest game launch of the decade
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJune 29, 2026
1 day ago
Big-budget ‘Supergirl’ is among DC Studios’ worst flops for an opening weekend and was reportedly trimmed significantly after test screenings
Arts & EntertainmentMovies
Big-budget ‘Supergirl’ is among DC Studios’ worst flops for an opening weekend and was reportedly trimmed significantly after test screenings
By Jake Coyle and The Associated PressJune 28, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place
Success
Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place
By Sydney LakeJune 29, 2026
1 day ago
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
Success
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
6 days ago
Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster
Success
Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster
By Preston ForeJune 27, 2026
3 days ago
'Humanity has chosen to become idiots': This Brown professor switched to take-home exams after a mass shooting and discovered mass cheating
AI
'Humanity has chosen to become idiots': This Brown professor switched to take-home exams after a mass shooting and discovered mass cheating
By Catherina GioinoJune 29, 2026
1 day ago
The retired college professor fighting a $313 trespassing ticket in Wisconsin thinks he's part of a national struggle
Environment
The retired college professor fighting a $313 trespassing ticket in Wisconsin thinks he's part of a national struggle
By Catherina GioinoJune 28, 2026
3 days ago
Current price of oil as of June 29, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 29, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 29, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.