NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--21st Century Fox (NASDAQ: FOXA, FOX) today announced that Roger Ailes has signed a new multi-year contract with the Company to continue to serve as Chairman and CEO of Fox News and Fox Business Network, and Chairman of Fox Television Stations.
The announcement was made by Rupert Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch and James Murdoch, to whom Mr. Ailes will jointly report.
Rupert Murdoch, 21st Century Fox’s Executive Co-Chairman as of July 1, commented: “Nearly two decades ago, Roger took a bold idea rooted in the belief that there was room for more choice in cable news, and – much to all the naysayers’ surprise – through his development of vibrant programming and talent, created a behemoth of a business with one of the most passionate and engaged audiences in the history of television news. Roger and I have always had, and will continue to have, a special relationship. Lachlan, James and I are delighted that Roger will be leading key businesses for us and our shareholders for years to come, and he has our unwavering support.”
Lachlan and James Murdoch, 21st Century Fox’s designated Executive Co-Chairman and CEO, respectively, commented: “Roger is an incredibly talented executive and we’re pleased he has accepted our offer to continue his extraordinary record of success at 21st Century Fox. We look forward to witnessing his energy and entrepreneurial drive in leading the next wave of growth for Fox News, Fox Business Network and Fox Television Stations, as well as many years of continued success together.”
Roger Ailes said: “I am grateful to Rupert Murdoch for taking the risk on Fox News to see it become the number one 24-hour news network in America. I look forward to working with Rupert, Lachlan and James to do my part to help bring 21st Century Fox well into the future.”
ABOUT ROGER AILES
Since joining the Company in 1996, Mr. Ailes has overseen the successful creation, launch and ongoing operations of Fox News Channel (FNC), which currently reaches more than 90 million homes. In January 2002, FNC passed CNN in ratings in all day parts and became the number one news channel in America, a position it has now held for 13 consecutive years. A top five basic cable network, FNC routinely dominates the cable news landscape, often beating CNN and MSNBC combined and consistently notches the top ten programs in the genre. Under Ailes’ leadership, FNC has achieved 70 consecutive quarters of profit growth and doubles its closest competitor in advertising and affiliate revenue, according to SNL Kagan.
Prior to creating Fox News, Ailes served as President of CNBC, NBC’s business news and talk network, from 1993 through 1996. Under his leadership, CNBC established itself as the leading source for business news and became the fastest growing cable network in America, with triple the ratings. In addition to his work in television, Ailes founded and operated Ailes Communications, Inc. from 1970 to 1992, which served as a diversified communications consulting company. His clients included three U.S. presidents, several U.S. senators and governors, and numerous Fortune 500 CEOs.
Ailes has served on numerous charitable and industry boards, including as a member of the Director's Guild of America and a Trustee of the National Trust for Historic Gettysburg. In 1999, he was awarded the Silver Circle Award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and was named the Most Powerful Person in TV News by Television Week on four different occasions. He was named Advertising Age’s TV Marketer of the Year in 2002 and was Broadcasting & Cable's first-ever Television Journalist of the Year in 2003. Ailes was later inducted into that publication’s Hall of Fame in 2008. That same year, he received the Navy SEAL Patriot Award. In 2011, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society honored Ailes with the John Reagan (Tex) McCrary Award for Excellence in Journalism, and in 2012 he was awarded the Bradley Prize at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC for being a “visionary in American journalism.”
About 21st Century Fox
21st Century Fox is the world's premier portfolio of cable, broadcast, film, pay TV and satellite assets spanning six continents across the globe. Reaching more than 1.8 billion subscribers in approximately 50 local languages every day, 21st Century Fox is home to a global portfolio of cable and broadcasting networks and properties, including FOX, FX, FXX, FXM, FS1, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, FOX Sports, Fox Sports Network, National Geographic Channels, STAR India, 28 local television stations in the U.S. and more than 300 channels that comprise Fox International Channels; film studio Twentieth Century Fox Film; and television production studios Twentieth Century Fox Television and a 50% ownership interest in Endemol Shine Group.
The Company also holds a 39.1% ownership interest in Sky, Europe’s leading entertainment company, which serves 21 million customers across five countries. For more information about 21st Century Fox, please visit www.21CF.com.
