And another shoe drops. Fox News co-president Bill Shine has resigned, according to a statement put out by the network minutes ago.
In making the announcement, 21st Century Fox executive chairman Rupert Murdoch said, “This is a significant day for all at Fox News. Bill has played a huge role in building Fox News to its present position as the nation’s biggest and most important cable channel in the history of the industry. His contribution to our channel and our country will resonate for many years.”
Jack Abernethy remains co-president of Fox News and CEO of Fox Television Stations. Suzanne Scott becomes president, programming at Fox News. Jay Wallace becomes president, news at Fox News. Brian Jones becomes president of Fox Business Network, reporting to Scott and Wallace.
Murdoch signed both Shine and Fox News co-president Abernethy to long-term deals last September.
New York Magazine’s Gabe Sherman was first to report the departure.
Shine was recently honored as a member of The Hollywood Reporter’s 2017 class of New York’s Most Powerful in Media. He had been a Fox Newser since the network’s inception in October 1996. A longtime friend of Sean Hannity, Shine originally came to FNC as a producer for Hannity & Colmes, one of the network’s first prime time series.
Hannity sent out a handful of tweets last week in response to Sherman’s early reports that Shine’s days at the network were numbered.
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) April 27, 2017
Somebody HIGH UP AND INSIDE FNC is trying to get an innocent person fired. And Gabe I KNOW WHO it is. Best Sean https://t.co/W3BJ2wjzRD
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) April 27, 2017
#Istandwithbill https://t.co/W3BJ2wjzRD
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) April 27, 2017
Hannity continued his Twitter spree this past Sunday. Make of it what you will:
A lot of time with an army of attorneys. Topics include; libel, slander, defamation, tortious interference. Stay tuned.
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) April 30, 2017
Wow very interesting in light of meetings I had with attorneys. https://t.co/NlqAiT5gte
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) April 30, 2017
Oh FYI, Whoever you are just remember, IP addresses are traceable. Get Ready.
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) May 1, 2017
Sadly sadly I agree with this. I have 3 high powered attorneys and 2 amazing top class investigators I have hired. They have no idea ….. https://t.co/ZGNf8DY2Fc
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) May 1, 2017
The following announcement was obtained by TVNewser:
Dear Friends & Colleagues
Sadly, Bill Shine resigned today. I know Bill was respected and liked by everybody at Fox News. We will all miss him.
Suzanne Scott becomes President, Programming and Jay Wallace, President News.
Fox News continues to break both viewing and revenue records, for which I thank you all. I am sure we can do even better.
Sincerely,
Amy Listerman, formerly of Scripps Networks, becomes the network’s chief financial officer today. Kevin Lord, evp of human resources, takes on additional duties as head of compliance, reporting to Gerson Zweifach, chief corp. counsel of 21st Century Fox.