Viacom and Sumner Redstone

media empire: As of Tuesday close, Viacom shares VIA, +2.36% have fallen 50.2 percent over the past year, wiping out $16 billion of value, according to Market Watch. In fact, since Sumner Redstone split his media empire into two companies on Jan. 3, 2006 — Viacom and CBS CBS, +1.14% — shares of the Les Moonves-led TV network have gained 72 percent while the Philippe Dauman-led Viacom is off 2 percent. After watching ratings at the company MTV, Nickelodeon, Spike and Comedy Central fall more sharply than their peers — with nary a response from Viacom executive team — investors are now watching the company shares tumble at a faster rate than other media companies. While the ratings and stock price meltdown has been painful enough, shareholders are now beginning to become concerned about upcoming crucial talks between the company and Dish Networks. In addition, questions are still swirling about how Viacom will replace the popular show hosts Jon Stewart, John Oliver, Stephen Colbert and comedy duo Key and Peele — all of whom exited Comedy Central. Investors are concerned that Dish DISH, -0.07% will be able to force Viacom to accept a cheap price — something Viacom will then have to give its other distribution partners. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.