LOS ANGELES COUNTY - News from Oct. 14, 1987

The entertainment business sector of Coca-Cola Co. and Tri-Star Pictures said they plan to consolidate the television businesses of both companies into one operating unit as part of a previously announced plan to combine the overall entertainment units of the Coca-Cola division and Tri-Star.

Gary Lieberthal, presently chairman and chief executive of Columbia/Embassy Television, will continue in those positions for the new unit, which will be called Columbia Pictures Television, and Scott Siegler, currently president of Tri-Star Television, will have the same position in the consolidated unit. Barry Thurston, now president of syndication for Columbia/Embassy TV, will continue in the same capacity at the combined firm. Arnold Messer, now president of Tri-Star Telecommunications, will oversee all television operations and ancillary markets in a senior corporate position in the company’s New York headquarters. Barbara Corday, president of Columbia/Embassy Television, will leave to pursue other interests.

The companies said all TV businesses of the two companies will be consolidated into a single operating unit except for Merv Griffin Enterprises, which will continue to operate separately in its areas.