Les Moonves: Viacom Split May Have Its Benefits

Viacom Inc., CBS's parent company, may be headed for a split. But CBS president Les Moonves is staying positive.

"I am guardedly optimistic without going overboard," Moonves said earlier this week. "I think it is likely that it will happen but, once again, it ain't over until it's over."

Viacom currently serves as CBS and MTV's parent company, but Moonves revealed it will most likely split into two, allowing the two networks to stand on their own. Moonves will continue to be head of CBS as well as UPN broadcast networks, the Infinity Broadcasting radio unit, outdoor advertising and book publishing. The CBS head admitted that if the split happens, it will have some benefits. "If we become independent, we will be able to negotiate on our own without MTV being part of it."

One of Moonves plans for sustaining CBS on its own involves the direct selling of episodes of CSI to viewers through video-on-demand and other wireless technologies. In other words, fans may soon be able to pay as little as a dollar to watch an episode of CSI on their cell phones and other wireless devices. "If the advertising model does come down slightly in the future, I think there's available resources to get the money back in other ways," said Moonves, who mainly wishes for CBS to remain humble. "We're going to be a very stable company, but we're not going to be Con Edison."

Head over to CNN, Newsday, or Variety to learn more about the possible Viacom split and read the rest of Moonves comments on the split.

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