As filed  with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (via  EDGAR)  on
December 22, 1997
                                                            Registration No. 33-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                   VIACOM INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                 --------------
Delaware                                                     04-2949533
(State or other jurisdiction                                 (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)                            Identification No.)

                                  1515 Broadway
                            New York, New York 10036
                                 (212) 258-6000
          (Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)

                       Viacom Inc. Excess Investment Plan
                            (Full title of the plan)

                            Philippe P. Dauman, Esq.
                   Executive Vice President, General Counsel,
                   Chief Administrative Officer and Secretary
                                   Viacom Inc.
                                  1515 Broadway
                            New York, New York 10036
                                 (212) 258-6000
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                             of agent for service)
Calculation of Registration Fee - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title of Proposed Maximum Proposed Amount of Securities to Amount to be Offering Price Maximum Aggregate Registra- be Registered Registered Per Unit (1) Offering Price (1) tion Fee - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Deferred Compensation Obligations $50,000,000 $15,152 (1) Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h).
PART II Information Required in the Registration Statement Item 3. Information Incorporated by Reference ------------------------------------- There are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement the following documents and information heretofore filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") by Viacom Inc. (File No. 1-9553) pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"): 1. Viacom Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996; and 2. All other reports filed by Viacom Inc. with the Commission since December 31, 1996, pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. All documents and reports filed by Viacom Inc. pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the dates of filing of such documents or reports. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement. Item 4. Description of Securities. ------------------------- The securities being registered represent obligations (the "Obligations") of Viacom Inc. to pay to the participants in the Viacom Inc. Excess Investment Plan, during the year after the termination of their employment, salary and bonus compensation the receipt of which the participants have elected to defer. The Obligations also represent amounts that Viacom Inc. has credited to a participant's account under the Plan as matching contributions. Amounts credited to a participant's account are credited with earnings based on a notional investment measurement, which may be shares in investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 194 (mutual funds), bank and debt obligations, investment contracts issued by insurance companies, direct or guaranteed federal or state governmental obligations and shares of common stock that are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq National Market including shares of Viacom Inc. Class B Common Stock. The Obligations are payable in cash during the year after the termination of employment in a lump-sum distribution or in installments, at the election of the participant made in accordance with the Plan. There is no trading market for the Obligations. The Obligations are unsecured general obligations of Viacom Inc. and rank pari passu with other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of Viacom Inc. The Obligations are not subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, attachment or garnishment. Any attempt by any person to transfer or assign benefits under the Plan, other than a claim for benefits by a participant or his or her beneficiary(ies), will be null and void. The Obligations are not convertible into any other security of Viacom Inc. No trustee has been appointed to take action with respect to the Obligations and each participant in the Plan will be responsible for enforcing his or her own rights with respect to the Obligations. Viacom Inc. may, but is not obligated to, set aside amounts or establish a trust or fund to serve as a source of funds from which it can satisfy the Obligations. Participants in the Plan will have no rights to any assets held in any trust or fund except as general creditors of Viacom Inc. Assets in any trust or fund will at all times be subject to the claims of Viacom Inc.'s general creditors. Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel. -------------------------------------- Michael D. Fricklas, Esq., Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Viacom Inc. who has rendered an opinion as to the enforceability of the Obligations, participates in the Plan; as of December 18, 1997, $294,309 of Obligations had been credited to Mr. Fricklas' account in the Plan. Item 6. Indemnification of Officers and Directors. ----------------------------------------- Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL") empowers a Delaware corporation to indemnify any person who was or is, or is threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided that such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, such person had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. A Delaware corporation may indemnify such person against expenses (including attorneys' fees) in actions brought by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor under the same conditions, except that no indemnification is permitted in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and to the extent the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the Court of Chancery or other such court shall deem proper. To the extent such person has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action referred to above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, the corporation must indemnify such person against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided for in, or granted pursuant to, Section 145 is not exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. Section 145 also provides that a corporation may maintain insurance against liabilities for which indemnification is not expressly provided by the statute. Article VI of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Viacom Inc. provides for indemnification of the directors, officers, employees and agents of Viacom Inc. to the full extent currently permitted by the DGCL. In addition, Viacom Inc.'s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as permitted by Section 102(b) of the DGCL, limits directors' liability to Viacom Inc. and its stockholders by eliminating liability for damages for breach of fiduciary duty. Article VII of Viacom Inc.'s Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that neither Viacom Inc. nor its stockholders may recover damages from Viacom Inc.'s directors for breach of their fiduciary duties in the performance of their duties as directors of Viacom Inc. This provision does not, however, have the effect of indemnifying any director of Viacom Inc. in the case of liability (i) for a breach of the director's duty of loyalty, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as provided in Section 174 of the DGCL or (iv) for any transactions for which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed. ----------------------------------- Not applicable. Item 8. Exhibits. -------- 4.1 Viacom Inc. Excess Investment Plan 4.2 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Viacom Inc. as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 21, 1992 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Viacom Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1992, as amended by Form 10- K/A Amendment No. 1 dated November 29, 1993 and as further amended by Form 10-K/A Amendment No. 2 dated December 9, 1993 (File No. 1-9553)) 4.3 Form of Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Viacom Inc.(incorporated by reference to Annex VII to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus of Viacom Inc. dated June 6, 1994 (Registration No. 33-53977)) 4.4 By-laws of Viacom Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Viacom Inc. (Registration No. 33-13812)) 5 Opinion of Michael D. Fricklas, Esq. as to the enforceability of the Obligations 23.1 Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP 23.2 Consent of Michael D. Fricklas,Esq. (contained in Exhibit 5) 24 Powers of Attorney Item 9. Undertakings. ------------ (a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement: (i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"); (ii) to reflect in the Prospectus any facts or events after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement; (iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement; provided, however, that clauses (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those clauses is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. (4) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of any employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. (c) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to deliver or cause to be delivered with the Prospectus to each employee to whom the Prospectus is sent or given a copy of the Registrant's annual report to stockholders for its last fiscal year, unless such employee otherwise has received a copy of such report, in which case the Registrant shall state in the Prospectus that it will promptly furnish, without charge, a copy of such report on written request of the employee. If the last fiscal year of the Registrant has ended within 120 days prior to the use of the Prospectus, the annual report of the Registrant for the preceding fiscal year may be so delivered, but within such 120 day period the annual report for the last fiscal year will be furnished to each such employee. (d) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to transmit or cause to be transmitted to all employees participating in the plans who do not otherwise receive such material as stockholders of the Registrant, at the time and in the manner such material is sent to its stockholders, copies of all reports, proxy statements and other communications distributed to its stockholders generally. Signatures ---------- Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on December 22, 1997. VIACOM INC. (Registrant) By: /s/ PHILIPPE P. DAUMAN --------------------------------- Name: Philippe P. Dauman Title: Deputy Chairman, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Administrative Officer and Secretary Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons on December 22, 1997 in the capacities shown: Signature Title --------- ----- * Director - -------------------------------- George S. Abrams /s/ PHILIPPE P. DAUMAN Director - -------------------------------- Philippe P. Dauman /s/ THOMAS E. DOOLEY Director - -------------------------------- Thomas E. Dooley * Director - -------------------------------- Ken Miller * Director - -------------------------------- Brent D. Redstone * Director - -------------------------------- Shari Redstone /s/ SUMNER M. REDSTONE Director, Chairman of the - -------------------------------- Board, Chief Executive Officer Sumner M. Redstone (Principal Executive Officer) * Director - -------------------------------- Frederic V. Salerno * Director - -------------------------------- William Schwartz * Director - -------------------------------- Ivan Seidenberg /s/ GEORGE S. SMITH, JR. Senior Vice President, - -------------------------------- Chief Financial Officer George S. Smith, Jr. (Principal Financial Officer) /s/ SUSAN C. GORDON Vice President, Controller, - -------------------------------- Chief Accounting Officer Susan C. Gordon (Principal Accounting Officer) *By: /s/ PHILIPPE P. DAUMAN December 22, 1997 ----------------------- Philippe P. Dauman Attorney-in-Fact under Powers of Attorney filed as Exhibit 24 to this Registration Statement Exhibit Index ------------- Exhibit No. Description Page - ---------- ----------- ---- 4.1 Viacom Inc. Excess Investment Plan 4.2 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Viacom Inc. as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 21, 1992 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Viacom Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1992, as amended by Form 10-K/A Amendment No. 1 dated November 29, 1993 and as further amended by Form 10-K/A Amendment No. 2 dated December 9, 1993 (File No. 1-9553)) 4.3 Form of Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Viacom Inc.(incorporated by reference to Annex VII to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus of Viacom Inc. dated June 6, 1994 (Registration No. 33-53977)) 4.4 By-laws of Viacom Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Viacom Inc. (Registration No. 33-13812)) 5 Opinion of Michael D. Fricklas, Esq. as to the enforceability of the Obligations 23.1 Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP 23.2 Consent of Michael D. Fricklas, Esq. (contained in Exhibit 5) 24 Powers of Attorney

                                  EXHIBIT 4.1
                 

                                   VIACOM INC.
                             EXCESS INVESTMENT PLAN

                             EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 1984
                          AMENDED AS OF JANUARY 1, 1996


Section 1.     Establishment and Purpose of the Plan.
               --------------------------------------          

     1.1  Establishment.   There  is  hereby  established  for  the  benefit  of
Participants an unfunded plan of voluntarily deferred compensation known as "The
Viacom Inc. Excess Investment Plan".

     1.2  Purpose.  The  purpose  of this Plan is to provide a means by which an
Eligible  Employee  may, in certain  circumstances,  elect to defer receipt of a
portion of his  Compensation.  The Plan also  provides that the Company will, in
certain instances, credit the Account of a Participant with an Employer Match.

Section 2.     Definitions.
               ------------

     The  following  words and  phrases as used in this Plan have the  following
meanings:

     2.1 Account and Annual Account.  The terms  "Account" and "Annual  Account"
shall mean a Participant's  individual account, as described in Section 4 of the
Plan.

     2.2 Board of Directors.  The term "Board of  Directors"  means the Board of
Directors of the Company.

     2.3 Bonus. Any cash bonus paid under the Viacom Inc.  Short-Term  Incentive
Plan and any other comparable annual cash bonus plan sponsored by any Employer.

     2.4 Committee.  The term "Committee" means the Retirement  Committee of the
Board of  Directors.  The  Committee  may act on its own behalf or  through  the
actions of its duly authorized delegate.

     2.5 Company. The term "Company" means Viacom Inc.

     2.6  Compensation.  The term  "Compensation"  means an Eligible  Employee's
annual  compensation as defined in the Viacom Investment Plan with the following
modifications:  (i) the limitations imposed by Internal Revenue Code Section 401
(a)(17) shall not be taken into account, and (ii) Bonuses shall not be excluded.



     2.7 Eligible Employee. The term "Eligible Employee" means an employee of an
Employer  who, (i) has annual base salary  payable at a rate equal to or greater
than  $150,000 (as  adjusted  from time to time by the  Committee),  and (ii) is
designated by the Committee as an employee who is eligible to participate in the
Plan.  If an  employee  becomes an  Eligible  Employee  in any Plan  Year,  such
employee shall remain an Eligible Employee for all future Plan Years;  provided,
however,  that the Committee may terminate such  employee's  eligibility for the
Plan if his  annual  base  salary as of January 1, of any Plan Year is less than
the  amount in clause  (i) in effect  for the Plan Year in which  such  employer
initially became an Eligible Employee.

     2.8 Employer.  The term  "Employer"  means the Company and any affiliate or
subsidiary which adopts the Plan on behalf of its Eligible Employees.

     2.9 Employer Match. The term "Employer Match" means the amounts credited to
a Participant's  Account with respect to a Participant's Excess Salary Reduction
Contributions and Excess Bonus Deferral  Contributions  according to the rate of
matching  contributions  contributed  by the  Participant's  Employer  under the
Viacom Investment Plan.

     2.10 Excess Bonus Deferral  Contributions.  The term "Excess Bonus Deferral
Contributions" means the portion of the Participant's  Compensation attributable
to a Bonus that he elects to defer under the terms of this Plan.

     2.11  Excess  Salary  Reduction  Contributions.  The  term  "Excess  Salary
Reduction  Contributions"  means the  portion of a  Participant's  Compensation,
excluding  any  Bonus,  earned  during a Plan Year after  such  Participant  has
reached any Limitation that he elects to defer under the terms of this Plan.

     2.12   Limitation.   The  term   "Limitation"   means  the   limitation  on
contributions   to  defined   contribution   plans  under  Section  415(c),   on
compensation  taken  into  account  under  Section  401(a)(17),  or on  elective
deferrals  under Section  401(k)(3) and Section  402(g) of the Internal  Revenue
Code of 1986.

     2.13  Participant.  The term  "Participant"  means an Eligible Employee who
elects to have Excess Salary  Reduction  Contributions  or Excess Bonus Deferral
Contributions made to the Plan.

     2.14 Payment  Options.  The term "Payment Option" means the following three
forms of payment under which a Participant may elect to receive amounts credited
to his Account upon his  termination  of  employment:  (i) single sum payable as
soon as practicable  following the end of the Plan Year in which the Participant
terminates  employment,   (ii)  three  substantially  equal  annual  installment
payments commencing as soon as practicable following the end of the Plan Year in
which the Participant  terminates  employment and (iii) five substantially equal
annual installment payments commencing as soon as practicable  following the end
of the Plan Year in which the Participant terminates employment.



     2.15 Plan. The term "Plan" means "The Viacom Inc. Excess  Investment  Plan"
as set forth herein, as amended from time to time.

Section 3.     Participation.
               --------------

     3.1  Designation  of Eligible  Employees.  The Committee will determine all
Eligible  Employees as of January 1, 1996. Each month thereafter,  the Committee
will designate in its sole  discretion  those employees who satisfy the terms of
paragraph 2.7 as eligible to participate in the Plan.

     3.2 Election to Participate. An Eligible Employee must elect to participate
in the Plan. An Eligible  Employee may elect at any time after becoming eligible
to  begin   participation   and  to  commence  making  Excess  Salary  Reduction
Contributions  during the Plan Year by filing an election  with the Committee in
accordance with this Section 3 and the rules and regulations  established by the
Committee. Such election will be effective on a prospective basis beginning with
the payroll period that occurs as soon as administratively practicable following
receipt of the election by the  Committee.  An Eligible  Employee may only elect
within 30 days of the date he becomes  an  Eligible  Employee  to make an Excess
Bonus Deferral  Contribution  with respect to any Bonus  scheduled to be paid in
the next  succeeding  calendar year.  Prior to December 31 of each Plan Year, an
Eligible  Employee may elect to make an Excess Bonus Deferral  Contribution with
respect  to any Bonus  scheduled  to be paid in the second  succeeding  calendar
year. For example,  prior to December 31, 1996 an Eligible  Employee may make an
Excess  Bonus  Deferral  Contribution  election  with  respect to any cash bonus
scheduled to be paid in 1998 from the Viacom Inc. Short-Term  Incentive Plan. An
Eligible  Employee  may make an  Excess  Bonus  Deferral  Contribution  election
whether or not such  employee  previously  has made, or currently has in effect,
any Excess Salary Reduction Contribution election.

     3.3  Amendment  or  Suspension   of  Election.   Participants   may  change
(including,   suspend)  their  existing  Excess  Salary  Reduction  Contribution
election  under  this Plan  during  the Plan Year by  filing a new  election  in
accordance with the prescribed administrative guidelines. Such new election will
be effective  on a  prospective  basis  beginning  with the payroll  period that
occurs as soon as administratively practicable following receipt of the election
by the  Committee.  A  Participant  will not be  permitted  to make up suspended
Excess  Salary  Reduction  Contributions,  and  during  any  period  in  which a
Participant's Excess Salary Reduction Contributions are suspended,  the Employer
Match to the Plan will also be suspended. Any Excess Bonus Deferral Contribution
election  is  irrevocable  once made and is  invalid  if made  beyond  the dates
prescribed in paragraph 3.2.



     3.4 Amount of Elections.  Each election filed by an Eligible  Employee must
specify  the  amount  of  Excess  Salary  Reduction  Contributions  in  a  whole
percentage between 1% and 15% of the Participants'  Compensation,  excluding any
Bonus.  Each election  filed by an Eligible  Employee must specify the amount of
Excess Bonus Deferral  Contribution in a whole percentage  between 1% and 15% of
the Participan's  applicable  Bonus. For Eligible  Employees as of December 31,
1995,  Compensation  for Plan  Year 1997  subject  to  Excess  Salary  Reduction
Contributions  and  Excess  Bonus  Deferral  Contributions  shall not exceed the
greater of (i)  $750,000,  or (ii) such  Eligible  Employee's  compensation,  as
determined by the  Committee,  for the 1995 Plan Year.  For employees who become
Eligible  Employees in 1996 or 1997,  Compensation for Plan Years 1996 and 1997,
if applicable, subject to Excess Salary Reduction Contributions and Excess Bonus
Deferral Contributions shall not exceed $750,000.

Section 4.     Employer Match.
               ---------------

     An Employer Match will be credited monthly to a Participant's  Account with
respect to the eligible  portion of Excess Salary  Reduction  Contributions  and
Excess Bonus Deferral  Contributions  of such Participant at the applicable rate
of  Matching   Employer   Contributions   with   respect  to  Salary   Reduction
Contributions  under the  Viacom  Investment  Plan.  The  eligible  portion of a
Participant's Excess Salary Reduction  Contributions and the eligible portion of
the Excess Bonus Deferral  Contribution shall be limited to five percent (5%) of
each  contribution.  For  employees who become  eligible in 1996 and  subsequent
years  the  eligible   portion  of  a  Participant's   Excess  Salary  Reduction
Contributions and the eligible portion of the Excess Bonus Deferral Contribution
shall be based on Compensation up to a maximum amount of $750,000.  For Eligible
Employees as of December 31, 1995,  the eligible  portion of such  Participant's
Excess Salary  Reduction  Contributions  and the eligible  portion of the Excess
Bonus  Deferral  Contribution  for the 1997 Plan Year and each  subsequent  year
shall be based on  Compensation  up to a  maximum  equal to the  greater  of (i)
$750,000 or (ii) such  Eligible  Employee's  compensation,  as determined by the
Committee, for the 1995 Plan Year.

Section 5.     Individual Account.
               -------------------

     5.1 Creation of Accounts.  The Company will maintain an Account in the name
of each Participant. Each Participant's Account will be credited with the amount
of  the  Participant's  Excess  Salary  Reduction  Contributions,  Excess  Bonus
Deferral  Contributions  and  Employer  Match,  if any,  made in all Plan  Years
beginning prior to January 1, 1998 (the "Pre-1998 Account").  For all Plan Years
beginning  after  December 31, 1997, a  Participant's  Account  shall consist of
separate  Annual  Accounts  established  for each Plan Year. Each Annual Account
shall be credited with the amount of the  Participant's  Excess Salary Reduction
Contributions,  Excess Bonus Deferral  Contributions and Employer Match for that
particular Plan Year.

     5.2 Payment  Account  Option  Election.  Each  Participant  shall elect the
particular  Payment Option that is to apply to amounts  credited to the Pre-1998
Account  and each  Annual  Account  thereafter.  In order for a  Payment  Option
election to be 



effective for a particular  Annual Account,  such election must be made prior to
the  beginning  of calendar  year for which  amounts are  credited to the Annual
Account.  A separate  Payment Option  election shall be made prior to January 1,
1996, (or within 30 days of becoming an Eligible  Employee during 1996) to apply
to all amounts credited to a Participant's Pre-1998 Account.

     5.3 Investments.  All Excess Salary Reduction  Contributions,  Excess Bonus
Deferral  Contributions  and Employer  Match,  if any,  will be credited with an
amount equal to such amount which would have been earned had such  contributions
been invested in the same  Investment  Options and in the same proportion as the
Participant  may  elect,  from  time to  time,  to  have  his  Salary  Reduction
Contributions  and Matching  Employer  Contributions  invested  under the Viacom
Investment  Plan;  or if  none,  in the  Certus  Interest  Income  Fund  (or any
successor  fund).  No  provision  of this Plan shall  require the Company or the
Employer to actually  invest any amounts in any fund or in any other  investment
vehicle.

     5.4 Account Statements.  Each Participant will be given, at least annually,
a statement  showing (i) the amount of Excess  Salary  Reduction  Contributions,
(ii) the amount of Excess Bonus Deferral  Contributions  and (iii) the amount of
Employer  Match,  if any, made with respect to his Annual  Account for such Plan
Year, and (iv) the balance of the Participant's  Pre-1998  Account,  if any, and
the Annual Accounts after crediting Investments.

Section 6.     Payment.
               --------

     A Participant (or a Participant's beneficiary) shall be paid the balance in
his Account  following  termination of employment in accordance with the Payment
Options elected by the Participant.

Section 7.     Nature of Interest of Participant.
               ----------------------------------

     Participation  in this Plan will not create,  in favor of any  Participant,
any  right  or  lien in or  against  any of the  assets  of the  Company  or any
Employer,  and all amounts of Compensation deferred hereunder shall at all times
remain an  unrestricted  asset of the Company or the Employer.  A  Participant's
rights to  benefits  payable  under the Plan are not  subject  in any  manner to
anticipation,  alienation, sale, transfer,  assignment,  pledge, or encumbrance.
All  payments  hereunder  shall be paid in cash  from the  general  funds of the
Company  or  applicable  Employer  and no  special  or  separate  fund  shall be
established  and no other  segregation  of assets  shall be made to  assure  the
payment of benefits  hereunder.  Nothing  contained in this Plan,  and no action
taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be construed to create a trust
of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship, between any Employer and a Participant
or any other  person,  and the  Company's  and each  Employer's  promise  to pay
benefits hereunder shall at all times remain unfunded as to the Participant.



Section 8.     Hardship Distributions and Deferral Revocations.
               ------------------------------------------------

     A Participant  may request the Committee to accelerate  distribution of all
or any part of the value of his Account solely for the purpose of alleviating an
immediate  financial  emergency.  For  purposes of the Plan,  such an  immediate
financial  emergency shall mean an unanticipated  emergency that is caused by an
event  beyond the control of the  Participant  and which would  result in severe
financial  hardship to the Participant if early distribution were not permitted.
The Committee may request that the Participant provide  certifications and other
evidence  of  qualification  for  such  emergency  hardship  distribution  as it
determines appropriate.  The decision of the Committee with respect to the grant
or denial of all or any part of such request shall be in the sole  discretion of
the  Committee,  whether  or  not  the  Participant  demonstrates  an  immediate
financial  emergency  exits,  and shall be final and  binding and not subject to
review.

Section 9.     Beneficiary Designation.
               ------------------------

     A Participant's beneficiary designation for this Plan will automatically be
the  same  as  such  Participant's  beneficiary  designation  under  the  Viacom
Investment Plan unless a separate  Designation of Beneficiary Form for this Plan
has been properly filed.

Section 10.    Administration.
               ---------------

     10.1  Committee.  This  Plan will be  administered  by the  Committee,  the
members of which will be selected by the Board of Directors.

     10.2 Powers of the Committee. The Committee's powers will include, but will
not be limited to, the power 

         (i)   to determine who are Eligible  Employees for purposes of  
               participation  in the Plan,  

         (ii)  to interpret  the terms and  provisions  of the Plan and to
               determine any and all questions arising under the Plan, including
               without limitation, the right to remedy possible ambiguities,  
               inconsistencies,  or omissions  by a general  rule or  particular
               decision, and 

         (iii) to adopt rules consistent with the Plan.

     10.3 Claims  Procedure.  The Committee  shall have the  exclusive  right to
interpret the Plan and to decide any and all matters arising thereunder.  In the
event of a claim by a Participant as to the amount of any distribution or method
of payment  under the Plan,  within 90 days of the filing of such claim,  unless
special  circumstances  require an extension of such period, such person will be
given  notice in writing of any denial,  which  notice will set forth the reason
for the denial, the Plan provisions on which the denial is based, an explanation
of what other material or  information,  if nay, is needed to perfect the claim,
and an explanation of the claims review procedure. The Participant may request



a review of such denial  within 60 days of the date of receipt of such denial by
filing notice in writing with the Committee. The Participant will have the right
to review pertinent Plan documents and to submit issues and comments in writing.
The Committee  will respond in writing to a request for review within 60 days of
receiving it, unless special  circumstances require an extension of such period.
The Committee,  at its discretion,  may request a meeting to clarify any matters
deemed appropriate.

     10.4 Finality of Committee Determinations.  Determinations by the Committee
and any  interpretation,  rule, or decision  adopted by the Committee  under the
Plan or in carrying out or administering the Plan shall be final and binding for
all  purposes  and  upon all  interested  persons,  their  heirs,  and  personal
representatives.

Section 11.    No Employment Rights.
               ---------------------

     No provisions of the Plan or any action taken by the Company,  the Board of
Directors,  or the  Committee  shall give any person any right to be retained in
the employ of any Employer, and the right and power of the Company to dismiss or
discharge any Participant is specifically reserved.

Section 12.    Amendment, Suspension, and Termination.
               ---------------------------------------

     The Board of Directors shall have the right to amend, suspend, or terminate
the Plan at any time. No amendment,  modification or termination shall,  without
the consent of a Participant,  adversely affect such Participant's rights in his
account.  In the event the Plan is terminated,  the Committee  shall continue to
administer the Plan in accordance with the relevant provisions thereof.




                                    EXHIBIT 5




                                                              December 22, 1997

Viacom Inc.
1515 Broadway
New York, New York  10036

Dear Sirs:

I  am  the  Senior  Vice  President,  Deputy  General  Counsel  of  Viacom  Inc.
("Viacom").  I am delivering  this opinion in connection  with the  Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (the  "Registration  Statement")  of Viacom filed with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission under the Securities act of 1933, as amended
(the  "Act"),  with  respect  to  the  registration  of  deferred   compensation
obligations (the  "Obligations") of Viacom to be offered and sold under Viacom's
Excess Investment Plan (the "Plan").

In connection with the opinion  expressed  below, I or members of my legal staff
(my  "Staff")  have  examined  the  Registration  Statement,  the Plan,  and the
originals,  or  copies  certified  to my or my  Staff's  satisfaction,  of  such
corporate  records of Viacom,  certificates of public officials and certificates
of officers of Viacom as I or my Staff have deemed necessary as a basis for such
opinion.  As to questions of fact material to the opinion  expressed below, I or
my Staff have, when relevant facts were not  independently  established by me or
them,  relied  upon  certificates  of  officers  of  Viacom  or  other  evidence
satisfactory  to me or my Staff.  In all such  examinations,  I or my Staff have
assumed the  genuineness of all signatures on original and certified  documents,
the  authenticity  of all  documents  submitted  to me or my Staff  as  original
documents and the conformity to original or certified  documents submitted to me
or my Staff as copies.

I am a member  of the bar of the  State of New  York and the  opinion  expressed
herein is limited to matters controlled by the laws of the State of New York and
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

Based  upon  the  foregoing,  it  is  my  opinion  that  the  Obligations,  when
established  pursuant  to the  terms  of the  Plan,  will be valid  and  binding
obligations of Viacom, enforceable against Viacom in accordance with their terms
and the  terms of the Plan,  except  as  enforceability  (i) may be  limited  by
bankruptcy,   insolvency,   reorganization   or  other  similar  laws  affecting
creditors' rights generally, and (ii) is subject to general principles of equity
(regardless  of whether such  enforceability  is  considered  in a proceeding in
equity or at law).

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.

                                          Very truly yours,


                                          /s/ Michael D. Fricklas


                                  EXHIBIT 23.1



CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We  hereby  consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  in this  Registration
Statement  on Form S-8 of our report dated  February 14, 1997,  except as to the
second and first  paragraphs  of Note 3 which are as of  February  16,  1997 and
February 19, 1997,  respectively,  included in Item 8 of the Viacom Inc.  Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996.





PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP





New York, New York
December 22, 1997





                                   EXHIBIT 24

                                   VIACOM INC.

                                Power of Attorney



         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned  director of VIACOM
INC., (the "Company"),  hereby  constitutes and appoints  Philippe P. Dauman and
Michael  D.   Fricklas,   and  each  of  them,   his  or  her  true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact  and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for  him  or her  and in his or her  name,  place  and  stead,  in any  and  all
capacities,  to sign a registration statement on Form S-8, or such other form as
may be  recommended  by counsel,  to be filed with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission  (the  "Commission"),  and any and all amendments and  post-effective
amendments thereto and supplements to the Prospectus  contained therein, and any
and all  instruments  and documents filed as a part of or in connection with the
said registration  statement or amendments  thereto or supplements or amendments
to such  Prospectus,  covering the  Company's  obligations  under the  Company's
Excess  Investment Plan;  granting unto said  attorney-in-fact  and agent,  full
power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary  to be done,  as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might
or  could  do in  person,  hereby  ratifying  and  confirming  all that the said
attorney-in-fact and agent, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have  hereunto  signed my name this 11th day of
December, 1997.





                                       /s/  GEORGE S. ABRAMS
                                       ---------------------
                                       George S. Abrams






                                   VIACOM INC.

                                Power of Attorney



         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned  director of VIACOM
INC., (the "Company"),  hereby  constitutes and appoints  Philippe P. Dauman and
Michael  D.   Fricklas,   and  each  of  them,   his  or  her  true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact  and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for  him  or her  and in his or her  name,  place  and  stead,  in any  and  all
capacities,  to sign a registration statement on Form S-8, or such other form as
may be  recommended  by counsel,  to be filed with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission  (the  "Commission"),  and any and all amendments and  post-effective
amendments thereto and supplements to the Prospectus  contained therein, and any
and all  instruments  and documents filed as a part of or in connection with the
said registration  statement or amendments  thereto or supplements or amendments
to such  Prospectus,  covering the  Company's  obligations  under the  Company's
Excess  Investment Plan;  granting unto said  attorney-in-fact  and agent,  full
power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary  to be done,  as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might
or  could  do in  person,  hereby  ratifying  and  confirming  all that the said
attorney-in-fact and agent, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have  hereunto  signed my name this 11th day of
December, 1997.





                                       /s/  KEN MILLER
                                       ---------------
                                       Ken Miller






                                   VIACOM INC.

                                Power of Attorney



         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned  director of VIACOM
INC., (the "Company"),  hereby  constitutes and appoints  Philippe P. Dauman and
Michael  D.   Fricklas,   and  each  of  them,   his  or  her  true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact  and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for  him  or her  and in his or her  name,  place  and  stead,  in any  and  all
capacities,  to sign a registration statement on Form S-8, or such other form as
may be  recommended  by counsel,  to be filed with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission  (the  "Commission"),  and any and all amendments and  post-effective
amendments thereto and supplements to the Prospectus  contained therein, and any
and all  instruments  and documents filed as a part of or in connection with the
said registration  statement or amendments  thereto or supplements or amendments
to such  Prospectus,  covering the  Company's  obligations  under the  Company's
Excess  Investment Plan;  granting unto said  attorney-in-fact  and agent,  full
power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary  to be done,  as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might
or  could  do in  person,  hereby  ratifying  and  confirming  all that the said
attorney-in-fact and agent, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have  hereunto  signed my name this 11th day of
December, 1997.





                                       /s/  BRENT D. REDSTONE
                                       ----------------------
                                       Brent D. Redstone






                                   VIACOM INC.

                                Power of Attorney



         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned  director of VIACOM
INC., (the "Company"),  hereby  constitutes and appoints  Philippe P. Dauman and
Michael  D.   Fricklas,   and  each  of  them,   his  or  her  true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact  and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for  him  or her  and in his or her  name,  place  and  stead,  in any  and  all
capacities,  to sign a registration statement on Form S-8, or such other form as
may be  recommended  by counsel,  to be filed with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission  (the  "Commission"),  and any and all amendments and  post-effective
amendments thereto and supplements to the Prospectus  contained therein, and any
and all  instruments  and documents filed as a part of or in connection with the
said registration  statement or amendments  thereto or supplements or amendments
to such  Prospectus,  covering the  Company's  obligations  under the  Company's
Excess  Investment Plan;  granting unto said  attorney-in-fact  and agent,  full
power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary  to be done,  as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might
or  could  do in  person,  hereby  ratifying  and  confirming  all that the said
attorney-in-fact and agent, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have  hereunto  signed my name this 11th day of
December, 1997.





                                       /s/  SHARI REDSTONE
                                       -------------------
                                       Shari Redstone






                                   VIACOM INC.

                                Power of Attorney



         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned  director of VIACOM
INC., (the "Company"),  hereby  constitutes and appoints  Philippe P. Dauman and
Michael  D.   Fricklas,   and  each  of  them,   his  or  her  true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact  and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for  him  or her  and in his or her  name,  place  and  stead,  in any  and  all
capacities,  to sign a registration statement on Form S-8, or such other form as
may be  recommended  by counsel,  to be filed with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission  (the  "Commission"),  and any and all amendments and  post-effective
amendments thereto and supplements to the Prospectus  contained therein, and any
and all  instruments  and documents filed as a part of or in connection with the
said registration  statement or amendments  thereto or supplements or amendments
to such  Prospectus,  covering the  Company's  obligations  under the  Company's
Excess  Investment Plan;  granting unto said  attorney-in-fact  and agent,  full
power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary  to be done,  as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might
or  could  do in  person,  hereby  ratifying  and  confirming  all that the said
attorney-in-fact and agent, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have  hereunto  signed my name this 11th day of
December, 1997.





                                       /s/  FREDERIC V. SALERNO
                                       ------------------------
                                       Frederic V. Salerno






                                   VIACOM INC.

                                Power of Attorney



         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned  director of VIACOM
INC., (the "Company"),  hereby  constitutes and appoints  Philippe P. Dauman and
Michael  D.   Fricklas,   and  each  of  them,   his  or  her  true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact  and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for  him  or her  and in his or her  name,  place  and  stead,  in any  and  all
capacities,  to sign a registration statement on Form S-8, or such other form as
may be  recommended  by counsel,  to be filed with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission  (the  "Commission"),  and any and all amendments and  post-effective
amendments thereto and supplements to the Prospectus  contained therein, and any
and all  instruments  and documents filed as a part of or in connection with the
said registration  statement or amendments  thereto or supplements or amendments
to such  Prospectus,  covering the  Company's  obligations  under the  Company's
Excess  Investment Plan;  granting unto said  attorney-in-fact  and agent,  full
power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary  to be done,  as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might
or  could  do in  person,  hereby  ratifying  and  confirming  all that the said
attorney-in-fact and agent, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have  hereunto  signed my name this 11th day of
December, 1997.





                                       /s/  WILLIAM SCHWARTZ
                                       ---------------------
                                       William Schwartz






                                   VIACOM INC.

                                Power of Attorney



         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned  director of VIACOM
INC., (the "Company"),  hereby  constitutes and appoints  Philippe P. Dauman and
Michael  D.   Fricklas,   and  each  of  them,   his  or  her  true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact  and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for  him  or her  and in his or her  name,  place  and  stead,  in any  and  all
capacities,  to sign a registration statement on Form S-8, or such other form as
may be  recommended  by counsel,  to be filed with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission  (the  "Commission"),  and any and all amendments and  post-effective
amendments thereto and supplements to the Prospectus  contained therein, and any
and all  instruments  and documents filed as a part of or in connection with the
said registration  statement or amendments  thereto or supplements or amendments
to such  Prospectus,  covering the  Company's  obligations  under the  Company's
Excess  Investment Plan;  granting unto said  attorney-in-fact  and agent,  full
power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary  to be done,  as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might
or  could  do in  person,  hereby  ratifying  and  confirming  all that the said
attorney-in-fact and agent, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have  hereunto  signed my name this 11th day of
December, 1997.





                                       /s/  IVAN SEIDENBERG
                                       --------------------
                                       Ivan Seidenberg