FNC’s 10th: Roger Ailes profile…
The New York Daily News’ Richard Huff has a profile of FNC head Roger Ailes…
Ten years in, and Roger Ailes isn’t sitting still at the Fox News Channel.
Overall viewership for the network has fallen this year, though FNC is still the dominant news network on cable.
“We’re 10 years old and need a spanking and to get back in the game again,” Ailes said as the network prepares to mark its milestone this week.
As a model, he pointed to the Yankees, who are consistent champions but every year must start fresh.
Ailes attributes the viewership dip to a lack of big news events since last year’s Hurricane Katrina, the growth in news coverage in other arenas, such as cell phones and the Internet, and some level of internal complacency.
“We’re freshening up, moving things around. We fired some people,” Ailes said of recent changes. “If people change in the seat next to you, it focuses your mind.”
Way to go, Roger. But a cautionary warning: Don’t shake up things too much, or the chemistry will be gone. Roger mentioned the Yankees, but he could have pointed out too at the LA Lakers, the Detroit Pistons, and the Atlanta Braves, owned by Ted Turner who founded CNN. You can make changes, but don’t shake that magic bottle too much.
Comment by RGL — October 3, 2006 @ 12:11 pm