CBS to Provide List of Owners to Media Group

CBS Inc. said today that it will turn over its shareholder list to Fairness in Media, the conservative group that has urged its supporters to buy CBS stock in order to become “Dan Rather’s boss.”

CBS said Fairness in Media, which is associated with Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), had agreed to certain conditions on the list’s use and disclosure.

Fairness in Media, seeking to end what it perceives as a liberal bias in CBS’s news reporting, had tried to obtain the list though legal action, but a judge urged the group and the network to resolve the issue outside court.

The network said the group agreed to use the list only for soliciting shareholder proxies, a tender offer, a special meeting or other shareholder action that would bring a change in CBS management or policy.

The group also agreed to return all copies of the list after CBS’s annual shareholder meeting scheduled for April 17, CBS said.

The list will not be made available to other organizations connected with Helms and it will be shown only to certain members of the group and to a professional proxy solicitation firm, CBS said.

Fairness in Media has said it is considering a proxy fight to seek seats on CBS’s board of directors. It also has said it is considering making a tender offer for CBS.

CBS has said it would fight any takeover attempt.