Fox 21 and Fox TV Studios have merged. The combined cable entity will be called Fox 21 Television Studios and be led by Bert Salke, who’ll be president of the new division. In a letter sent to industry colleagues from Fox TV Group chairmen and CEOs Dana Walden and Gary Newman, the pair noted that the new company “unites the talented executives of Fox 21 and Fox Television Studios, who will now work together to develop outstanding content for distribution across all platforms. We chose the name Fox 21 Television Studios to honor the rich legacies of great programming created by each unit, from Fox 21’s Homeland, Sons of Anarchy, and Tyrant, to FTVS’ Burn Notice, The Americans and The Killing.”

Kathy Griffin is officially onboard E!‘s Fashion Police as host, joining Kelly Osbourne, Giuliana Rancic. Replacing George Kotsiopoulos will be new panelist Brad Goreski (It’s a Brad Brad World). Exec producer Melissa Rivers, daughter of the late Joan Rivers, approves of the replacement. “Kathy just feels right,” said Rivers. As for Griffin, “These are some big shoes I’m going to fill,” acknowledged the comedian. “Now I just hope you will accept me for me…You celebrities better strap yourself in, as I am taking no prisoners.”

SPORTS

Major League Baseball Chief Operating Officer and Commissioner-Elect Rob Manfred announced a new organizational structure of MLB’s Central Offices and related entities. The changes, which are effective immediately, are being made in anticipation of Manfred’s becoming the 10th Commissioner in the game’s history on January 25, 2015. Bob Bowman, President and CEO of MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM) since its founding in 2000, will serve as MLB’s President, Business & Media. Pat Courtney, MLB’s Senior Vice President for Public Relations, will be Chief Communications Officer. Dan Halem, Executive Vice President for Labor Relations, will be MLB’s Chief Legal Officer. Jonathan Mariner, currently Executive Vice President, Finance & Chief Financial Officer, will become MLB’s Chief Investment Officer. Tony Petitti, President  & CEO of MLB Network since its 2008 inception and its 2009 launch, will fill the role of MLB’s COO. Bob Starkey, of Starkey Sports Consulting, will become MLB’s Chief Financial Officer & Senior Advisor. Joe Torre, Executive Vice President for Baseball Operations since 2011, will be MLB’s Chief Baseball Officer.

The United States is the defending champion, but on Tuesday at a press conference in New York it was announced that the next Americas Cup will be held in Bermuda in 2017. The decision was made by billionaire Larry Ellison of Oracle Corp. after consulting with Russell Coutts, the CEO of Oracle Team USA and director of the America’s Cup Event Authority. Harvey Schiller, the former USOC executive director who‘s the America’s Cup commercial commissioner, made the official statement, marking the first time a U.S. defender will race outside the United States. It also will be the first time in the regatta’s 163-year history that a defender sails the races in foreign waters by choice rather than necessity. Reports say Bermuda was chosen over San Diego and Chicago. The U.S. defended the Cup, the oldest trophy in sport, in San Francisco last fall.

DIGITAL

Netflix surprised House of Cards fans yesterday with a “Special message from the White House” on social media, announcing that the series’ third season will debut on Feb. 27, 2015. The second season was released on Valentine’s Day this year.

ABC News will launch a social media newscast hosted by World News Tonight‘s David Muir. Called Facecast: The One Thing, the new show will give users a roundup of the top stories, trending news and air on the World News Tonight Facebook page. This is not the first exclusive video series to Facebook; Lionsgate partnered with author Stephenie Meyer and Women in Filmfor a miniseries based on the Twilight saga. Facecast aired its first segment yesterday.

KIDS

King Julien is ready for his Netflix coronation. Much-touted Madagascar spinoff series All Hail King Julien, from DreamWorks Animation, bows on the service Dec. 19. Voices include Danny Jacobs as King Julien, Henry Winkler (Happy Days), Andy Richter (Arrested Development), Kevin Michael Richardson (Family Guy) and India de Beaufort (One Tree Hill). With the royal lemur ruling in his own show, things get plenty loud and silly…Julien’s Madagascar compatriots fared well below projections of their theatrical premiere, however. Penguins of Madagascar opened to only $36 million during the Thanksgiving weekend, causing DreamWorks Animation shares to slide 8 percent Monday and reigniting concerns about the studio’s business model.

Disney hasn’t officially confirmed, but if Elsa says it’s true, it must be. Frozen 2 is a reality. The Internet blew up this week after Idina Menzel, who voiced the feisty princess in Disney’s blockbuster movie, confirmed in an interview with The Telegraph that a sequel is indeed in the works.