National Geographic Channel Names New U.S. President

Posted on May 5, 2000

Laureen Ong, Vice President and General Manager of one of WTTG-TV in Washington, D.C., has joined the National Geographic Channel as its inaugural President of its soon-to-be-launched domestic service, it was announced by Rick Allen, President and Chief Executive Officer of National Geographic Ventures, and Jeff Shell, President and Chief Executive Officer, Fox Cable Networks.

Ong's appointment marks an initial step in building a base of operations for the U.S. National Geographic Channel, a joint venture between National Geographic and Fox. Ong will immediately assume oversight of the development and launch, as well as all day-to-day operations of the Channel, and will be based at National Geographic Society's Washington, D.C. headquarters, and will report to a Board composed of an equal number of Fox and National Geographic representatives.

``Laureen has the operational expertise and leadership talents to make our U.S. Channel a success from the start,'' Allen said. ``To the unbeatable combination of Fox's strategic assets and the Geographic's unmatchable editorial, scientific and educational resources, we now add a terrific industry pro. From its basecamp at the place that has defined exploration and excitement for more than a century comes a unique kind of television: the National Geographic Channel.''

Ong brings over 25 years of television experience to the National Geographic Channel, most recently serving the past three years as Vice President and General Manager of WTTG in Washington, D.C. Prior to that, Ong was Vice President and General Manager of KSAZ-TV, the Fox-owned station in Phoenix, where she supervised the transition of the station from a CBS affiliate formerly managed by New World Communications to a Fox owned-and-operated station more popular with young adult viewers. Before joining Fox Television Stations, Inc., she was a senior executive with Rainbow Programming between 1994 and 1996, serving as General Manager at various SportsChannel regional sports networks.