NEWS & NOTES : FOX EXECUTIVE STILL ON BOARD - HE CLAIMS IT'S THE GOSPEL TRUTH.

Fox Entertainment president John Matoian kicked off his network's section of the Television Critics' Association Summer Press Tour by the greatly exaggerated rumors of his demise.

Before he talked about last season's successes and the promise for the new season, Matoian talked about his own status.

``I have not been fired,'' he said. ``I have not changed my name. I have not turned in a letter of resignation.''

The reference to a name change had to do with a little early-morning gaffe.

It all began when a group of gospel singers accompanied a Fox highlight reel. At the end of the extravaganza, the group's lead singer introduced Matoian as John Mahoyan.

In the end, it actually worked out well. The mispronunciation properly segued into Matoian's State of Matoian address.

Unless, of course, he is eventually replaced by a guy named Mahoyan.

SOURCE: - Keith Marder

fX courting Viacom exec: News Corp.'s basic cable network fX is reportedly going back to Viacom in search of a new president to replace former Nickelodeon exec Anne Sweeney, who left for the Disney Channel after launching fX. Now MTV exec Mark Rosenthal, who worked closely with Sweeney when she was at Nickelodeon, is being courted by fX. Filling the position would not affect the need to hire a chief operating officer for the joint sports venture among fX, Fox Sports and Liberty Media under David Hill: HBO executive Peter Ligouri was just hired - though still not officially - to head the marketing of that venture for all three entities.

SOURCE: - BPI Entertainment