Channing Dungey, First African-American President Of ABC, Resigns

Channing Dungey, the first African-American to lead a major television network, has resigned as president of ABC Entertainment amid changes by owner Disney. In a statement, Dungey said she was “incredibly proud of what the team and I have accomplished over the years, and all the meaningful and impactful programming we’ve developed. This job has been the highlight of my career.”

Dungey, 49, was named ABC Entertainment president in 2016. During her tenure, she pushed for Roseanne Barr’s firing after the actress referred in a tweet to Valerie Jarrett, an aide to former President Barack Obama, as an ape.

The National Association of Black Journalists praised Dungey for her actions. Barr was the star of the popular sitcom “Roseanne.” Dungey, however, was criticized for preventing the airing of a segment on the television show “blackish” about National Football League players kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality against black men. Variety, a weekly trade magazine that covers the entertainment industry, reported that Dungey was unsuccessful in turning around ABC, which is in fourth place among viewers.

Channing Dungey called a meeting Friday (11/23) of ABC’s top executives and revealed to them that she would step down as the network’s entertainment president. Within an hour, Disney went public with the news that Dungey would be succeeded by Karey Burke, head of programming for ABC’s sibling cabler Freeform.

The news was not a surprise to those who know Dungey, who had been wrestling with the decision on whether to stay at ABC or move on when her contract ended early next year, three years after she was named ABC Entertainment president in February 2016.

But the news still generated a shockwave within ABC. Anxiety has already been high at the network as Disney prepares to close its takeover of 21st Century Fox, which will bring the arrival of Fox’s Peter Rice and Dana Walden as the new senior management team.

Sources present tell Variety that Dungey gave no indication when speaking to her executive team what her next move would be. She expressed admiration for Rice, who will lead all non-sports TV operations; and Walden, who will oversee ABC, cable channel Freeform, and the enlarged TV studio operation.

Dungey was offered a new contract and encouraged to stay, but chose not to be part of the new regime.

Sources present tell Variety that Dungey gave no indication when speaking to her executive team what her next move would be. She expressed admiration for Rice, who will lead all non-sports TV operations; and Walden, who will oversee ABC, cable channel Freeform, and the enlarged TV studio operation.

Dungey was offered a new contract and encouraged to stay, but chose not to be part of the new regime.