News Corp. Split Claims First Victim: Top Film Exec Resigns

The decision to split News Corp. into two separate companies -- one for entertainment and one for news -- has claimed its first casualty. Tom Rothman, the longtime co-chairman of Fox's film department, has resigned over a proposed redistribution of power.

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Rothman, "a company man to the degree that he used Fox’s signature trumpet fanfare as his cellphone ring tone," according to the New York Times, left after he was informed that Fox's film and television departments would be split into two separate entities. Previously, the heads of the TV department would report to Rothman and co-chairman of the film department Jim Gianopulos. Under the new structure, TV heads Dana Walden and Gary Newman will report to News Corp. COO Chase Carey, and Gianopulos is assuming full control of the film devision. When Rothman was told about the redistribution he was given an option to exit his contract, and he took it. The Hollywood Reporter has letters from Rothman, Rupert Murdoch, and COO Chase Carey addressing his departure. Rothman was with the company for 18 years. THR, the Times, and Deadline all suspect Rothman's rumored angling for a top job at Universal also helped move him out the door.