Sports media powerhouse Hill to exit 21st Century Fox, form new venture

Influential sports media executive David Hill will step down from Rupert Murdoch’s US media company 21st Century Fox to launch a new production venture.

Hill (pictured) exits 21st Century Fox following a decades-long career with the company in which he led and helped launch and establish many of its television businesses, including co-founding Sky Television in the UK, the Fox Network, Fox Sports and the firm’s regional sports networks. He most recently served as senior executive vice-president for 21st Century Fox.

Hill’s new venture, entitled Hilly, will be backed by 21st Century Fox. Hilly will focus on live production, creating reality shows, providing production expertise to organisations, and digital investment.

“David is a dynamic and imaginative leader who has changed the experience of nearly all major sports on three continents,” Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of 21st Century Fox, said.  “Whether it was launching Sky Television, the Fox Network, Fox Sports, or the Regional Sports Networks, we owe him an enormous debt for his nearly 30 years of contributions.”

Hill added: “Building Fox Sports from the ground up was something which will always live with me – but more particularly all the incredible men and women in front of, and behind, the cameras who made Rupert and Chase (Carey’s) dream become a reality, and turned an idea into what has become a world leader in sports production excellence. I am especially proud of Eric Shanks’ leadership in taking the reins at Fox Sports and, with a very steady hand, expanding the business in a terrific way.

“I believe the future of the broadcast networks lies in big, spectacular live events. As I’ve spent most of my life producing those, I think I can give some added value. In a funny way, this is like finishing my apprenticeship.”

Hill joined News Corporation from Australian commercial broadcaster Nine in 1988. The Variety newspaper said Hill’s departure from 21st Century Fox has been in the works for some time and is unrelated to the transition set for July 1, when James and Lachlan Murdoch take the reins of the media giant from their father and president/chief operating officer Chase Carey.