Viacom Cash Flow May Be Lower Than Expected

Viacom Inc. said third-quarter cash flow may be $200 million less than previously forecast because of lost revenue and higher costs after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Before the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the media company was forecast to generate 2001 cash flow--or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization--of $5.6 billion, with $1.5 billion in the third quarter, Viacom President Mel Karmazin said, citing estimates from Goldman, Sachs & Co.