Innovative Fox Sports Chairman David Hill leaving Fox Sports

By Michael Hiestand, USA TODAY
David Hill, who pioneered putting NFL game clocks continuously onscreen, is leaving Fox Sports.
The Fox Sports chairman, who led the launch of the News Corp. network sports division in 1993, used the continuous onscreen clock at a time when broadcasters across the board rejected the idea out of fear that viewers would quickly change the channel if they could instantly see a game was a blowout.

CAPTION

By Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY

Hill's other innovations include baseball coverage with constant camera cross-cuts – they make down times between pitches seem more lively – as well as the so-called glowing puck for NHL action. The puck appeared to glow and left an onscreen "comet tail" in its wake. Occasionally, though, the glowing puck would go awry and appear to pop in and out of the stands.Hill's creations also included putting tiny cameras in baseball fields and (sometimes annoying) animated characters on event coverage – such as a gopher cartoon character tht would pop up from the track during coverage of NASCAR races. Hill also brought UFC MMA programming to Fox in mixed martial arts' first big broadcast network deal.
Hill will continue working for News Corp., focusing on programming and digital initiatives in and out of the U.S. In a restructing, Fox Sports co-presidents Randy Freer and Eric Shanks now will report to Fox Networks Group president Peter Rice.
Hill, a native of Australia, in a statement said he's "immensely proud of the work we've done to revolutionize the television business."