Thomas E. Freston is an entertainment industry executive. Returning to the USA in 1979, he joined the Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment Company (WASEC), a leader in the brand new field of cable television programming. He was among the founding members of the team that created MTV: Music Television. As head of advertising, he worked about the “I Want My MTV” ad campaign which helped make the brand new network a cultural phenomenon. MTV Networks established and managed networks including: Nickelodeon, Nick at Night, VH1, Comedy Central, TV Land, Spike, Country Music Channel, Logo, Noggin, among others. As CEO of MTV Networks, Freston enlarged the business’s reach, constructed an animation studio, produced feature films, and developed substantial consumer product and digital companies. Freston manage MTV Networks, Paramount Pictures, Famous Music Publishing, and Simon & Schuster. In January 2006, Viacom split into two independent businesses: Viacom directed by Freston and CBS Corporation headed by Moonves. Among the chief reasons for the move was that Freston had not went decisively enough to purchase MySpace, which was afterward the most popular social networking site; instead Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation bought the website for $580 million. Redstone considered the failure to obtain MySpace led to the 20% fall in Viacom’s stock price in 2006 up to the exact date of Freston’s ouster. Freston’s successor as CEO, Philippe Dauman, was quoted as saying “never, ever let another opponent beat us to the prize”. Redstone told interviewer Charlie Rose that losing MySpace had been “humiliating,” including, “MySpace was sitting there for the taking for $500 million.” Murdoch’s business ended up selling Myspace, which had mostly dropped combined with the rise of competing social networking website Facebook, in 2012; News Corp’s sale price at the time was $35 million.
News & Documentary Emmy Award for Outstanding Historical Programming – Long Form
Star Sign
Sagittarius
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Fact
1
Both he and Leslie Moonves will serve as CEO of their respective companies when the Viacom split is finalized. [July 2005]
2
After the resignation of Viacom President & COO Mel Karmazin, he was elevated to Co-President & Co-COO of Viacom (along with CBS chief Leslie Moonves). [June 2004]
3
Chairman & CEO, MTV Networks [1987]
4
Ranked #6 on Premiere's 2006 "Power 50" list along with Paramount CEO 'Grey, Brad (I)'. They had ranked #9 in 2005.
5
President & Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Viacom, Inc. [June 2004]. In his new role, Freston oversees MTV Networks, BET Networks, Showtime Networks, Simon & Schuster Publishing, Paramount Pictures, and the Paramount Theme Parks.
6
Served as Chairman & CEO, MTV Networks (parent company of MTV, Nickelodeon, VH1, SpikeTV, Comedy Central, MTV2, Noggin/The-N, TV Land) [1987-2004]
7
Graduated with a BA from St. Michael's College in Winooski Park, Vermont.
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Co-President & Co-COO of Viacom International, parent company of MTV Networks, Paramount Pictures, CBS, KingWorld, Infinity Broadcasting, and Simon & Schuster Publishing. [2004-Present]
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Originally worked at the Benton & Bowles advertising agency before beginning his career at Warner AMEX Satellite Entertainment Company (WASEC), which later evolved into what is now the MTV Networks Group.
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Graduated with an MBA from the Leonard Stern School of Business, New York University [NYU].
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Created the "I want my MTV" campaign, which helped to increase awareness of MTV as a brand in the early 1980s and beyond.
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Rock the Kasbah
2015
executive producer
The Diplomat
2015
Documentary executive producer
White City
2015
TV Movie executive producer
Paladar
2014
Documentary executive producer
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
1990 MTV Video Music Awards
1990
TV Special mtv video award executive committee
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Lazarus Effect
2010
Documentary short thanks
Eagles: Hell Freezes Over
1994
TV Special documentary special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Untitled Story of MTV Documentary
2017
Documentary filming
Himself
Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music
2016
TV Mini-Series documentary
Himself
The 1998 Annual Kid's Choice Awards
1998
TV Special
Himself
Known for movies
Rock the Kasbah (2015) as Producer
The Diplomat (2015) as Producer
Paladar (2014) as Producer
Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music (2016) as Himself
$300 Million
