Viacom Expects Its Split to Occur by Year-End

Viacom Inc. said it expected to complete its plans to split into two companies by the end of this year, several months earlier than anticipated.

The media conglomerate disclosed in March that it planned to split itself into two companies -- one anchored by the CBS television network, the other built around its cable networks, including MTV -- in an effort to boost its stock price.

Viacom previously had said it expected the split to be completed in the first quarter of 2006.