BUSINESS - Eric Shanks Departs DIRECTV to Become President of FOX Sports

Shanks joined DIRECTV in February 2004 as senior vice president of Advanced Services and Content and later was promoted to executive vice president of Entertainment. During his tenure at DIRECTV Shanks oversaw DIRECTV’s original entertainment, interactive programming and advertising sales

EL SEGUNDO, California USA -- (BUSINESS WIRE)

Saturday May 29, 2010

DIRECTV announced that Eric Shanks, executive vice president of Entertainment, will depart the Company in June to take a new position as president of FOX Sports. In his new role, Shanks will report to David Hill, chairman and CEO FOX Sports Media Group.

“Anyone who knows Eric is keenly aware of his deep passion for sports, so when this opportunity came up for him a while back, we worked with our friends at News Corporation and FOX Sports to ensure the transition for both companies was seamless”

“Anyone who knows Eric is keenly aware of his deep passion for sports, so when this opportunity came up for him a while back, we worked with our friends at News Corporation and FOX Sports to ensure the transition for both companies was seamless,” said Mike White, president and CEO of DIRECTV. “His accomplishments here have left an immensely positive impact on the organization that will resonate for many years to come. We wish him the very best in his new position.”

“It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience working for DIRECTV, not only contributing to our tremendous growth, but also helping to innovate many of the new products and services that provide our customers with hands-down the best video experience available,” said Shanks. “I’m definitely going to miss working with all the great and talented people here at the Company and will enjoy watching their continued success.”

Shanks joined DIRECTV in February 2004 as senior vice president of Advanced Services and Content and later was promoted to executive vice president of Entertainment. During his tenure at DIRECTV Shanks oversaw DIRECTV’s original entertainment, interactive programming and advertising sales. He was responsible for the creation of NFL RED ZONE CHANNEL, the launch of DIRECTV on DEMAND, The 101 Network, NASCAR HOTPASS, and in 2006 he formed the Company’s first in-house advertising sales team. More recently he took on new responsibilities by leading the DIRECTV Sports Networks business unit comprised of regional sports networks in Seattle, Denver and Pittsburgh.

DIRECTV is a video service delivering state-of-the-art technology, programming, sports packages to more than 25.6 million customers in the U.S. and Latin America. In the U.S., DIRECTV offers its 18.6 million customers more than 130 HD channels and Dolby-Digital 5.1 theater-quality sound (when available), access to exclusive sports programming such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET, award winning technology like its DIRECTV DVR Scheduler. DIRECTV Latin America, through its subsidiaries and affiliated companies in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, and other Latin American countries, leads the pay-TV category in technology, programming and service, delivering an digital television to 7 million customers. DIRECTV sports and entertainment properties include three Regional Sports Networks (Northwest, Rocky Mountain and Pittsburgh) as well as a 65 percent interest in Game Show Network.

(Business Wire)

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