Murdoch shakes up Fox ahead of Chernin departure

News Corp has restructured its Fox film and TV businesses ahead of the departure of Fox CEO Peter Chernin at end-June. The executive shuffle will see Fox part company with long time executive Peter Liguori, the current chairman of entertainment, Fox Broadcasting. Liguori’s contract was up in the summer and he will leave the company immediately.

The new structure will see film and TV production rolled into a single unit and come under the control of Jim Gianopulos and Tom Rothman, currently co-chairman of Fox Filmed Entertainment.

Fox splits its TV production businesses into two with Twentieth Century Fox Television focused on producing network shows and Fox Television Studios content for the company’s network of pay TV channels and third-party cable channels.

Current Twentieth Century Fox Television chairs, Gary Newman and Dana Walden, will report to Gianopulus and Rothman. In turn, Emiliano Calemzuk, president of Fox Television Studios will report to Newman and Walden.

Fox’s channels business is also being rolled into a single unit with Tony Vinciquerra remaining in charge of the Fox Networks Group and assuming control of Fox Broadcasting, the domestic US operation.

Peter Rice, the president of Fox’s specialty Film Label Fox Searchlight will move from film to TV. He will vacate the Searchlight post and become chairman of entertainment, Fox Broadcasting, reporting to Vinciquerra.