Fox Sports has continued to hold a big piece of the sports media pie under Shanks’ guidance. In 2023 alone, Fox Sports boasted the Super Bowl, record-breaking viewership for the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the most-watched game of the college football regular season with Ohio State vs. Michigan. Not to mention it was the first year of its lucrative broadcast deal with the Big Ten and its 30th consecutive season having the top-rated NFL pregame show with “Fox NFL Sunday.” But that’s not enough football (or fútbol) for Shanks, who oversaw the second season of the USFL and the eventual merger with the spring football counterpart XFL. Last year saw Fox Sports set a record for soccer matches broadcast with 221. Shanks will continue to steer the ship as Fox Sports gears up for the first season of the United Football League, the World Series and its launch of a sports streaming jv with Warner Bros. Discovery and ESPN.
What emerging industry trend are you most excited by? Like everyone else, AI.
TV series everyone should binge: “The Dynasty: New England Patriots”
Book, movie or TV series that greatly influenced my leadership style: “Memos from the Chairman” by Alan C. Greenberg
Favorite way to de-stress? Woodworking
Fast food guilty pleasure: Wendy’s
Which industry executive do you wish was running for president and why? The Rock.
