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January 13, 2005
JOEL HOLLANDER NAMED CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF VIACOM'S INFINITY BROADCASTING
Joel Hollander has been named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of Infinity Broadcasting, Viacom Inc.'s (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) radio
division, it was announced today by Leslie Moonves, Co-President and
Co-Chief Operating Officer, Viacom. Hollander, who will report to
Moonves, has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of
Infinity since May 2003. The appointment is effective immediately.
Hollander
will have overall responsibility for Infinity's 183 radio stations, and
will also oversee day-to-day operations of the division.
"Joel
is one of the finest operators in the radio business, hands down," said
Moonves. "He has brought tremendous energy, industry savvy and
discipline to Infinity Broadcasting since joining the company, where he
has helped our stations grow their ratings and revenues in a
challenging advertising climate. He's also helped sell Madison Avenue
on the power of radio and our Infinity brands, which has made a huge
impact. I have the utmost confidence in Joel and his team, and I look
forward to working with them as we realize the full potential of our
industry-leading portfolio."
"We have the industry's
strongest, most powerful collection of stations, and I am looking
forward to working with Leslie and all the hard working employees at
Infinity as we maximize our full potential and really sell the power of
radio," said Hollander. "Under Leslie's leadership, we have received an
unprecedented amount of support and resources, and we've already
started to see that translate into real momentum. Having his ear and
guidance will be a huge benefit as we seek to grow our businesses."
Hollander
succeeds John Sykes, who is leaving Infinity and taking on a new role
at MTV Networks overseeing the development and launch of new branded
television networks. Details on the new position will be announced
shortly.
"John brought real big-picture, out of the box
thinking to radio, which is what the industry has needed for a long
time," said Moonves. "The same attributes that distinguished him at MTV
Networks translated into creative, non-traditional radio programming
for Infinity, and the industry took notice. He has wanted to get back
to television for some time, and this new role represents a great
opportunity for him to do what he loves most."
Prior to
returning to Infinity, Hollander served as President and CEO of
Westwood One (1998-2003). As President and CEO of Westwood One,
Hollander acquired Metro Networks, the nation's largest provider of
traffic, news, weather and sports information, and developed and
expanded partnerships with the NFL, NCAA, Notre Dame Football,
Wimbledon, USGA, The British Open, The Masters, Marketwatch.com, FOX
News, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences/The GRAMMYs, and
The Academy of Country Music. He also created new programming and added
significant star power to Westwood One's existing programs, including
Boomer Esiason and Marv Albert in the NFL Monday Night Football booth,
The John Madden Sports Quiz, The Radio Factor with Bill O'Reilly, and
The Laura Ingraham Show. Hollander also extended key Viacom brands with
the launch of radio networks with VH1, BET and CMT, and the expansion
of the MTV Radio Network.
Prior to joining Westwood One,
Hollander was General Manager of WFAN-AM New York. An original member
of the WFAN team, Hollander played a major role in the steady yet
spectacular rise of WFAN to its current position as one of the most
successful radio stations in the country. Under Hollander's leadership,
WFAN rode an unprecedented 11-year streak as the leader in sports talk
radio and became the number one revenue generating station in America.
A
graduate of Indiana State University, Hollander began his career in
radio as an Account Executive in Daytona, Fla. Born and raised in New
York, Hollander returned to the city where he made his way up and down
the radio dial. He served as Account Executive at WBLS-FM and WKTU-FM,
as Retail Sales Manager at WAPP-FM and WHN-AM, as Local Sales Manager
at WRKS-FM and eventually joining WHN-AM as General Sales Manager. In
1987, at WHN-AM, the great "experiment" known as Sports Radio was
launched and WFAN-AM was born.
Hollander and his wife,
Susan, started the CJ Foundation for SIDS in 1993. The CJ Foundation
for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is a nationwide voluntary health
organization dedicated to recognizing the special needs of the SIDS
community through funding SIDS research and support services. Hollander
is also on the Board of Directors for Tomorrows Children's Fund, and
Westwood One, as well as a trustee of the Foundation of American Women
in Radio and Television.
Hollander, his wife, and their two children live in New Jersey.
Infinity
is one of the largest major-market radio operators in the United
States, with stations covering news, modern rock, oldies, country, FM
talk, classic rock and urban formats. The majority of Infinity's
stations are in the nation's top 50 markets and reach more than 70
million listeners a week and is also home to 29 of the country's
leading sports franchises amongst the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL.
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Press Contacts: Dana McClintock 212/975-1077
Karen Mateo 212/846-7638
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MEDIA CONTACTS
Karen L. Mateo
Vice President, Communications
(212) 649 9639
Allison Mandara
Communications Coordinator
(212) 649 9606
Dana McClintock
Senior Vice President,
CBS Communications Group
(212) 975 1077
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