News Corporation revamps Net unit
News Corporation gives a face-lift to its online division, including a name change and an executive shuffle.
The media giant said it has changed the name of News America Digital Publishing (NADP), its digital media division, to News Digital Media. The company also said that James Murdoch, who served as president of NADP, has been named executive vice president of News Corporation.
Jon Richmond, president of Fox Interactive and Fox Filmed Entertainment's gaming division, has been named president of News Digital Media, replacing Murdoch.
Although NADP has a dizzying array of content and a global presence powered by News Corporation, the division has not been enveloped in the kind of buzz enjoyed by many other online media companies. News Digital Media consolidates News Corporation's electronic publishing operations, including Fox.com, FoxNews.com, and FoxSports.com
Richmond will oversee the strategic direction and expansion of News Digital Media.
During his tenure at NADP, Murdoch helped drive the merger of TV Guide and United Video Satellite Group. He also directed several Internet investments, including ones in TheStreet.com, Juno.com, and PlanetRx.
As of June 30, 1999, News Corporation has total assets of approximately $36 billion and total annual revenues of approximately $14 billion.