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Rupert Murdoch Appoints Anthea Disney as Top Editor at Delphi Internet Services

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Rupert Murdoch has made a bold move to revitalize his struggling on-line information company, Delphi Internet Services, by appointing Anthea Disney as the top editor. Disney, the current editor in chief of TV Guide, brings with her a wealth of experience in creating engaging content that appeals to a broad audience. Her task will be to transform Delphi into a mass medium, capitalizing on the growing demand for on-line services. With Disney's appointment, Murdoch is signaling his intent to compete vigorously in the increasingly competitive on-line information industry.

Key Takeaways:

  • Anthea Disney, 48, has been appointed as the top editor at Delphi Internet Services, effective immediately.
  • As editor in chief of TV Guide, Disney transformed the magazine into the top producer of advertising revenue by incorporating news and entertainment articles into its television listings.
  • Her task at Delphi will be to create a distinctive personality for the on-line service and convert the contents of Murdoch's publishing and television properties into the digital medium.
  • The News Corporation owns TV Guide, Fox Broadcasting, 20th Century Fox, HarperCollins Publishers, and Times Newspapers Ltd., among other properties.
  • Disney brought in 14 years of editorial experience from her previous roles at Self magazine, US magazine, and The Daily News.
  • She has also held positions at Fox Television's "A Current Affair" and was the executive producer.
  • A native of Surrey, England, Disney began her career as a reporter and later foreign correspondent for The Daily Mail.
  • Delphi has suffered from several high-level executive defections and is behind schedule in developing a new technical infrastructure.
  • The company has received a $2 billion cash infusion from MCI Communications and has licensed Netscape Navigator software.

Statistics:

  • Delphi Internet Services is lagging behind its rivals, CompuServe, America Online, and Prodigy, in terms of market share and user base.
  • The company has been valued at $2 billion after receiving a cash infusion from MCI Communications.
  • The Microsoft Network and AT&T's Interchange service are posing a formidable threat to Delphi's market share.
  • Delphi has hired new senior executives from AT&T, Prodigy, American Online, and Microsoft in recent months.
  • The company's new technical infrastructure and user software are expected to be ready by this fall.

Sources:

  • Advertising Age, the weekly trade magazine, quoting Scott Donaton, executive editor for interactive and new media.
  • The appointment announcement from News Corporation.
  • TV Guide's article announcing the promotion of Barry Golson to editor in chief of TV Guide Online.
  • MCI Communications' press release announcing the $2 billion cash infusion to Delphi.
  • The Daily Mail, a London newspaper, article on Anthea Disney's career.

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