• by Wendy Davis  @wendyndavis, November 17, 2006

News Corp's Ross Levinsohn, president of Fox Interactive Media, has resigned, the company announced Thursday. He will be replaced by his cousin, Peter Levinsohn, currently president of digital media for Fox Entertainment Group.

Ross Levinsohn shepherded Fox's recent efforts to boost its Web presence. Among other strategies, he was behind News Corp's $580 million purchase of MySpace last year.

In addition, he spearheaded Fox's efforts to distribute TV shows online, on MySpace.com and local affiliate sites. Several weeks ago, Fox debuted "The O.C." on MySpace and 24 local TV Web the week before the show's broadcast date. Earlier last month, Fox placed a slate of current season programs--"Bones," "Prison Break," "Standoff," "Vanished," "Justice," "Talk Show With Spike Feresten," "'Til Death," and "The Loop"--on MySpace and sites of local television affiliates.

"His strategic vision helped us to establish a strong Internet presence in a very short time and we are enormously grateful for his many contributions," Peter Chernin, president and chief operating officer of News Corp., said in a statement. Peter Levinsohn will take over as of Nov. 27.

The news came just one day after another major industry shift. Time Warner Wednesday ousted AOL chief Jonathan Miller, replacing him with Randy Falco, president and chief operating officer of the NBC Universal Television Group.