Viacom CEO Says Company ‘Absolutely’ Doesn’t Need CBS Deal

Viacom Inc., which agreed this week to buy the online video network Pluto TV for $340 million, “absolutely” doesn’t need to merge with CBS Corp. to prosper, Chief Executive Officer Bob Bakish said.

“We cemented our turnaround in ’18,” Bakish, who’s led Viacom for two years, said on Bloomberg Television. “We’re now leaning hard into the evolution of our company, growing our opportunity.”

Viacom CEO Bob Bakish discusses the Pluto TV acquisition, content distribution, and progress in talks with CBS.

(Source: Bloomberg)

Controlled by Shari Redstone, Viacom has been under pressure to combine with CBS, the other half of her family’s media empire. CBS’s board is expected to consider a possible tie-up at a meeting later ...