Menu
Sports Media

UNIVERSAL BUYS OUT VIACOM'S STAKE IN USA NETWORK FOR $1.7B

          Viacom Inc. has agreed to sell its 50% stake in USA
     Networks to partner Seagram Co.'s Universal Studios for
     $1.7B, according to Eben Shapiro of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. 
     The deal gives Universal "complete control" of cable
     networks USA and the Sci-Fi Channel.  Seagram Vice Chair
     Robert Matschullat: "USA is not the endgame.  We could buy
     another cable network to go with this.  We have the ability
     to do more."  Universal Studios Chair & CEO Frank Biondi 
     Jr. said USA's schedule, which includes sports coverage such
     as the U.S. Tennis Open, requires only "fine-tuning.  You
     won't see massive programming changes" (WALL STREET JOURNAL,
     9/23). The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Andrew Collier reports that
     Universal "expects to retain current management," including
     USA Chair & CEO Kay Koplovitz (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 9/23).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/1997/09/23/Sports-Media/UNIVERSAL-BUYS-OUT-VIACOMS-STAKE-IN-USA-NETWORK-FOR-$17B.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/1997/09/23/Sports-Media/UNIVERSAL-BUYS-OUT-VIACOMS-STAKE-IN-USA-NETWORK-FOR-$17B.aspx

CLOSE