Stocks:  (VIA)(CBS)(DIS)(TWX)(NWS)

There has been a far amount of speculation recently that both CBS and Viacom could be takeover targets. The purchase of Clear Channel by private equity interests has focused large hedge funds and buyout firms on large radio chains, and that means CBS.

Redstone seems to be a man who can never stomach the people who he puts into the top jobs at his companies. At least not for long.

The media mogul’s daughter,

Shari

, has been mentioned as a possible candidate to take the wheel when the aged Redstone can no longer run the companies.

But, it is difficult to see what, if any credentials she has for the job.

It would not be a bad time to sell CBS and Viacom. CBS trades at $29.80, near its 52-week high. Viacom is not doing quite as well. It trades at just below $40 on a 52-week high/low of $45/$32.42.

The other advantage of seeking a private equity bid is that it might bring some public company buyers out of the woodwork. News Corp, Disney, and Time Warner would almost have to take a look.

Redstone was born in 1923. He acts as it he will live forever. But, even he can’t afford that.

Douglas A. McIntyre can be reached at douglasamcintyre@247wallst.com. He does not own securities in companies that he writes about.