Fox News Channel executives have moved quickly to fill the void left behind by the network’s disgraced former boss, Roger Ailes.
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Bill Shine and Jack Abernathy will be co-presidents at the 21st Century Fox unit, reporting to its executive chairman, Rupert Murdoch.
The appointments are effective immediately.
Roger Ailes resigned as Fox News CEO amid sexual harassment allegations.. “His leadership and keen eye for programming has played a fundamental role in the success of both Fox News and Fox Business Network”, Murdoch said in a statement.
The statement on Friday announcing a new management structure didn’t address the status of the Paul, Weiss inquiry, and it didn’t give any update on plans to find a new permanent chief executive for the Fox News division of the company. By making the promotions, the Murdochs may be seeking to staunch persistent questions about the makeup of Fox News after Ailes.
The other new co-president, Shine, who was the senior executive vice president of the company, will “run all programming and news functions of each network, including production, technical operations and talent management”.
Shine’s and Scott’s names also surfaced in media reports concerning Ailes’ behavior. “As we continue to benefit from his strong leadership of Fox Television Stations, his strategic vision and deep knowledge of the cable news business will ensure continued growth of FOX News and FOX Business Network for generations to come”.
Abernethy has been the CEO of the Fox Television Stations, running the 28 Fox-owned stations across the country.
Mr Ailes stepped down last month after several months battling sexual harassment accusations and embarrassing headlines.
And yet Fox’s finances are under a microscope right now after New York Magazine revealed that Murdoch and other top executives were unaware of an alleged $3.15 million settlement with former FNC booker Laurie Luhn, who claims she was sexually victimized by Ailes for about 20 years.
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Mr Ailes has been the most influential hand at Fox News since the channel launched in 1996; his current contract with the news channel was not due to expire until 2018.
