Sumner Redstone Quotations

Success is not built on success. It's built on failure. It's built on frustration. Sometimes its built on catastrophe.

It was always tough, but today we are in the throes of something we have never seen in our history. It's clear in recent times the market is looking for a bottom.

I think we're in the beginning of a bull market. When a bull market begins, nine months later the economy turns around.

Murdoch paid too much for the Wall Street Journal even when he didn't have any competition.

The newspaper is dying. I'm not sure there will be newspapers and its one business I'd never be in

We recognize the need to adapt to a changing competitive environment,

The reason we have not gone to newspapers is because its a slow growth industry and I think they are dying. I'm not sure there will be newspapers in 10 years. I read newspapers every day. I even read Murdoch's Wall Street Journal.

The Internet is a powerful way to make lots of money... But we are not going to buy Yahoo!

We understand that the real market value of Blockbuster may never be fully realized as a wholly owned part of Viacom,

Viacom's results for the first quarter put the company on a fast track for another record year in 2004.

We have a pretty clear signal that we will be able to keep UPN.

Li is clearly a pioneer in bringing innovative partnerships to the Chinese people.

He was the first to recognize the strength of cable programming.

He is all over the lot. Li is clearly a pioneer in bringing innovative partnerships to the Chinese people.

Having completed a strategic refocusing on its core television business, Spelling is a perfect fit with Viacom's entertainment business. By fully integrating Spelling into the Viacom family, with the efficiencies and economies of scale we can bring to bear, both Spelling's and Paramount's operations will be greatly enhanced.

We are extremely fortunate to have John, a top-notch executive with more than 25 years of experience in the service-oriented retail business, as the new leader of Blockbuster Entertainment,

It is clear that... Viacom's businesses have inherently different growth characteristics and investment attributes that appeal to different types of investors,

Large is no longer in charge, ... Leverage will belong to the nimble and the swift.

Our job was to fix (Blockbuster). We've done that. Our job is to grow it now.

Paramount Pictures continued its remarkable run of box office hits in the second quarter with

Partnerships with Chinese companies are central to our long-term strategy.

Some have suggested that we spin off Blockbuster, which as many of you know becomes an option beginning in the fourth quarter of 1999. Others have suggested the notion of an initial public offering carve-out prior to the spin-off.

Look at the assets we bring together, ... We bring together a great studio and the most powerful cable networks in the world. We add that to CBS network, CBS' wonderful television station, CBS Radio, CBS Outdoor Advertising and soon we're adding (syndication company) King World to it. There's no company in the world that has that mix of assets. This will be the fastest-growing media company in the world.

Let me say it remains our intention to split off Blockbuster from Viacom sometime after the first of the year, ... Having said that, we will not give it away.

The quarter was fuelled by double-digit ad sales growth across the board, spurred by such ratings triumphs as CBS's 'Survivor,' which generated significant prime-time audience gains at CBS, and MTV's 'Video Music Awards,' this year's highest-rated cable entertainment program.

We are ready to go forward and we are optimistic that the FCC and DOJ (endorsement) will come soon.

We have made a strategic decision that the future of Viacom lies in maximizing the value and potential of our core entertainment assets. The sale of our education, professional and reference publishing businesses will further refine that focus on software-driven entertainment, unlock the substantial value of these undervalued publishing assets for our shareholders and dramatically improve our capital structure.

We've delivered on our promises and greatly enhanced shareholder value. This move reflects our optimism in the company's ability to sustain its momentum in 1999 and beyond.

We are siblings separated in 1971 and are today reunited, ... This partnership seems almost dictated by destiny.

With both Viacom's and Infinity's core businesses performing at record levels, it is the perfect time to bring them more closely together, ... Combining Infinity with Viacom will now create a company that is financially even stronger and strategically even better positioned to generate superior returns.

With respect to the future, what I can tell you now is we are aware of and considering these and all of our options,

Viacom turned in an outstanding performance in the second quarter of 2002, particularly in light of the continuing challenges of a slow recovery in the overall economic environment,

Viacom's fourth-quarter performance is indicative of a new vitality at the company and the major strides we have made in 1997.

Viacom's exceptional third-quarter results highlight the across-the-board strength of our company, ... In addition to the return to significant growth at Blockbuster, we continue to see outstanding performances at the Paramount studio and at the MTV and Showtime networks.

Viacom is off to a strong start in 2000, paced by the continued outstanding performance of MTV Network, which turned in its fifth consecutive quarter of 20 percent-plus ad sales growth, and Showtime, which registered a 25 percent gain in (cash flow) for the first three months of the year,

We are very optimistic on the rest of the year.

Consolidation was a necessary and positive trend in the evolution of these businesses. But we have entered a new era of rapid technological change and global competition. Bulk will not ensure success.

The transaction should also enable us to retain the best people for each business and would provide incentives for the creation of shareholder value that are more closely tied to the businesses they run,

Isn't that what a merger is supposed to be about -- building value for investors? ... While others are starting over, we are ready for the second act. ... We will deliver on our promises.

The significant strengths of new Viacom to deliver consistent double-digit, bottom-line growth and the proven cash generation ability of CBS Corp. will underpin their performance and define their attractiveness to investors.

Sometimes divorce is better than marriage. We found out that bigger is not necessarily better.

The Internet is a powerful way to make lots of money, ... But we are not going to buy Yahoo!.

In the 21st century, large is no longer in charge.

I have read The New York Times, and I still say I saw nothing in it that would make me change my opinion.

In the second quarter and beyond, we will continue to benefit from the combination of a vibrant advertising market and strong ratings at our cable networks.

I cannot visualize any disagreement that cannot be resolved by us.

The Chinese government is more skeptical about American media companies, but I have been going to China for eight years and I don't think it will affect Viacom. In China, it is always two steps forward and one step back.

The concepts of our shows that we've created here (in the U.S.) travel in China and around the world, even though the language is different,

I listen to my daughter. I listen to Paula, but I make the decisions. The decision to say goodbye to Cruise was mine.

The explosion was good. It sent a message to the rest of the world that the time of the big star getting all this money is over. And it is! I would like to think that what I did, or what we did, has had a salutary effect on the rest of the industry.

I love Viacom. I love CBS. And so I don't want to die. I have a will to live. The same will to win that I've always had. And — I'm gonna fight death as long as I can. I like it here. I don't want to go anywhere else.

We need to listen to consumers' needs

We don't think that someone who effectuates creative suicide and costs the company revenue should be on the lot,

I will believe in the 500-channel world only when I see it.

Great success is built on failure, frustration, even catastrophy.

The information superhighway is a dirt road that won't be paved over until 2025.

One doesn't accept bad challenges. Part of it is always the risk-taking without seeing that the risks are rational and the rewards are commensurate.. are more than commensurate.. with the risks.

I am very pleased with the progress of the new CBS Corporation. The Company's rapid pace of change and innovative approach to emerging business opportunities can be seen in the many strategic announcements we have made over these past few months. The more focused and more nimble organization we sought to create has become a reality and that aggressive spirit of excellence and innovation will continue to benefit shareholders for many years to come.

Viacoms results for the first quarter put the company on a fast track for another record year in 2004.

When I lose my marbles which is never, when I lose my energy, I travel the world today for Viacom, China, Turkey, Dubai, Kuwait. When that happens, I'll know enough to retire, but that's never gonna happen. I'm here for forever.

In order to succeed, you have to live dangerously.. as long as the danger is rationally accepted and as long as the rewards far outweigh the risk.

At the time we acquired Viacom, everyone said I had overpaid. But even at today's depressed prices, that investment is worth billions. Everyone was saying MTV was a fad. I knew better.

I've always had that obsessive will to win and a commitment to excellence.

We all have to decide how we are going to fail, by not going far enough or by going too far.

Opportunity does not knock. You have to find it

Sometimes divorce is better than marriage