Martin D. Franks Named Executive Vice President, Planning, Policy and Government Relations for the New CBS Corporation

Martin D. Franks Named Executive Vice President, Planning, Policy and Government Relations for the New CBS Corporation

NEW YORK, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Martin D. Franks has been named Executive Vice President, Planning, Policy and Government Relations for the new CBS Corporation, it was announced today by Leslie Moonves, Co-President and Co-Chief Operating Officer, Viacom and Chairman, CBS, who will become Chief Executive Officer of the new CBS Corporation after the Viacom split. (Viacom Inc. is in the process of separating its business into two publicly traded companies, which will include CBS Corporation).

Franks will manage a wide range of activities for the new CBS, including oversight of the Corporation's activities in Washington as well as with state and local governments, and CBS's corporate philanthropy. In addition, Franks will continue to handle CBS's relations with multi-channel video providers and retransmission consent negotiations, the company's transition to digital television and CBS's Standards and Practices Department.

"Marty and I have worked together for more than a decade, and he will be a key member of my team for building the new CBS," said Moonves. "Whether he is on point helping to shape our Washington objectives and strategy, maximizing the value of our retransmission consent or continuing to drive CBS's leadership in HDTV and digital television, we will continue to rely on Marty's versatility, his knowledge of the industry, and his uncanny ability to get things done."

"I am grateful to Leslie for yet another in a series of wonderful opportunities I have had at CBS over the last 17 years," said Franks. "I care deeply about CBS and this industry, and I look forward to advancing both in the exciting yet daunting future that lies ahead."

Franks joined CBS in 1988 as Vice President, Washington, and became Senior Vice President, Washington, in 1994. In 1997, he was named Senior Vice President, CBS Corporation, overseeing the Company's corporate relations functions. In 2000, he became Executive Vice President of CBS Television and Senior Vice President of Viacom. He has served as President of the CBS Foundation, and on the Executive Committee of the Board of the September 11th Fund, and continues on the Boards of the Ad Council and Maximum Service Television (MSTV).

From 1972 through 1987, Franks held a number of posts in Washington, serving on the staffs of President Jimmy Carter, Senator Patrick J. Leahy, and Congressman Tony Coelho.

He was born and raised in Long Beach, Ind., and is a graduate of Princeton University. Franks lives in Washington with his wife, Mari Schleuning. He will divide his time between offices in New York and Washington.

Source: CBS

CONTACT: Gil Schwartz, +1-212-975-2121, or Dana McClintock, +1-212-975-1077, both of CBS

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/965075.html

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