UPDATE 2-CBS earnings beat forecasts, raises dividend 8 pct

(Adds executive comments, byline)

By Paul Thomasch

NEW YORK, April 29 (Reuters) - CBS Corp (CBS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) reported a greater-than-expected 14 percent rise in quarterly earnings on Tuesday, helped by healthier results from its television business, and boosted its dividend.

The first-quarter report sent CBS shares up 4 percent and marked a bright spot for the company after weeks in which it has battled speculation that its TV news anchor, Katie Couric, may leave next year and that Chief Executive Les Moonves has lost favor with Chairman Sumner Redstone.

Redstone sought to make clear his support for Moonves during a conference call with investors on Tuesday.

"There is no one, no one, that I would rather have at the helm of CBS than Les Moonves," Redstone said. He later addressed questions about any sibling rivalry between executives at CBS and Viacom Inc (VIAb.N: Quote, Profile, Research), which he also oversees.

"I believe competition is healthy, it certainly didn't hurt me," he added. "It is not true that success between these two companies is mutually exclusively."

Moonves pointed out that CBS's earnings growth came during a tough economic environment, while reminding investors that the media company has raised its dividend six times in nine quarters. This latest dividend reflects an 8 percent increase.

For the quarter, CBS earned $244.3 million, or 36 cents a share, compared with $213.5 million, or 28 cents a share, a year earlier.