Shake-Up at FOX

LOS ANGELES: News Corporation is restructuring its Fox businesses, with film and television combined into a single unit, television networks grouped into one division, and Peter Liguori replaced by Peter Rice as chairman of entertainment at FOX Broadcasting.

Effective immediately, the Los Angeles-based creative production divisions will be combined under a single unit reporting to Jim Gianopulos and Tom Rothman, the co-chairmen of Fox Filmed Entertainment. Twentieth Century Fox Television chairmen Gary Newman and Dana Walden will report to Gianopulos and Rothman. Emiliano Calemzuk, the president of Fox Television Studios, will report to Newman and Walden.

This restructuring follows the announcement last month that Peter Chernin, the president and COO of News Corp., will not be renewing his contract and will be leaving the company in June.

“We have—simply put—the best management team in the entertainment industry,” said Rupert Murdoch, the chairman and CEO of News Corp. “Today’s restructuring, by removing barriers between businesses, will enable us to better share ideas and resources, allowing us to make the most of this team and the talent that populates our ranks.”

On the television network side of the business, Tony Vinciquerra, the chairman of the Fox Networks Group, will continue to head the cable networks, the business aspects of FOX Broadcasting, Fox International Channels, and will gain responsibility for FOX Broadcasting programming.

As part of the restructuring of the network business, Peter Liguori will be stepping down as chairman of entertainment, FOX Broadcasting, effective immediately. Peter Rice, president of Fox Searchlight, will exit his post at the specialty label, and take on the role of chairman of entertainment, FOX Broadcasting, reporting to Vinciquerra.

Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula will jointly run Fox Searchlight, reporting to Gianopulos and Rothman.

“Peter Liguori has been an outstanding Fox executive, not only in leading FBC for three seasons, but in his groundbreaking programming that helped build FX into a general entertainment leader,” said Murdoch. “We wish him continued success,” Mr. Murdoch said.

“Peter Rice is one of our most talented creative executives, having championed such films as Slumdog Millionaire, Little Miss Sunshine, and Juno during his tenure at Fox Searchlight,” continued Murdoch. “As we increasingly look to apply unconventional approaches to our traditional businesses, I’m convinced Peter Rice is the right person to transform our broadcast television business.”