DATE: Saturday, July 19, 1997               TAG: 9707190311

SECTION: BUSINESS                PAGE: D1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LARRY BONKO, staff writer 

DATELINE: LOS ANGELES                       LENGTH:   40 lines

FOX MOVES TO EXPAND ITS KIDS' PROGRAMMING

After buying the Virginia Beach-based International Family Entertainment, including The Family Channel, Fox is moving quickly to expand its children's programming by naming Margaret Loesch as vice chairman of Fox Kids Worldwide.

That global company, an alliance of Fox Broadcasting and Saban Entertainment, is expected to produce at least 12 hours of children's programming each day for The Family Channel starting in 1998. Loesch is already the chief executive officer of Fox Kids Network, which produces some of the most popular children's programming on television.

She is the woman who brought the Power Rangers to U.S. viewers.

In announcing Loesch's expanded role with Fox on Thursday, company chairman Chase Carey said she will be ``a key player'' in building the Fox Kids franchise for Fox Broadcasting and The Family Channel.

``Margaret is the heart and soul of Fox Kids, and has been the driving force behind its success,'' Carey said. ``We are fortunate to have her creative vision as weincorporate The Family Channel into Fox Kids Worldwide.''

Loesch said the acquisition of The Family Channel means new challenges for Fox Kids.

``With the addition of the cable channel, it's become clear that a reorganization and consolidation of all of our businesses is necessary,'' Loesch said. ``I'm ready for a role that allows me to develop new strategies for the company.''

The Family Channel gives Fox Kids Worldwide a channel that reaches 69 million U.S. homes.

Under Loesch, the Fox Kids Network produces 19 hours of programming for Fox TV affiliates such as WTVZ (Channel 33), sends out ``Fox Kids Countdown'' on 215 radio stations and publishes a free quarterly magazine, ``Totally Kids,'' to 13 million children. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

Margaret Loesch, KEYWORDS: PROFILE

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