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The Walt Disney Company announced on Monday that several Fox executives would assume leadership positions in its television division once its $ 71.3 billion deal to acquire much of 21st Century Fox was officially approved.
Peter Rice, president of 21st Century Fox, will become the president of Walt Disney Television. In this role, Rice will oversee most of Disney's large television channels – including ABC, FX and National Geographic – with the notable exception of ESPN.
Dana Walden, co-director of Fox Television, will become president of Disney Television Studios and ABC Entertainment. As a result of this appointment, Ms. Walden will lead ABC, Freeform, local stations and the huge new television studio of the merged companies.
John Landgraf will remain at the helm of the FX cable network, Atlanta House and American Story Horror, as well as his studio. Gary Knell, director of National Geographic, will also continue in his duties.
To make room for the new team, Ben Sherwood, the current head of television at ABC and Disney, will leave the company once the deal is concluded. Most of the other major television executives at Disney, including Channing Dungey, president of ABC Entertainment; Tom Ascheim, who runs Freeform; James Goldston, President of ABC News; and Patrick Moran, director of ABC Studios – will remain in place, with one essential difference: they will report to their new bosses.
The new Disney executives will have their work cut out, with ABC facing daunting challenges. As the first broadcast network to have no rights to the National Football League, ABC finished in last place for three consecutive seasons. And three weeks into the 2018-19 season, he showed no signs of improvement, as Nielsen's numbers dipped more than 30 percent for a successful series of the recent ABC vintage. " The Good Doctor ", as well as for his aging franchise. "Dance with the stars."
In addition, in the last 18 months, two big hits have left ABC Studios for Netflix: Shonda Rhimes and Kenya Barris. Freeform, the cable channel of the millennial network, has also experienced a decline in audience.
Executives who join Disney after years at Fox will find themselves in a business environment very different from the one they are used to. Fox, controlled by the family of Rupert Murdoch, leaves a lot of freedom to its leaders. Disney's culture is more hierarchical, with clear lines of command that lead to one man: the general manager of the company, Robert A. Iger.
"The strength of 21st century Fox's first class management talent has always been a defining element of this opportunity for us," said Iger in a statement.
Mr. Rice, who will become one of Disney's most senior executives, has enjoyed a steady climb within the Fox Universe over a nearly 30-year career. He began as an intern at 20th Century Fox and then directed the company's flagship film division, Fox Searchlight. Mr. Rice moved to television in 2009 and became president of 21st Century Fox in September 2017.
In his own statement, Rice said, "I love doing television and I have the chance to work with incredibly talented executives and storytellers. Disney is the world's most distinguished creative company and I look forward to working for Bob and his exceptional management team to build on this exceptional legacy. "
The reshuffle of the frames at Disney is part of a more general shift of the guard in the television sector. Leslie Moonves, CBS's longtime director, was ousted last month after numerous allegations of sexual misconduct against her. NBC President Robert Greenblatt was dismissed two weeks ago after eight years as head of the group.
Disney and Fox shareholders approved the Disney and Fox partnership in July. One of the main goals of this agreement was to ensure that Disney would thrive in an industry that relies more and more on streaming, but Monday's announcement did not mention the role the new management team would play. in Hulu. After acquiring most of Fox, Disney will become the majority owner of the streaming service.
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