Viacom International Founder Ralph Baruch Passes Away

NEW YORK: Ralph Baruch, a founder of Viacom International and of the International Academy of Television, died yesterday at age 92 following a long illness.

Baruch served as president and CEO of Viacom International from 1971 to 1983 and as chairman until 1987. While Baruch was at Viacom, the company acquired cable TV systems and started Showtime, MTV and Nickelodeon, among other channels. He began his communications career in radio and joined the DuMont Television Network in 1950 before moving to CBS in 1954, where he eventually became CBS group president.

In addition to helping found the International Academy of Television and serving as a member of the Executive Committee, Baruch received the International Emmy Directorate Award in 1999. He is also a member of the Cable Hall of Fame.

“Ralph, who founded Viacom International, was one of the outstanding media executives of our time, and we know all of you will join us in expressing admiration for his long and storied life,” the International Academy of Television said in a statement. “We extend our deepest condolences to his wife Jean and his family.”