Disney could be reorganizing its news operations as it gets ready to close the $71.3 billion deal with 21st Century Fox, which would fetch Disney 21CF’s entertainment assets.
Bloomberg is reporting that this reorganization could include the return of Ben Sherwood to the news division as “head of worldwide news and nonfiction content.”
Sherwood and Disney have held preliminary talks about a job overseeing news across North America, Europe and India, according to the people familiar with the discussions. The plan could fall through — and Sherwood may pursue roles outside of the company, one of the people said. His contract runs through mid-2021.
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This move, according to Bloomberg, is largely dependent on if Disney also gains control of British broadcaster Sky News.
Sherwood was ABC News president from 2010-2014, and now serves as Disney/ABC Television Group president, overseeing ABC, Disney Channel and Freeform. Sherwood is now based in Burbank.
James Goldston is currently the president of ABC News, succeeding Sherwood in 2014. With Goldston running the news division, World News Tonight with David Muir has become the most-watched evening newscast.
Sherwood’s had three stints with ABC News, starting in 1989 as a producer at Primetime Live. After a run at NBC Nightly News, Sherwood returned to ABC in 2004 for a two-year stint as EP of Good Morning America. Sherwood turned to writing for 4 years, including three best-sellers, one of which was turned into a major motion picture.
Sherwood was named ABC News president in 2010, succeeding David Westin in the role. Westin is presently an anchor at Bloomberg News.