A CBS employee since 1948, he produced the first televised presidential debate in 1960.

The CBS employees voted to approve another contract on April 16 and returned to work at that time.

Aubrey continued to be a CBS employee until April 20.

"This is a great entertaintment and communications company," said one longtime CBS employee.

Still, the initial message may be hard for CBS employees to forget.

He also apologized to CBS employees for failing to make clear "some very important ideas and feelings" about the proposed $5.4 billion purchase.

"Jay is really the only person who can tell Larry anything that he's likely to listen to," one longtime CBS employee said.

"These guys simply aren't broadcasters," one longtime CBS employee said.

That lack of detail and the news conference in general left many CBS employees dismayed.

It doesn't seem right to fear for your job right now," one CBS employee said, "but it's too early to tell.