Fox in the house of the mouse – The Disney group names new frames

Disney CEO Bob Iger has officially appointed several senior executives of 21st Century Fox to executive positions, while Disney closes the $ 71.3 billion acquisition of Fox's entertainment assets.

The appointments, long awaited, equivalent to a Fox-ification of the Disney TV unit. It's a blow to Rupert Murdoch, whose family is now Disney's second largest shareholder. Many of his most important lieutenants have been transferred to positions of influence in one of Hollywood's most powerful studios.

Peter Rice, a long-time Fox executive, whom insiders refer to as Murdoch's third son, will now take the lead on television at Disney, overseeing assets ranging from ABC to FX through National Geographic. Currently President of 21st Century Fox and President and CEO of Fox Networks, Rice will become Chair of Walt Disney Television and Co-Chair of Disney Media Networks. He will replace ABC President Ben Sherwood, who is considering leaving the network.

Dana Walden, president and CEO of Fox Television, will be one of Fox's many executives who will lead ABC Entertainment and will also chair Disney's television studios. John Landgraf, one of Hollywood's most famous studio heads, will continue to oversee FX Networks and FX Productions, which Disney will acquire as part of the deal. They will both report to Rice.

"The strength of 21st Century Fox's leading management talent has always been a defining element of this opportunity for us," Iger said in a statement. "Once this acquisition is completed, this new structure will position these recognized leaders to take full advantage of a significantly enhanced portfolio of incredible brands and activities."

Internally, it is generally expected that the merger of the two companies will lead to layoffs and possibly several significant departures. Iger has announced at least a dozen posts on Disney's television channels on Monday, often with one person serving as "president" of one unit and another serving as "president". This structure is considered a placeholder and there will eventually not be enough chairs for all presidents.

Disney acquired the bulk of 21st Century Fox's assets for $ 71.3 billion after a controversial battle with Comcast, owner of NBC News parent company NBCUniversal. The assets that Fox could not sell to Disney – Fox Broadcasting, Fox News, Fox Business and Fox Sports – are being transformed into a new company called "New Fox", which will be led by Rupert Murdoch's son, Lachlan Murdoch.

On Monday, the company announced that the former director of communications of the White House, Hope Hicks, would join the vice-presidency.