Fox Affiliate Exec Jon Hookstratten Leaving

Jon Hookstratten, who has served as the point man in managing Fox Broadcasting’s relationships with its affiliates since 2005, is leaving the company next month, Fox confirmed.

Hookstratten accepted an offer from Fox to take a “voluntary buyout,” a Fox source told TVNewsCheck. The buyout is being offered to many of the company’s employees as it seeks to cut costs and undergo a reorganization that has been under way since February in advance of the 2017 fiscal year starting in July, according to published reports.

Hookstratten’s current title is EVP, broadcast distribution, Fox Networks Group. He reports to Michael Biard, president, distribution.

The news that Hookstratten would soon leave the company (his departure is said to be in late May) spread among Fox affiliate executives at last week’s NAB Show in Las Vegas. A meeting of all the Fox affiliates was held at the conference, along with at least one meeting of the Fox Affiliate Advisory Board.

At a dinner attended by members of the affiliate board and Fox executives, affiliate execs showed their appreciation by giving Hookstratten a standing ovation, a Fox source said.

Prior to joining Fox, Hookstratten held a series of executive positions for NBC and, before that, CBS. His plans for the future could not be determined. He was unavailable for comment.