Entertainment chief of US network ABC ousted

Los Angeles

A LONG-running internal battle among ABC executives over creative control and future strategy led to the ouster on Wednesday of the network's entertainment president and the elevation of a pair of his lieutenants.

Paul Lee, who found hits such as How to Get Away With Murder and led an industrywide push towards more diverse casting, resigned under pressure. Channing Dungey, previously ABC's drama chief, will take over the prime-time part of his job as the head of ABC entertainment, making her the first black network president.

Ms Dungey's elevation is a breakthrough for an industry that has often struggled with diversity, especially among the senior executive ranks.

"Channing is a gifted leader and a proven magnet for top creative talent, with an impressive record of developing compelling, breakthrough programming," Ben Sherwood, president of the Disney-ABC Television Group, said in a news release. Ms Dungey, 46, who has worked on series such as Scandal and Once Upon a Time, said that she was "thrilled and humbled", adding that Mr Lee was "a valued m…