When it rains, it pours, especially if you’re over-leveraged Sumner Redstone. Despite Monday’s stock market rally, the share price for his videogame publisher Midway Games hit the skids and lost a whopping 12% of its market value. The maker of titles Unreal Tournament 3 and Mortal Kombat fell 15 cents to close at $1.10. That’s down 67.1% from its year-ago price. As Forbes.com noted, Midway Games had “a doozy of a day” — making Redstone’s really rotten. His holding company National Amusements already had to sell hundreds of millions of dollars worth of shares in Viacom and CBS at rock bottom prices. Forbes speculated Monday that perhaps Redstone was “going to turn around and lend the money to the struggling Midway Games just to keep the company afloat”. Redstone already is said to be
in talks with bankers to renegotiate terms on $1.6 billion in debt because of the losses in value of his contrlling shares of CBS and Viacom used as collateral. Geez, it wasn’t long ago that other media moguls were envious of Redstone for having the foresight to invest in videogames — which he once boasted were “the hottest part of the entertainment industry” – not for Viacom but for his personal portfolio. Are they feeling sorry for Sumner now? Anyone? Anyone?






Gee, I sure hope he doesn’t go hungry.
Investing in video games is all well and good, but it’s dependent almost entirely on keeping a steady supply of the hottest, most popular games going out at all times.
As for Redstone, I can’t believe that someone with as much… experience as him, couldn’t see the dangers of debt with the credit market being almost completely dependent on sub-prime mortgages and a fragile, now broken, housing bubble.
Well, I’ve been collecting my pennies, and at if things keep going the way they are, I’ll be able to buy a controlling interest in Paramount.
That $20 bill in his hand was a handout from SHARI. She has “rachmoonus” for him even though she doesn’t love him like my children love me. . Other than Philippe his “ass kisser” he doesnt have a real friend.
Hope ‘HE TWISTS IN TURMOIL”
Oh, how beautiful it would be if he sold off Paramount and let a real old-fashion storyteller (not that the current administration there is great) run things.
Please, let this financial crisis actually yield some positive changes, like the studios being run by humans, and not boards and stockbrokers and bodies of companies.
Last night on American Scoreboard with David Ansman on Fox Business,Perer Guber of Mandalay Entertainment was talking about the state of the Entertaiment business and how the credit crunch was affecting some movie productions. Those already in the pipeline aren’t going to be affected but those in production now could be. But Guber pointed out the fact that investors come from the craziest places. He was real interesting to hear and did u know he owns stock in a minor league baseball team?
He did criticized the movies for some. If the product was of better quality the more the audience will fill a cinema. But an audiences makes and breaks hit.
Now everyone is talking about the American economy and eclections, nice to read something different. Eugene
No sympathy at all. Now all of you are seeing the real truth about the wealth of these so-called moguls.
The fun hasn’t even started yet, look for more liquidations amongst hedge funds and institutions that are on the hook for CDS redemptions.. Lehman CDS contracts come due today, value of underlying securities is about 9 cents on the dollar, so those who wrote CDS contracts are on the hook for 91 cents of loss per dollar..
AIG wrote a ton of that garbage, and guess who’s on the hook for AIG now? That’s right, the US taxpayer, AKA Uncle Sucker…
Feel sorry for Sumner Redstone?
I don’t think that’s possible.
Video Games are hot, but you don’t really see the Midway logo as of now. The top players are Electronic Arts, Take Two Interactive, Microsoft, and LEGO Interactive. Right now the top video game is a LEGO production based on the Indiana Jones films and could be the must have gift this Christmas/Holiday season.
I wonder what Tom Cruise has to say about his ol’ pal’s dilemma
To understand Sumner Redstone, you have to look at his right hand. Back in ’79, he was trapped in a burning hotel. Redstone was severely burned, but survived by hanging from a ledge on the third floor. He made a decision to live when dying would have been much easier.
I’m not counting someone like that out.
This is actually a photo of the AMPTP’s “last and final offer.”
You think the Entertainment credit crises will force Hollywood to go back to making good films, that might turn a profit.
As far a collapse in the market Redstone can & will triumph back on top. While knowing him personally he is extremely a tough person who knows what he is doing .
O man Redstone should put his daughther in charge of Viacom .
Dauman is an ass kisser as you stated but Moonves is a man with no conscience.
Shari is the best man for the job but you cant tell that to her saggy old dad.so let the Empire rip !
Mnnay you’re half right,Shari is the best man for the job.
But Viacom will not allways end up on top their days are numbered.