The Chairman
12-11-2002, 02:51 AM
Warning: Name Drop Alert:
I agree with those who are promoting a plan of attack from different fronts. Signs, XMAS tree rally, letters, banners, etc. Everyone has different talents, connections, etc. All good if directed towards a common goal.
In a previous post, I mentioned a connection to Shari Redstone, daughter of Viacom's (Infinity's Owner) CEO Sumner Redstone and a member of Viacom's Executive Board.
http://enews.tufts.edu/stories/050202MogulInTraining.htm
She's to John Sykes, Infinity CEO, what Ron Bennington is to Billy Staples.
First: I'm on a Board with Ms. Redstone, sent her a personal letter, and will be seeing her at an upcoming holiday party/event in NYC. I hope to get some "face time" with her to discuss the "inside scoop" (the Rubicon may already have been crossed in terms of a format change ..... decisions of this caliber are driven by the bottom line, Arbitron ratings, advertising projections, politics, etc.)
But you never know....
What I really hope to glean from her is suggestions on the most effective way(s) to focus our collective efforts. Hopefully she will enlighten me and I can pass this info along to all.
Second: I read the Letterman thread. I think access is key, and I think I can help here as well. As it happens, not only is Ms. Redstone an alum of my college, but so is Rob Burnnett, who is Head of Dave's Production Company, Worldwide Pants, and also The Late Show's Executive Producer. I have met Rob, but better yet, a good friend/fraternity brother from Tufts is also a lead writer for Letterman.
=Access.
http://enews.tufts.edu/stories/101102BurnettWinsLightOnHill.htm
http://enews.tufts.edu/stories/091100AlumsWinEmmys.htm
Third: My family holds a significant amount of Viacom stock, and I own a good number of shares as some of you may. My stock holdings in Viacom resulted in part from my cousin being the long time President and COO of Gulf and Western, which became Paramount, which became Viacom. He is now Vice Chairman of Biopure.
http://www.biopure.com/
http://216.239.39.100/search?q=cache:e_e-qfaXT_UC:media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/NSD/BPUR/reports/bpur_proxy01.pdf+david+n.+judelson&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
If there's another thing I know about business, it's that publicly traded companies listen to their big shareholders. Several of my family members have HUGE Viacom holdings, which resulted in conversion from Gulf and Western stock and many, many splits. I will pursue this angle to see how we can use shareholder power in our efforts.
OK - so the three tiered approach:
Letter to Shari Redstone and "face time."
Contact friend at Letterman and get RnF info/appeal into Rob Burnett's hands and follow-up.
Pursue the Viacom stock angle.
I will continue to report on progress as we all work as a team. Email me if you have any ideas/suggestions as I follow my leads.
Best Wishes
CK
Tufts '89
RnF Fan '02
<img src = http://thereisnogod.faithweb.com/images/kaga.gif>
thanks ADF for the SigPic!!
I'll take that Chesterfield now...
I agree with those who are promoting a plan of attack from different fronts. Signs, XMAS tree rally, letters, banners, etc. Everyone has different talents, connections, etc. All good if directed towards a common goal.
In a previous post, I mentioned a connection to Shari Redstone, daughter of Viacom's (Infinity's Owner) CEO Sumner Redstone and a member of Viacom's Executive Board.
http://enews.tufts.edu/stories/050202MogulInTraining.htm
She's to John Sykes, Infinity CEO, what Ron Bennington is to Billy Staples.
First: I'm on a Board with Ms. Redstone, sent her a personal letter, and will be seeing her at an upcoming holiday party/event in NYC. I hope to get some "face time" with her to discuss the "inside scoop" (the Rubicon may already have been crossed in terms of a format change ..... decisions of this caliber are driven by the bottom line, Arbitron ratings, advertising projections, politics, etc.)
But you never know....
What I really hope to glean from her is suggestions on the most effective way(s) to focus our collective efforts. Hopefully she will enlighten me and I can pass this info along to all.
Second: I read the Letterman thread. I think access is key, and I think I can help here as well. As it happens, not only is Ms. Redstone an alum of my college, but so is Rob Burnnett, who is Head of Dave's Production Company, Worldwide Pants, and also The Late Show's Executive Producer. I have met Rob, but better yet, a good friend/fraternity brother from Tufts is also a lead writer for Letterman.
=Access.
http://enews.tufts.edu/stories/101102BurnettWinsLightOnHill.htm
http://enews.tufts.edu/stories/091100AlumsWinEmmys.htm
Third: My family holds a significant amount of Viacom stock, and I own a good number of shares as some of you may. My stock holdings in Viacom resulted in part from my cousin being the long time President and COO of Gulf and Western, which became Paramount, which became Viacom. He is now Vice Chairman of Biopure.
http://www.biopure.com/
http://216.239.39.100/search?q=cache:e_e-qfaXT_UC:media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/NSD/BPUR/reports/bpur_proxy01.pdf+david+n.+judelson&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
If there's another thing I know about business, it's that publicly traded companies listen to their big shareholders. Several of my family members have HUGE Viacom holdings, which resulted in conversion from Gulf and Western stock and many, many splits. I will pursue this angle to see how we can use shareholder power in our efforts.
OK - so the three tiered approach:
Letter to Shari Redstone and "face time."
Contact friend at Letterman and get RnF info/appeal into Rob Burnett's hands and follow-up.
Pursue the Viacom stock angle.
I will continue to report on progress as we all work as a team. Email me if you have any ideas/suggestions as I follow my leads.
Best Wishes
CK
Tufts '89
RnF Fan '02
<img src = http://thereisnogod.faithweb.com/images/kaga.gif>
thanks ADF for the SigPic!!
I'll take that Chesterfield now...