News Corp. Confirms TV Overhaul

Peter Rice will run Fox Broadcasting and FX and David Hill will oversee Fox’s sports operations

File this under "open secret."

But the rumors that swirled through Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, Calif. this week were just made official. A shakeup at Fox Cable Networks has left Peter Rice (pictured left)  in charge of Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) and FX networks and David Hill overseeing Fox’s sports operations, News Corporation confirmed on Wednesday morning.

Rice and Hill will continue to report to Fox Networks Group (FNG) Chairman and CEO Tony Vinciquerra.

Left displaced by the executive musical chairs is Rich Battista, president of Fox’s cable networks. The company said that Battista is still in discussions about a possible new role.

“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,” Chase Carey, News Corporation deputy chairman, president and chief operating officer, said in a statement. “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.”

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

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