What About Bill?

> Update: 4:37pm: “Bill Shine has more on his plate lately… not less,” a Fox tipster writes…

Something was missing from FNC’s announcements last week about the promotion of David Rhodes and the creation of The Live Desk with Martha MacCallum: Senior vice president for programming Bill Shine wasn’t mentioned.

In the past, Shine has been quoted in programming announcements. But Thursday’s press release about The Live Desk included a comment from Roger Ailes, not Shine. Last week’s announcements led a couple tipsters to wonder: “Has Shine been downgraded in favor of Rhodes?”

A Fox News spokesperson explained that Shine’s current position as SVP of programming has nothing to do with Rhodes’ promotion. “Bill is a highly regarded, valued member of the FNC executive team,” the rep said.

Observers have to wonder if the recent changes and promotions at Fox are a response to the network’s declining ratings — and if responsibility for the sagging numbers can be placed on Shine’s shoulders. This story in Crain’s New York Business wonders if FNC is “suffering from the same disaffection with Republican policies that is hurting the White House.” But problems with programming would be another logical reason for the ratings dive.

In the story, Shine says “news is a cyclical business” and the ratings decline is “not a big deal.” Does Ailes agree?

> Update: 4:34pm: An insider responds to the Crain’s story: “If a tree falls in the forest, and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? Same can be applied to Crain’s — it has no buzz — so does anyone read it?”