Redstone ‘Embarrassed’ by Notes

Viacom Inc. Chairman Sumner Redstone on Monday called “embarrassing” company documents that said its new TV Land channel plans to siphon viewers and advertisers from USA Network.

The notes by Nickelodeon President Richard Cronin were introduced as evidence by lawyers for MCA Inc. in a trial over the firms’ USA Network partnership.

Redstone has testified that TV Land does not compete with USA Network and that Viacom would never do anything to harm USA Network because the partnership is too valuable.

MCA sued Viacom in late April, charging that Viacom’s launch of TV Land and its ownership of MTV, Nickelodeon and other ad-supported cable networks violates the partnership agreement.