Sumner Redstone

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 nearly two-hour Archive interview, Sumner Redstone (1923-2020) reveals his early experiences as a code breaker during World War II and recalls his start at National Amusements, the drive-in theater company founded by his father. He shares how he quickly turned the company into a thriving nation-wide theater chain and soon sought ways to diversify his interests. He discusses his purchase of Viacom in 1987 and the later acquisitions of Paramount, Blockbuster and CBS. Redstone explains his philosophy for success, which includes a passion for winning and a commitment to excellence, and expounds upon his mantra that "content is king." Don West conducted the interview on November 16, 2000 in New York, NY.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"I believe that the only philosophy of life that's compatible with sanity is optimism. And the other thing I believe, and I've taught to my kids from day one: success is not built on success; it's built on failure. Frustration. Sometimes even calamity -- and how we deal with it."

People Talking About ...
Sumner Redstone
Highlights
Sumner Redstone on "content is king"
02:50
Sumner Redstone on the legend of leaving a screening of "Star Wars" to buy shares of 20th Century Fox
00:50
Sumner Redstone on the role of government in broadcasting
02:06
Sumner Redstone on being caught in a hotel fire in 1979
02:49
Sumner Redstone on keeping up with current fads and trends
00:30
Sumner Redstone on repurposing content on TV Land and Nick at Nite
00:47
Full Interview

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Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on his intense academic experience in high school; on Harvard and Harvard Law 
On code breaking during World War II; on his first job after law school and getting out of the legal profession; on taking over his father's Drive-In theater business - National Amusement - the parent company of Viacom
On his accomplishments in theater exhibition - multiplexes; on being caught in a hotel fire in 1979; on aging; on National Amusement purchasing Viacom

Chapter 2
On Barry Diller and the Paramount battle; on getting out of cable operation and becoming the number one software-driven media company in the world
On Blockbuster and starting video-on-demand services; on MTV, UPN and CBS
On acquiring the WWE; on acquiring BET; on working with John Malone and Rupert Murdoch

Chapter 3
On if a media company can get too big; on the social responsibility of television; on the role of government in broadcasting
On how the television business will change; on his philosophy for success; on discipline and commitment

Chapter 4
On digital television and challenging cable; on HDTV and fragmentation; on repurposing content
On his stake in the new media world; on "content is king"; on Broadband and wireless; on successful brands
On future plans; on how much his teachers influenced him and on teaching at Harvard; on media consolidation and social responsibility; on being a risk taker; on his accomplishments
Topics

Creative Influences and Inspiration

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Sumner Redstone on mentors and teachers in his career
01:42

Historic Events and Social Change

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Sumner Redstone on code breaking during World War II
04:45

Media Consolidation

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Sumner Redstone on the Paramount battle and Viacom becoming the number one software-driven media company in the world
08:55
Sumner Redstone on Viacom's acquisition of CBS, and on dealing with Mel Karmazin
05:12
Sumner Redstone on negotiating with John Malone to buy BET
02:17
Sumner Redstone on if a media company can get too big
01:21
Sumner Redstone on media consolidation
01:33

Network Creation

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Sumner Redstone on his then-plans for UPN
01:32

New Media

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Sumner Redstone on his deal with TiVo
00:27
Sumner Redstone on Viacom's stake in New Media in the then-future
00:55
Sumner Redstone on wireless and the internet
02:34

Pivotal Career Moments

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Sumner Redstone on mentors and teachers in his career
01:42

Technological Innovation

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Sumner Redstone on digital television and challenging cable, and on HDTV and fragmentation
05:11
Sumner Redstone on media consolidation
01:33

Television Industry

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Sumner Redstone on the Paramount battle and Viacom becoming the number one software-driven media company in the world
08:55
Sumner Redstone on his deal with TiVo
00:27
Sumner Redstone on his then-plans for UPN
01:32
Sumner Redstone on Viacom's acquisition of CBS, and on dealing with Mel Karmazin
05:12
Sumner Redstone on negotiating with John Malone to buy BET
02:17
Sumner Redstone on if a media company can get too big
01:21
Sumner Redstone on the then future of television
01:02
Sumner Redstone on Viacom's stake in New Media in the then-future
00:55
Sumner Redstone on wireless and the internet
02:34
Sumner Redstone on media consolidation
01:33

War

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Sumner Redstone on code breaking during World War II
04:45

World War II

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Sumner Redstone on code breaking during World War II
04:45
Professions

Cable Executive

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Sumner Redstone on purchasing Viacaom
02:58

Executives

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Sumner Redstone on purchasing Viacaom
02:58
People

Mel Karmazin

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Sumner Redstone on Viacom's acquisition of CBS, and on dealing with Mel Karmazin
05:12

John Malone

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Sumner Redstone on negotiating with John Malone to buy BET
02:17

Rupert Murdoch

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Sumner Redstone on working with Rupert Murdoch
00:45
Sumner Redstone on Rupert Murdoch and media moguls
01:22

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