New York City honored late media titan Sumner Redstone by renaming a segment of West 44th Street outside Paramount Global headquarters as Sumner Redstone Way.
City Council Member Erik Bottcher joined Paramount Co-CEOs George Cheeks, Chris McCarthy and Brian Robbins as well as Redstone’s daughter, Paramount Chair Shari Redstone for a Times Square ceremony Wednesday.
The city said it made the move as a salute to Redstone’s “distinguished leadership contributions to the media and entertainment industry over many decades, as well as his fierce dedication to civic and community affairs.”
Redstone died in 2020 at age 97. The self-made businessman, philanthropist, and World War II veteran built a media empire out of a small Boston movie theater circuit, turning Viacom into a global powerhouse. In 2019, it merged with CBS Corp. and was later renamed Paramount Global, reflecting the brand clout of the movie studio Redstone acquired after a memorable battle with Barry Diller.
Paramount Global over the summer sealed a merger deal with Skydance Media, which the companies expect to close in the first half of 2025. While Skydance chief David Ellison and his backers have vowed to keep the movie studio and other components of Paramount intact, the merger signals the end of the decades-long run for the Redstones.
“My father was one of the great champions of the media industry,” Shari Redstone, also CEO of the Redstone Family Foundation, said in a press release. “By taking smart risks, never making a decision of out of fear, and doing things his way, he drove the industry continuously forward. His achievements live on today in countless ways, including Paramount’s commitment to creating content that excites, informs, and educates audiences and leaves them coming back for more. I want to thank the city for honoring my father and all the incredibly talented individuals at Paramount who bring his vision to life.”
Bottcher called Sumner Redstone “a transformative figure in the media landscape, leaving a significant mark on New York City through his leadership of Viacom and CBS. Under his stewardship, these companies produced iconic television shows and films that shaped American culture. Redstone’s vision helped elevate New York as a global media hub, attracting talent and investment to the city. His commitment to innovation in entertainment, coupled with strategic acquisitions, not only expanded the reach of his companies but also reinforced New York’s status as a center for creativity and media excellence. It’s an honor to celebrate his legacy with his family in the heart of Times Square, the media center of the world.”
Cheeks, McCarthy and Robbins, in a joint statement, called it “an honor to celebrate Sumner Redstone, without whom our storied company would not exist. Sumner’s support and belief in this organization, along with a clear vision that content is king, transformed Paramount into one of the leading global entertainment companies with some of the most compelling assets in the industry.”
Corey Johnson, former City Council Speaker (and council member for the area), introduced and sponsored the co-naming in December 2021, and the measure was approved and passed by the council. The bill was adopted into the City Charter on January 15, 2022.
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