Tom Freston resigns as Viacom CEO

According to TV Week, Tom Freston, president and CEO of Viacom, Inc., resigned from the comapny today. He was replaced as president and CEO by Philippe Dauman. No reason was given for his resignation.

Remember that earlier this year, CBS split off from Viacom, with Les Moonves heading up the broadcast TV, radio, and billboard businesses (CBS, Inc.) and Freston heading up the cable networks and the Paramount studio (Viacom, Inc.). Freston's place in television history is significant, since he co-founded and developed MTV during the formative days of cable. He also came up with the famous "I Want My MTV" ad campaign of the early eighties. So his association with the network is a long one (MTV is owned by Viacom). No word on what his next move is.