• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, June 3, 2009

With Peter Chernin soon to leave News Corp. as COO, the sprawling media company said Wednesday DirecTV CEO Chase Carey would be taking on his duties. Carey joins as deputy chairman, president and COO on July 1.

The 55-year-old executive, who will report to CEO Rupert Murdoch, will also join the company's board of directors.

Carey had spent 15 years at News Corp. -- including as co-COO from 1996 to 2002 -- before taking over DirecTV, where News Corp. had a controlling stake before selling it to Liberty Corp. Carey remained in charge of the company.

News Corp. said Carey had a particular focus on TV operations during his previous tenure there, including the Fox network and cable outlets. In addition, he played a role in expanding the company's local station group from seven to 35 stations.