A long-simmering dispute between CBS Corp. and the daughter of billionaire Sumner Redstone turned into open warfare.
The broadcaster sued controlling shareholder National Amusements Inc. May 14, the first step in an attempt to wrest control of the media company from the Redstone family. CBS wants to head off a threat by heiress Shari Redstone to oust some of the network’s directors and block a shareholder vote on a proposal that would lessen the Redstones’ control of the broadcaster.
Hanging in the balance is a potential merger between CBS and Viacom Inc., two companies that are both controlled by the ...