Fox News will keep its "unique and important voice" despite the abrupt departure of former chairman Roger Ailes amid a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and discrimination, the two top officers at 21st Century Fox told investors on Wednesday.
"There's no desire or need to shift the position that it has in the market," Lachlan Murdoch, said in a conference call on the company's quarterly earnings, Politico reports. "It's a very successful business, and we are just undergoing a transition in leadership."
Lachlan Murdoch and his brother, 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch, sought to assuage investors' concerns about the Fox News Channel's future after Ailes resigned following the July 6 lawsuit by former anchor Gretchen Carlson.
Ailes, 76, founded the cable news channel in 1996. He remains a consultant through 2018.
Rupert Murdoch, 85, executive chairman of News Corporation, assumed control of the channel and the Fox Business Network. News Corporation owns both 21st Century Fox and the Fox News Channel.
"Two weeks ago, we received and accepted Roger Ailes' resignation as the CEO of the business — and our father took up the responsibility of leading Fox News as chairman and acting CEO," Lachlan Murdoch said. "Throughout this process, we have moved quickly and decisively to protect the business, to protect its employees, and to protect the unique and important voice Fox News broadcasts.
"There is no one more dedicated or more able to transition Fox News to new leadership than its founder," Murdoch added, referring to his father. "As acting CEO, he joins an existing team that is extraordinarily strong and equally devoted to its success."
Lachlan Murdoch did not address specifics regarding Ailes' resignation, Politico reports, but the brothers regularly pointed to Fox News' financial success so far this year.
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