As expected, Roger Ailes has officially resigned as chairman and CEO of Fox News Channel, and Fox Business Network and chairman of the Fox Television Stations. In his absence, Rupert Murdoch will assume the role of chairman and acting CEO of Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network, 21st Century Fox said Thursday in a statement.
“Roger Ailes has made a remarkable contribution to our company and our country. Roger shared my vision of a great and independent television organization and executed it brilliantly over 20 great years,” said Murdoch in a statement.
“Fox News has given voice to those who were ignored by the traditional networks and has been one of the great commercial success stories of modern media.
“It is always difficult to create a channel or a publication from the ground up and against seemingly entrenched monopolies. To lead a flourishing news channel, and to build Fox Business, Roger has defied the odds.
“His grasp of policy and his ability to make profoundly important issues accessible to a broader audience stand in stark contrast to the self-serving elitism that characterizes far too much of the media.
“I am personally committed to ensuring that Fox News remains a distinctive, powerful voice. Our nation needs a robust Fox News to resonate from every corner of the country.
“To ensure continuity of all that is best about Fox News and what it stands for, I will take over as Chairman and acting CEO, with the support of our existing management team under Bill Shine, Jay Wallace and Mark Kranz.”
The 76-year-old Ailes had become increasingly embattled over the past two weeks, ever since former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Ailes on July 6. Since then, New York Magazine’s Gabriel Sherman reported that Fox News star anchor Megyn Kelly told investigators that she too had been harassed by Ailes when she started at the network 10 years ago. Ailes’ attorneys put out a statement denying that Ailes had ever been anything other than supportive of Kelly, but by then exit talks appeared to be well underway.
In a letter to Rupert Murdoch, Ailes defended his treatment of women, according to the Drudge Report, which posted the letter exclusively on Thursday.
“I take particular pride in the role that I have played advancing the careers of the many women I have promoted to executive and on-air positions. Many of these talented journalists have deservedly become household names known for their intelligence and strength, whether reporting the news, fair and balanced, and offering exciting opinions on our opinion programs,” Ailes wrote. “Fox News has become Number 1 in all of cable because I consistently identified and promoted the most talented men and women in television, and they performed at the highest levels.”
Sherman has reported that Ailes is walking away with a $60 million buyout and a temporary consulting gig, although other reports have pegged that amount at $40 million. Regardless, Ailes will be departing Fox imminently.
The news comes on the afternoon before Donald Trump is set to take the stage at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, potentially overshadowing the controversial candidate’s transition to nominee.
While Rupert Murdoch is set to take the interim reins, several names are already in the mix to permanently replace Ailes. Among them are both Shine and Wallace — with Shine currently overseeing Fox News’ primetime programming and Fox Business Network, and Wallace working as executive VP, news and editorial. Other names include New York Post publisher Jesse Angelo, who is close to the Murdoch family, having served as best man at James Murdoch’s wedding, according to The Hollywood Reporter. CBS News President David Rhodes, formerly of Fox News, also has been floated, but he appears locked into his current job for at least the time being.
According to some reports, all of the Murdochs — Rupert, Executive Chairman James and CEO Lachlan — agreed that Ailes needed to go, but when and how was in question. Several stories suggest, including this one by THR’s Michael Wolff, divisions in the Murdoch clan about Ailes, with the elder Murdoch more supportive of him than the younger Murdochs.
Still, James and Lachlan issued a joint statement about Ailes’ departure:
“We join our father in recognizing Roger’s remarkable contributions to our company. Our talented Fox News and Fox Business colleagues, up and down the organization and on both sides of the camera, have built something that continues to redefine the cable news experience for millions of viewers. We are enormously proud of their accomplishments. For them, as well as for our colleagues across our entire organization, we continue our commitment to maintaining a work environment based on trust and respect. We take seriously our responsibility to uphold these traditional, long-standing values of our company.”
[Image courtesy of The New York Times]
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