Prior to joining DIRECTV, Shanks, a three-time Emmy award winner, served as vice president of Enhanced Programming for FOX Television Networks since 1999. His most recent accomplishments include producing live coverage of NFL Europe and "The Best Damn Sports Show" for FOX Sports Net, as well as launching Sky Sport 1 and 2 for the Sky Italia platform in Italy. Shanks also served as graphics producer for FOX Sports since 1997 and was responsible for overseeing the development and creation of interactive television, which complemented FOX's sports, news and entertainment programming.

Shanks joined FOX Sports in 1994 for the network's inaugural season of NFL coverage. From 1994 to 1995, he served as a broadcast associate on the NFL production crew, where he was responsible for each broadcast's research, statistics and graphics presentation. He then filled the same role for the NHL on FOX's lead broadcast team, holding that position until 1996. He began his sports television career as a broadcast associate at CBS Sports in 1993.

News Corporation completed its acquisition of 34 percent of Hughes common stock last December.