Fox News co-presidents Jack Abernethy and Bill Shine, unveiled the network’s new $30 million street side studio on 6th Avenue at their Manhattan headquarters this afternoon, which will debut on election night. The gathering was meant to celebrate FNC’s 20th anniversary, with a heavy emphasis on the future.
Shine, a Fox News original, referenced this week’s unfortunately timed Sean Hannity–Megyn Kelly rift in which Kelly called out Hannity on air, and Hannity responded on Twitter. The multi-million dollar hosts made up yesterday saying, “We’re Irish. It’s complicated.”
Today, explaining how he has been working with his co-president, Shine said: “We’re a team, and it’s important to us today that we celebrate as a team. Now you may ask yourself how this is going to work – Jack and I are good friends and we’re both Irish…”
“So it’s complicated,” Abernethy said.
“We understand for the last few years there has been a lack of communication from the top,” Shine said, adding, “Jack and I are set to fix that.”
“I find tremendous amount of pride in what we do here,” Abernethy said, “I can assure you that Bill and I are going to do our very best to innovate. An example is this beautiful studio here.” The new studio formerly housed a Charles Schwab branch. Above that space is the main studio for Fox Business Network.
Abernethy said the network is also looking to upgrade its 20-year-old basement newsroom. “We also have a plan in place to upgrade FOXNews.com and our other digital ventures,” he said.
Fox News chairman Rupert Murdoch couldn’t make the gathering as he’s in Los Angeles, but marking the 20th anniversary he wrote a note to staffers: “It has been tremendously inspiring to watch Fox News flourish these past 20 years, and I am beyond excited for the network to continue its dominance into our next decade.”
A catered lunch was served and dinner will be served for the second shift.
“The ratings are higher than they have ever been,” said Abernethy. “The business is strong and the future is bright.”
Here’s Murdoch’s note to the staff:
