21st Century Fox has named its first woman CEO, Suzanne Scott, to oversee the Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network.
Scott, who has been with Fox News since its inception in October 1996, had been serving as the president of programming for both networks. She will report to company founder Rupert Murdoch and Lachlan Murdoch, both executive chairmen of 21st Century Fox.
Suzanne has been instrumental in the success of FOX News and she has now made history as its first female CEO,” said Lachlan Murdoch in a statement. “Her vision and innovation have helped create some of the most popular and lucrative primetime programs on cable.”
Earlier this week, Lachlan Murdoch was named co-chairman, along with Rupert Murdoch, of the new Fox company, expected to emerge from a sale of many Fox assets to the Walt Disney Co. “As we embark on the era of the proposed New Fox, I am confident that Suzannes leadership will ensure the dominance of both FoxNews & FBN for years to come, he said.
In her own statement, Scott said, I am incredibly honored and humbled to take on this new role and very thankful to Rupert and Lachlan for their leadership and confidence in me to run FoxNews.
At Fox News, Scott oversaw the revamping of the channel’s primetime lineup — in the wake of the dismissal of Bill O’Reilly in April 2017 under allegations of sexual harassment — withTucker Carlson Tonight (8 p.m. ET),moving Hannityto 9 p.m., and addingThe Ingraham Angle at 10 p.m.
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Scott, who is 52, was promoted in May 2017 after the resignation of network co-president Bill Shine, who had been mentioned in several lawsuits filed against Fox News for allowing a workplace culture in which sexual harassment and racial discrimination developed.
Also promoted at the time: Jay Wallace, 46, who also joined in 1996, has been appointed president of Fox News and executive editor; and Jack Abernethy, 61, who will continue as CEO of the newly expanded Fox Television Stations Group — Fox paid $910 million earlier this month for nine Sinclair stations — and will move to Los Angeles to work closely with Fox Broadcasting Company and Fox Sports.
In the fall of 2017, Scott expanded the networks schedule with 20 hours of live programming including more women anchors and hosts on shows sheco-created such asOutnumbered Overtimew/Harris Faulkner, The Story with Martha MacCallum and The Daily Briefing w/ Dana Perino.
She began her career at Fox News Channel as a programming assistant, after holding that job at CNBC. She subsequently held several programming, production and creative positions including executive vice president of programming.
As for new Fox, 21st Century Fox agreed to sell many of its prized entertainment assets including the Fox movie and TV studios, one-third stake in Hulu and its 22 regional sports networks to Disney for $52.4 billion in December 2017.
But the outcome of that deal, which Disney and Fox are currently submitting filings on with regulators, could have another hurdle with Comcast reportedly planning a $60 billion offer to outbid Disney.
Follow USA TODAY reporter Mike Snider on Twitter: @MikeSnider.
