Rupert Murdoch, the acting CEO of Fox News Channel, praised the station's ratings in a company memo Thursday but did not mention the growing controversy around primetime host Bill O'Reilly.
"As we enter this new spring season, I'd like to take the opportunity to wish those celebrating a wonderful Passover and Easter holiday," Murdoch wrote, according to Variety. "The first few months of this year have already given us much to be thankful for."
Murdoch, who took over running Fox News last summer when former CEO Roger Ailes was ousted following allegations of sexual harassment, then wrote Fox News and Fox Business have both enjoyed strong first quarters.
"Fox News just delivered its highest-rated quarter ever and remains number one in cable in both primetime and total day, while Fox Business has surpassed CNBC as the number one business channel on television," he wrote. "I am tremendously proud of our entire team and truly grateful for the hard work everyone has contributed to ensure our continued future success."
The New York Times reported this month that longtime anchor O'Reilly and Fox News have settled five cases with women over the years stemming from claims of verbal and sexual harassment. O'Reilly said he never harassed anyone, but his status at the network made him a target. And he said the payouts were made to protect his family from the allegations, which he said were false.
O'Reilly went on vacation this week, a trip he said was planned in advance. Critics, however, suggest he left the show for a few weeks because of the controversy swirling around him. Several advertisers have dropped his show.
Despite all that, O'Reilly's ratings have gone up.
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