News Corp. Reorganizes Fox Networks Execs

LOS ANGELES: News Corporation has announced the restructure of its Fox Networks Group, giving broader roles to Peter Rice and David Hill.

Fox Broadcasting Company and FX Networks (FX and the Fox Movie Channel) will now be overseen by Rice, who was named chairman of entertainment for the broadcast network in March. All sports operations—FOX Sports, the company’s 19 regional sports networks, Fox Soccer Channel, SPEED, Fox Sports en Espanol and FUEL TV—will be under the supervision of Hill, the chairman and CEO of FOX Sports. Hill will also oversee the company’s joint-venture sports businesses STATS and Big Ten Network. Both Rice and Hill will continue to report to Tony Vinciquerra, Fox Networks Group’s chairman and CEO. 

John Landgraf, the president and general manager of FX Networks, will report to Rice. Randy Freer, the president of Fox Sports Networks; David Nathanson, the executive VP and general manager of Fox Soccer Channel; Hunter Nickell, the president of SPEED; Dermot McQuarrie and Raul De Quesada, the senior VP and co-assistant general managers of Fox Sports en Espanol; and CJ Olivares, the senior VP and general manager of FUEL TV will report to Hill.

Rich Battista, the president of Fox National Cable Networks, is in discussions about a potential new role within the company.

News Corp.’s deputy chairman, president and COO, Chase Carey, said: “News Corporation is the world’s leading content company with the country’s number one broadcast network and powerful cable networks across the board. We have great management teams driving these businesses. This reorganization is not targeted at short term change, but at maintaining our momentum while better aligning us in key content areas for long-term growth as we take these businesses to new heights over the coming years.”

“David Hill and Peter Rice are two of the most successful executives at our company,” commented Vinciquerra. “Not only do I admire their creative prowess, but they have both done a tremendous job of growing their respective businesses and their continued leadership will place us in an enviable position as we move forward.”