Power struggle churns Viacom, pitting Shari Redstone against Philippe Dauman

New York

WITH the ailing 92-year-old Sumner Redstone in his final act as a media titan, the two rivals jousting over the future of his US$40 billion entertainment empire repeatedly criss-crossed the country in the last several months to visit his mansion in a gated Beverly Hills enclave.

Shari Redstone, the ostracised daughter who had been restricted from visiting until mid-October, celebrated the holidays with her father, played games, and discussed the media business. Mr Redstone's grandchildren and two small great-grandchildren also visited. When not together, the father and daughter communicated via FaceTime, sometimes several times a day.

Philippe Dauman, the chief executive of Viacom who formed a close bond with Mr Redstone decades ago when he was a young corporate lawyer, also frequented the estate. The two discussed business, watched basketball and ta…