DOOLEY ORDAINED
Redstone likes interim Viacom CEO
Viacom interim Chief Executive Tom Dooley may be Sumner Redstone’s next “genius friend.”
Redstone, who has a habit of describing top executives within his $40 billion media empire in hyper-glowing terms, is said to be behind keeping Dooley in the corner office beyond his interim status, The Post has learned.
Dooley was named interim CEO last week as part of the deal that saw his former boss, disgraced ex-CEO Philippe Dauman, step down. The interim CEO post runs through Sept. 30.
The former chief operating officer is frantically formulating a new long-term strategy for the troubled cable programmer, sources close to the matter said.
Redstone is said to believe Dooley is a known quantity and has what it takes to turn Viacom around, sources close to the 93-year-old mogul said.
“Everyone is committed to giving Dooley a real shot here,” the source said.
However, both Redstone and his daughter, Shari, want the entire newly formed Viacom board to have the freedom to make up their own minds, the source said.
Critics see Dooley as another Dauman, since the two have worked together for decades.
Others defend the 60year-old executive, suggesting he had little chance to push his own vision for the company, the owner of Paramount Pictures and cable channels MTV and Nickelodeon, with Dauman running the show.
The 16-person Viacom board is expected to hear Dooley’s presentation in the next few weeks — but the Sumner camp is not expecting the presentation to include any major revamp or other fireworks, the source said.
“You don’t necessarily have to turn it on its head overnight,” said a source familiar with conversations.
Rebuilding Viacom is key to improving its stock price and its negotiating leverage after a rocky quarter in which partners shied away from doing deals, fearful they may be contested in court.
Major Viacom investor Mario Gabelli told The Post on Aug. 19 that he didn’t think it likely that Dooley would stick around — be- lieving a get-together with CBS was a more likely path.
Meanwhile, the Redstone camp remains unmoved by suggestions that Viacom sell off Paramount, which owns the rights to classic movies, including “The Godfather.”
Sumner Redstone would have to be convinced a sale of the studio was the best way to “right the ship,” the sources said.