SOLIDARITY WITH STUDENTS
Viacom channels go dark to support walkout
Media giant Viacom Inc. joined in solidarity with students across the nation taking part in school walkouts to demand action on gun violence by suspending regular programming on its networks and platforms for 17 minutes yesterday. The owner of MTV, BET, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, Comedy Central, TV Land and CMT had its networks and other properties go dark from 10 a.m. to 10:17 a.m., one minute for each of the 17 students and teachers killed by a gunman last month at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.
Viacom also let students take over MTV’s social media accounts during the walkout, and it plans extensive on-air and digital coverage to promote the upcoming March for Our Lives, the movement against gun violence that plans March 24 demonstrations in Washington, D.C., and across the country.
“These students have an opportunity to do what no one else has been able to accomplish — to succeed in getting new gun safety measures enacted,” Shari Redstone, vice chairman of the New York-based Viacom board, said in a statement to the Herald. “They will never give up, and I will never give up supporting them in every way that I can, including asking everyone I know to sign their petition at https://march forourlivespetition.com.”
Redstone is making a $500,000 donation to March for Our Lives. She is president of Norwoodbased movie theater owner National Amusements Inc., the privately held parent company and controlling shareholder of Viacom and CBS Corp.
Redstone, who was unavailable for comment, has always been interested in “causes that deal with fairness and justice and students and education, and all of those elements are part of this,” her spokeswoman, Nancy Sterling, said.
To promote awareness of the March for Our Lives, Viacom’s MTV and Comedy Central are changing the colors of their logos to orange in support of gun violence awareness in the run-up to the event. In addition, “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” and “The Opposition w/ Jordan Klepper” will continue their ongoing coverage related to gun violence, and Nickelodeon’s “Kids’ Choice Awards,” which will air on the night of the march, will acknowledge the event during the broadcast.
Viacom also will partner with organizations to develop gun safety-related projects for its annual community service day, Viacommunity Day, on April 20.