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"One of the largest global media empires, '''Viacom''' has a financial interest in broadcast and cable television, radio, Internet, book publishing, and film production and distribution. Some of this vertically integrated conglomerate's highly recognizable properties include the [[CBS]] network, MTV, Infinity broadcasting, [[Simon & Schuster]], Blockbuster and Paramount Pictures. With such a diverse portfolio of properties, Viacom is one of the most profitable media giants as [[CBS]] is a top draw for older viewers while MTV remains the most popular teen orientated media outlet." --[http://www.cjr.org/tools/owners/viacom.asp Columbia Journalism Review] During 2003-4, Viacom refused to run advertisements of [[MoveOn]].org [http://www.mediachannel.org/views/dissector/affalert131.shtml], [http://progressivetrail.org/articles/040117Karr.shtml], [http://truthout.org/docs_04/011904I.shtml] *In February 2003, the grass-roots advocacy group-solicited donations from its email members to raise $75,000 to place an anti-war ad on billboards in four major American markets. The group claims that they raised the amount from members in two hours. When they approached Viacom Outdoor -- a division of Viacom and the largest outdoor-advertising entity in North America -- the company refused to post the ads, according to MoveOn. *In March 2003 MTV, another Viacom-owned entity, refused to accept a commercial opposing war in Iraq, citing a similar policy against advocacy spots that it says protects the channel from having to run ads from any cash-rich interest group whose cause may be loathsome. The youth-oriented music station regularly airs recruitment ads for the U.S. Army. *In January 2004, [[CBS]] rejected a request from MoveOn to air, during the forthcoming SuperBowl event, a 30-second ad that criticizes the Bush administration's run-up of the federal deficit, saying that it violated the network's policy against accepting "advocacy advertising" [sic]. **At the same time, [[CBS]] is allowing ads placed on the docket by the White House's anti-drug office. According to Adage.com, Super Bowl 2004 will also include product spots for AOL, Bayer and GlaxoSmithKline, Daimler Chrysler, FedEx, FritoLay, GM, H&R Block, Monster WorldWide, the NFL, Pepsi Cola, Philip Morris, Procter & Gamble, Sony Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Universal Studios, Visa USA, and Warner Brothers. == External Resources == *'''Corporate Website''' [http://viacom.com/ viacom.com] with links to its subsidiaries and components *[http://www.openairwaves.org/telecom/analysis/default.aspx?action=org&ID=8027 Profile at openairwaves.org] *[http://www.cjr.org/tools/owners/viacom-timeline.asp Viacom Corporate Timeline] at CJR == SourceWatch Resources == *[[echo chamber]] *[[globalization]] *[[media control]]