ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, September 24, 1993                   TAG: 9309240119
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES                                LENGTH: Short

VIACOM LAWSUIT FIRES UP PARAMOUNT BIDDING WAR

In a move that could have sweeping consequences for the cable television industry, a bidder for Paramount Communications Inc. on Thursday sued giant Tele-Communications Inc. for allegedly trying to monopolize the cable TV business through "bully-boy tactics and strong arming competitors."

The suit filed by Viacom Inc., which offered $8.2 billion bid for Paramount, is a direct challenge to the cable supremacy of TCI Chief Executive John Malone, who is backing a rival bid by the QVC Network.

The immediate aim of the suit, filed in U.S. District Court in New York, is to block QVC's unfriendly offer for the entertainment giant. But it also focuses attention on the balance of power in the fast-growing cable TV industry, which is dominated by a handful of players.

QVC said in a statement the lawsuit was without merit and "an attempt to deprive Paramount shareholders from considering the best proposal for the future of their company." QVC has offered $9.5 billion for Paramount. - Los Angeles Times 


 by CNB