NEW YORK - US ENTERTAINMENT conglomerate Viacom announced on Thursday that it was slashing seven per cent of its workforce, or 850 jobs, and freezing senior executive pay because of the worldwide economic slowdown.

Viacom, which owns Paramount Pictures, the MTV and BET networks, Comedy Central and other properties, said the restructuring would result in a charge of 400-450 million dollars (S$610.8-687.2 million) against its fourth-quarter results.

The company said it expected the cost-cutting moves to result in savings of 200-250 million dollars next year.

Viacom said that the job cuts would be 'implemented across all divisions of the company' and that 'senior level management' salary increases were being suspended for 2009.

'We are moving rapidly to adapt to the challenges presented by the current economic environment,' Viacom president and chief executive Philippe Dauman said in a statement.

'The changes we are making in our organization and processes will better position Viacom to navigate the economic slowdown and generate sizable efficiencies that will help us to drive our business as the marketplace stabilizes and conditions improve,' he added.

Viacom last month reported a 37 per cent drop in quarterly net profit.

Viacom shares were trading at 15.95 dollars on Wall Street at midday, a loss of 0.37 per cent. -- AFP