News Corporation is restructuring its Asian broadcast businesses into three units – STAR India , STAR Greater China and Fox International Channels (FIC). FIC will combine the English-language channels previously managed by STAR with the FOX and National Geographic brands for distribution in the rest of Asia.
In an official statement, James Murdoch, chairman and chief executive, Europe and Asia, News Corp. said: “We are now reshaping a big, regional organization into three highly focused business units, each of which will be intensely competitive in its target marketplace. While it was once natural to have a larger, regional headquarters, the company has now reached a scale in its key local markets where we are ready to empower the teams on the ground and move a number of functions to be closer to viewers.”
As part of the restructuring, Paul Aiello, CEO of STAR, will leave the company. Aiello will stay to the end of December to ensure a smooth transition.
Murdoch said: “It is with much regret that I accept Paul’s decision to leave the organization to pursue other interests and I wish him well. Paul has played an important leadership role in building local teams and driving STAR’s growth, particularly in India where we have expanded our broadcast footprint nationally and launched new ventures including film production and distribution. I thank him for his contribution.”
Aiello said: “I feel privileged to have worked at News Corp and STAR and I would like to thank all of my colleagues and partners. I am confident that, under James’s leadership, the reorganization will enable the businesses to take advantage of new opportunities for growth as they enter this new stage in their development.”
In a statement, News Corp said that the restructuring will help support continued growth of each unit and will result in a reduction in the size of its regional operations in Hong Kong by deploying resources into local markets. The company will also set up a News Corp. office in Hong Kong. The new office, comprising a small group of executives from the current STAR team, will support News Corp’s interests in the region and manage joint ventures including ESPN STAR Sports. It will also carry out business development, legal, government affairs and corporate communications functions, with each function reporting directly to the corresponding functional heads in London.
News Corp restructures broadcast biz in Asia
News Corporation is restructuring its Asian broadcast businesses into three units – STAR India , STAR Greater China and Fox International Channels (FIC). FIC will combine the English-language channels previously managed by STAR with the FOX and National Geographic brands for distribution in the rest of Asia.
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