Richard Greenfield has a hard on for Viacom's Tom Freston

Pali Research media analyst Richard Greenfield wants Viacom CEO Tom Freston's balls in a vice. Greenfield says that Freston and his management team lacks the ability to articulate its strategic vision has failed to execute that vision. Wow and we thought it would be Les Moonves getting pounded, guess we were wrong. “Since initiating on Viacom stock in February 2006 with a buy rating, we have been ‘dead’ wrong, with the stock now down 15% year-to-date (versus a 1.4% gain for the S&P 500),” Greenfield wrote. In contrast, CBS stock is up 4.5% this year. “If Mr. Freston cannot swiftly reorient Viacom, [chairman] Sumner Redstone and the board need to find a new CEO and/or consider selling the company to someone who can dramatically remake the management structure of Viacom,” Greenfield wrote. “Viacom needs to be streamlined, and fast.” A new CEO? Nah we think Tom needs to name a sharp number two. He should hand over the president title to MTV's Judy McGrath. read...