LOS ANGELES, CA March 7, 2006 –
Internet pioneers Mark Jung and Jim Heckman will take on key leadership
roles for Fox Interactive Media (FIM), it was announced today by Ross
Levinsohn, President of FIM. Mr. Jung, 44, CEO of IGN, will become Chief
Operating Officer for FIM, while Jim Heckman, 40, founder and CEO of
Scout.com, will become Chief Strategy Officer.
IGN, the primary online destination for young male gaming and entertainment
enthusiasts and Scout.com, a leading online sports network, were purchased
last year by News Corporation and today operate under the Fox Interactive
Media banner. Mr. Jung and Mr. Heckman will relinquish their operational
roles at IGN and Scout respectively and will turn their attentions to
building Fox Interactive Media.
“Mark and Jim are true visionaries in the Internet space, each having built
and run extremely successful companies from the ground up,” said Mr.
Levinsohn. “They are both savvy managers and possess the kind of
entrepreneurial spirit that has always been the heart of our company.”
“Fox has amassed some of the most exciting sites on the web,” commented Mr.
Jung. “I am looking forward to working closely with Ross, Jim and the rest
of the team on integration and creating a truly unique Internet offering.”
“When you consider the power of Fox’s worldwide brand coupled with its
already massive on-line reach, the possibilities for strategic growth are
boundless,” said Mr. Heckman. “It’s a very exciting time for FIM, and I’m
thrilled with the opportunity to play a role in its development.”
Mr. Jung will oversee the day to day operations for the burgeoning online
network of sites, including sales, technology and product and content
development. The network now has 70 million monthly users and 24 billion
page views. Monetizing those sites will be at the forefront of his focus,
along with integrating existing and future online properties.
Mr. Heckman, who founded and built three separate online networks over the
last 10 years, will focus on overall strategic planning, growth
opportunities and corporate development.
Fox Interactive Media manages the Internet assets from all News Corp.
divisions, including the highly trafficked foxsports.com; Americanidol.com
and fox.com. With the 2005 acquisitions of Intermix Media, parent company of
MySpace.com; Scout Media and IGN Entertainment, News Corporation has quickly
ascended to the top echelon of Internet properties.
News Corporation (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A; ASX: NWS, NWSLV) had total assets as of
December 31, 2005 of approximately US$55 billion and total annual revenues
of approximately US$24 billion. News Corporation is a diversified
international media and entertainment company with operations in eight
industry segments: filmed entertainment; television; cable network
programming; direct broadcast satellite television; magazines and inserts;
newspapers; book publishing; and other. The activities of News Corporation
are conducted principally in the United States, Continental Europe, the
United Kingdom, Australia, Asia and the Pacific Basin.
Contact:
Teri Everett (310) 369-2929