News Corp. said that it will restructure its Fox television networks division and that Tony Vinciquerra, who has led the business since 2002, will depart.
The company said Vinciquerra has chosen to leave as of Feb. 11 to pursue other opportunities. David Haslingden, chief executive of Fox International Channels, will move to Los Angeles to become president and chief operating officer of Fox Networks Group, reporting to News Corp. Chief Operating Officer Chase Carey.
The move is part of a broader restructuring at News Corp.’s key TV division, which includes its broadcast and cable channels, leaving more top executives reporting directly to Carey. Carey left his post as chief executive of DirecTV Group Inc. in 2009 to become News Corp. Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch’s top lieutenant.
News Corp. owns Dow Jones, publisher of this newswire.
The reshuffling comes as the TV industry faces emerging threats from the rapid rise of online video and disruptions in the traditional advertising market caused by the Internet. Vinciquerra has recently led efforts to negotiate for a larger share of the TV subscription market for News Corp.’s broadcast network, which was suffering a slowdown in its ad-supported business model.
David Hill, chief executive of Fox Sports Media Group; Peter Rice, chairman of the entertainment division; and Mike Hopkins, president of affiliate sales and marketing for Fox Networks, will also report to Carey under the new arrangement.
Hernan Lopez, who heads the company’s international cable channels, is being promoted to president and chief executive of Fox International Channels, reporting to Haslingden.
“Our networks group is one of the biggest growth drivers,” Carey said in the press release, “and we see considerable room for further innovation and development under this talented team of executives.”
So is this of any real consequence, or are the suits just shuffling chairs? Will the sturm and drang at the 9 p.m. news be resolved? Will we see The Simpsons more than 3 times a day?