Another major media company is merging its news division and its local stations in hopes of wringing new profits from two businesses that are being hurt by the rise of streaming video.
Disney will place tte veteran executive Debra OConnell atop a new division that encompasses ABC News and its local station operations, with ABC News President Kim Godwin and Stations President Chad Matthews reporting to her. The structure is similar to one Paramount Global put in place last year when it folded CBS News, local CBS stations and syndication under a single executive, Wendy McMahon.
Oconnell will report to Dana Walden.
“Debra is an excellent executive who has succeeded in a wide range of leadership roles around our company and knows very well the extraordinary power of ABC News and its world-class journalists,” said Walden, in a statement . “This new role gives her oversight across all our linear operations, where she will be able to optimize our iconic brands and shepherd them into the future. I look forward to having her lead these incredibly talented teams as we build on our success.”
More to come
