The Business Tom Freston on building MTV during cable’s wild west years
9 snips
Jan 23, 2026 
Tom Freston, media executive who co-founded MTV and later led Viacom, reflects on his memoir and a life shaping cable television. He recounts MTV’s wild early launch and the culture that fueled it. He talks about dealings with Sumner Redstone, launching Comedy Central, and the high-stakes studio and merger debates around Warner and Netflix.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
How To Frame Competitive Market
- Ted Sarandos argues Netflix competes broadly across 'all beverages' not just studios, reframing merger analysis.
- Matt Belloni counters regulators may see subscription video as a distinct market, tightening scrutiny.
Sumner Sees MTV And Buys In
- Tom Freston recounted MTV's early days and Sumner Redstone's first visit to their lively offices, which amazed him.
- That meeting led Redstone to bid for the company and begin building the Viacom empire.
Comedy Channel Born In 15 Minutes
- Viacom announced a comedy channel on a 15-minute decision to counter HBO's move.
- That impulsive choice ultimately became Comedy Central after a joint venture with HBO/Time Warner.
