Ralph M. Baruch

Executive
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his three-and-a-half-hour Archive interview, Ralph M. Baruch (1923-2016) recounts his childhood in Germany and his family's flight to France during World War II. He recalls his first job in sales at the Du Mont Network and his later transition to CBS' International Division. He discusses the formation of CBS Films and Cinema Center Films, as well as the constant disharmony between the various divisions of the network. Baruch explains the need for CBS Films to spin-off from CBS and become a separate entity known as Viacom. He outlines Viacom's syndication, production, and local station and cable acquisitions, which built the company into a media conglomerate. He speaks of his ouster as CEO of Viacom after Sumner Redstone's takeover, and describes CBS' subsequent acquisition of the company. Baruch sums up with his vision of the then-future of television, syndication and cable. Jenni Matz conducted the interview on November 2, 2010 in New York, NY.

"To make it in television takes persistence… and starting at the bottom. And friends. It's connections."

Highlights
Ralph M. Baruch on the distinction between CBS Network and CBS Television
02:18
Ralph M. Baruch on the creation of Viacom
08:44
Ralph M. Baruch on Viacom acquiring cable channels
03:55
Ralph M. Baruch on acquiring Cable Health Network and Sumner Redstone's takeover of Viacom
14:58
Ralph M. Baruch on establishing the Cable Ace Awards
01:49
Full Interview

Chapter 1
On his family's experiences in World War II in Germany and France
19:14
On the first time he saw television and getting a job as a salesman at the Du Mont Network; on his duties as a salesman for the Du Mont Network and the shows he sold time for; on leaving the Du Mont Network to work at CBS' International Division
10:03
On syndicating shows for CBS internationally; on seeing Arturo Toscanini conduct; on becoming Head of International Sales at CBS and dealing with sales in Australia
15:03
On becoming Head of International Sales at CBS and dealing with sales in Australia; on the distinction between CBS Network and CBS Television; on the FCC's regulation of syndication
15:49

Chapter 2
On the formation of CBS Films and the organization's problems; on how CBS Films impacted his job selling shows 
12:05
On CBS dealing with FCC regulations and the creation of Cinema Center Films; on disharmony between the various CBS divisions
15:37
On the creation of Viacom; on his first actions at the then-newly spun off Viacom
13:59
On former CBS executive Jack Schneider; on Viacom's early television station acquisitions and original productions; on Viacom acquiring cable channels
16:39

Chapter 3
On Viacom acquiring cable systems and lobbying the FCC and Congress, and being sued by the Justice Department; on the continued growth of Viacom in the early '70s with original productions and syndication; on Viacom's biggest syndicated programs
15:12
On Viacom suing the FCC; on the creation of Showtime and MTV Networks
20:33
On acquiring Cable Health Network; on Sumner Redstone's takeover of Viacom
14:57
On his feelings about being forced out of Viacom, and being on the Carnegie Hall Board of Directors
09:42

Chapter 4
On his lack of programming ability; on his success at Viacom and the then-current state of television; on the then-future of television and cable
11:25
On television reaching its potential; on establishing the Cable Ace Awards; on the buyout of CBS by Viacom; on the then-current state of syndication
05:59
On the then-current state of television news; on his longevity and regrets; on advice to aspiring television executives; on his legacy
07:44
Topics

Advice

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Ralph M. Baruch on advice to aspiring television executives
01:07

Historic Events and Social Change

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Ralph M. Baruch on his family's experiences in World War II in Germany and France
19:08

Media Consolidation

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Ralph M. Baruch on the buyout of CBS by Viacom
01:05

Network Creation

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Ralph M. Baruch on the creation of Showtime and MTV Networks
11:57

Television Industry

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Ralph M. Baruch on syndicating shows for CBS internationally
04:34
Ralph M. Baruch on becoming Head of International Sales at CBS and dealing with sales in Australia
08:07
Ralph M. Baruch on dealing with various European countries as Head of International Sales at CBS
05:55
Ralph M. Baruch on the distinction between CBS Network and CBS Television
02:18
Ralph M. Baruch on the FCC's regulation of syndication
06:59
Ralph M. Baruch on the formation of CBS Films and the company's problems
09:24
Ralph M. Baruch on how CBS Films impacted his job selling shows
02:41
Ralph M. Baruch on CBS dealing with FCC regulations and the creation of Cinema Center Films
08:29
Ralph M. Baruch on disharmony between the various CBS divisions
07:00
Ralph M. Baruch on the creation of Viacom
08:44
Ralph M. Baruch on his first actions at the then-newly spun off Viacom
05:14
Ralph M. Baruch on running Viacom day-to-day
05:58
Ralph M. Baruch on Viacom's early television station acquisitions and original productions
03:08
Ralph M. Baruch on Viacom acquiring cable channels
03:55
Ralph M. Baruch on Viacom acquiring cable systems and lobbying the FCC and congress, and being sued by the Justice Department
06:09
Ralph M. Baruch on the continued growth of Viacom in the early '70s with original productions and syndication 
02:29
Ralph M. Baruch on Viacom's biggest syndicated programs
06:26
Ralph M. Baruch on Viacom suing the FCC
08:36
Ralph M. Baruch on the creation of Showtime and MTV Networks
11:57
Ralph M. Baruch on acquiring Cable Health Network and Sumner Redstone's takeover of Viacom
14:58
Ralph M. Baruch on his feelings about being forced out of Viacom and being on the Carnegie Hall Board of Directors
09:42
Ralph M. Baruch on the greatest success stories of Viacom
01:54
Ralph M. Baruch on the then-current state of television
04:34
Ralph M. Baruch on the then-future of television and cable
03:15
Ralph M. Baruch on television reaching its potential
01:45
Ralph M. Baruch on the buyout of CBS by Viacom
01:05
Ralph M. Baruch on the then-current state of syndication
01:19
Ralph M. Baruch on the then-current state of television news
02:27
Ralph M. Baruch on advice to aspiring television executives
01:07

War

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Ralph M. Baruch on his family's experiences in World War II in Germany and France
19:08

World War II

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Ralph M. Baruch on his family's experiences in World War II in Germany and France
19:08
Professions

Executives

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Ralph M. Baruch on advice to aspiring television executives
01:07

Television Executive

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Ralph M. Baruch on advice to aspiring television executives
01:07
People

Sumner M. Redstone

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Ralph M. Baruch on acquiring Cable Health Network and Sumner Redstone's takeover of Viacom
14:58
Ralph M. Baruch on his feelings about being forced out of Viacom and being on the Carnegie Hall Board of Directors
09:42

Frank Stanton

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Ralph M. Baruch on the formation of CBS Films and the company's problems
09:24
Ralph M. Baruch on how CBS Films impacted his job selling shows
02:41
Ralph M. Baruch on CBS dealing with FCC regulations and the creation of Cinema Center Films
08:30
Ralph M. Baruch on disharmony between the various CBS divisions
07:02
Ralph M. Baruch on the creation of Viacom
08:42

Arturo Toscanini

View Person Page
Ralph M. Baruch on seeing Arturo Toscanini conduct
02:12

All Interviews

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