The relationship between publisher Midway and media empire Viacom is the subject of speculation again today, after Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone stated that Midway was seen as an acquisition candidate or potential licensee. "The management of Viacom Inc has from time to time considered the possibility of participating more extensively in the electronic games business," Redstone said in a Viacom regulatory filing, "possibly by acquiring a company in that industry."
"In this regard, Midway could be considered as a potential licensee of Viacom intellectual property, or as an acquisition candidate," he concluded. As well as being chairman and CEO of Viacom, Redstone is the largest shareholder in Midway, with some 73.6 per cent of the company"s stock currently belonging to him. He recently installed his daughter, Shari Redstone, as vice chairman of the publisher, and was instrumental in having former VU Games chairman Kenneth Cron appointed as CEO.