Ex-Viacom Exec Must Wait to Start Fox Jobs

Former Viacom executive Rich Cronin will become president and chief executive of Fox Kids Network and Fox Family Channel on July 1, following a New York Supreme Court judge’s preliminary ruling Wednesday that he could not start before his contract expires with Viacom’s MTV Networks. Cronin and Fox Kids Worldwide still face a lawsuit from Viacom alleging breach of contract.

Cronin was fired from his position as president of MTV’s Nick at Nite’s TV Land cable channel in October 1997, after executives there learned Cronin had signed a contract with the Saban Entertainment and News Corp. Fox venture. One week after he was terminated, Fox officially announced Cronin’s appointment. Viacom sought a preliminary injunction, saying the move would violate an anti-compete clause in Cronin’s contract.