Fox Mulling Over Signing Conan O'Brien
Feb. 3 2010, Published 11:46 a.m. ET
Fox head Rupert Murdoch said there are "different opinions" circulating at the network whether to sign Conan O'Brien, but if network execs come to the conclusion he would be a ratings moneymaker, they would ink him "in a flash."
There have been some conversations with O'Brien's camp, Murdoch said on a quarterly earnings conference call on Tuesday, but no real negotiations.
"We're giving it a lot of thought and a lot of examination," Murdoch said. "If the programming people can show us we can do it... and make a profit, we would do it in a flash."
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O'Brien's settlement with the NBC enables the red-headed comedian to seek employment elsewhere as early as this fall. Fox has tried in the past to compete in the late night talk medium with little success, as programs hosted by Chevy Chase (1993) and Joan Rivers (1986-1987) were cancelled within a year of their debut.
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