Peter Rice to head Fox network

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

In a broad shake up of senior News Corp. management, Fox Searchlight film chief Peter Rice is being put in charge of the Fox television network.

The move elevates a low-key executive. who has been responsible for shepharding some of the studio’s most successful movies, into one of the most visible positions inside the company. Rice has no experience in television, but has shown himself adept at turning low-budget films such as ‘Juno’ and the recent Oscar winner ‘Slumdog Milllionaire’ into mainstream commericial successes.

The British executive is also close to News Corp. Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch, who is reorganizing management at the company in preparation of the depature of President Peter Chernin later this year.

Peter Liguori, who has headed the Fox network, is stepping down.

-- Dawn Chmielewski and Claudia Eller