Fox Broadcasting Co.

There is a big executive change at Fox Broadcast Co. just as the buying season is kicking into high gear. David Madden is stepping down as entertainment president and is in negotiations for the top programming job at AMC. At Fox, Madden will be succeeded by 20th Century Fox EVP Development Michael Thorn who will report to Fox Television Group Chairmen and CEOs Gary Newman and Dana Walden.

Veteran TV and entertainment executive Craig Kurland joins the network from Twentieth Century Fox Television.

A former creative services producer at the Fox O&O shot and killed himself outside the front doors of the News Corp. building in Midtown Manhattan shortly before 9 a.m. Among other things, the building houses the offices of the Fox station group.

Rachel Rusch has been named VP of event series for Fox Broadcasting Co. Rusch, who will report to FBC Entertainment President David Madden, will oversee the network’s limited-run programming initiatives, working with 20th Century Fox Television, FX Productions and outside studios to commission and develop large-scale event series, as well as live scripted events, including the upcoming Grease: Live.

Fox is said to be set to yank Tribune Media’s Fox affiliation at KCPQ Seattle. Tribune won’t be left empty-handed, said one person familiar with conversations. Tribune would receive an MNT affiliation in Chicago in exchange. However, one person counselled that talks about the swap were continuing and that Tribune hadn’t completely signed off on the transaction. It’s not clear which Seattle station would end up with Fox.

Jean Rossi, who joined Fox Broadcasting 27 years ago just after the the launch of the network, is not renewing her contract and will leave the company Aug. 31. She currently is EVP sales at Fox Broadcasting and president of integrated sales and marketing group Fox One.

Joe Earley is elevated to chief operating officer, Fox Television Group, while David Madden is named president, entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Co.

Gary Newman and Dana Walden, the long-serving CEOs of production powerhouse 20th Century Fox TV, will take on oversight of Fox Broadcasting in a restructuring that elevates the duo to the post of chairman-CEOs of Fox Television Group. Walden and Newman, who have jointly run the TV studio since late 1999, will continue to steer the 20th Century Fox TV group, which production subsidiaries including Fox TV Studios and Fox 21, in addition to now overseeing all aspects of the Fox broadcast network.

Fox Broadcasting Co. and the NYTVF (New York Television Festival) today announced the seventh iteration of their annual Fox-NYTVF Comedy Script Contest. In celebration of the 10th year of the […]

Dijit Media’s solution is a reminder button that networks place on their homepage that, when pressed, sends an email reminder to a registered user. When paired with the rest of Dijit’s products, it becomes not only a useful tool for consumers, but also an interest gauge that broadcasters can use to see if a particular show will succeed or not.

Fox Broadcasting Co. is asking a federal appeals court to overrule a district judge and halt Dish Network Corp.’s AutoHop ad-skipping service that it says threatens television’s advertising system. Lawyers for Fox are scheduled to present their case today at a hearing in Pasadena, Calif. They claim Dish’s PrimeTime Anytime and Auto Hop services, which allow subscribers to record all four networks’ entire primetime schedule and watch the shows commercial-free the next day, infringe Fox’s copyrights and breach Dish’s license agreement with Fox.

At its affiliate meeting today in Las Vegas, the Fox network is expected to unveil a plan that would allow its affiliates to stream online Fox sports and entertainment programming, according to two affiliate sources. More to come after the meeting adjourns around 4 p.m ET.

The network is partnering with Shazam, Viggle, ConnecTV and NextGuide to feature Fox Now sync-to-broadcast content.

Fox is expanding its Fox Writers Intensive talent development program, committing to funding for one staff writer position for participants on all new and returning Fox Broadcasting Co. series. FX and 20th Century Fox TV will join the Fox network, film studio and HarperCollins publishing unit in the program, which began last year.

The apps, designed to offer viewers enhanced interactive and social capabilities around Fox shows, are launching on iOS, Android, Windows 8, Xbox, Samsung Smart TV and other digital platforms. They also include “T-commerce” capability and exclusive offers for American Express cardmembers with New Girl. Other brand partners will include Mazda and T-Mobile.

The new contracts cover KCPQ Seattle; WTIC Hartford, Conn.; WXIN Indianapolis; KXTL Sacramento, Calif.; WXMI Grand Rapids, Mich.; and WPMT Harrisburg, Pa.

David Wertheimer, the former president of paramount digital entertainment and CEO of USC Entertainment Technology Center, will lead digital strategy and social TV efforts for the network.

National promotions and affiliate marketing are combined under EVP Laurel Bernard; on-air promotions and creative combined under EVP Brian Dollenmayer; communications and creative services combined under EVP Shannon Ryan. In addition, George Oswald, Jason Clark, Michelle Garry and Tomiko Iwata are also promoted.

WFXW, the Mission-owned, Nexstar-run Terre Haute, Ind., former Fox affiliate, becomes WAWV and brings ABC back to the market after 16 years on Sept. 1.

While the network says recent affiliation changes aren’t ultimatums and that it needs a revenue stream from its stations, others see Fox’s increasingly tough stance as one of “either come to the table and negotiate or we’re going to slit your throats.”

Terence Carter, Suzanna Makkos and Marcus Wiley upped to senior vice presidents.