Fox TV Studios President Resigning

Fox Entertainment Group on Wednesday said the founder of its Fox Television Studios was leaving the company, clearing the way for the hiring of a former Walt Disney Co. executive.

Fox is expected to announce that Angela Shapiro, former head of Disney’s ABC Family cable channel and ABC’s daytime division, would replace David Grant as president of Fox TV Studios, sources said.

A company spokeswoman declined to comment.

Hiring Shapiro, a respected creative executive, would end speculation that Fox might shutter Grant’s division, which was formed seven years ago and has lost millions of dollars.

The boutique unit produces the critically acclaimed cop drama “The Shield” for the company’s FX channel and launched Regency Television, which gave birth to such quirky Fox comedies as “Malcolm in the Middle” and “The Bernie Mac Show.”

The unit is expected to make money after it completes the syndication sales of “Malcolm” and “Bernie Mac.” Grant also oversaw five other production “pods,” including Foxstar, which produces “Biography” for the A&E; cable network, among other shows.

Fox, sources said, wanted to shift the focus of Fox TV Studios to creating shows for the company’s cable channels and TV stations rather than outside companies. The unit has about 75 employees.

News Corp. owns 82% of Fox Entertainment Group.

News Corp. Chief Operating Officer Peter Chernin, in a statement, credited Grant for developing a “studio production model that has become widely adopted in the industry.”

Grant, 48, said he planned to build an independent production business to distribute shows internationally.

“There’s a real market opportunity to operate independently because of media consolidation,” Grant said. “That’s exciting.”

Shapiro left Disney in October after top Disney executives stripped her of her autonomy by placing the ABC Family channel under the control of Anne Sweeney, who is now co-chairwoman of Disney’s Media Networks unit.