Walden, Newman confirmed as Fox bosses

21^st Century Fox has confirmed its studio bosses Dana Walden and Gary Newman will also lead its Fox Broadcasting Company network division.

The pair will later this month take up their new combined roles as co-CEOs and chairmen of Fox Television Group, which will sit within Peter Rice’s Fox Networks Group unit, as first reported in the US over the weekend.

They also continue at the top of 20^th Century Fox Television (TCFTG), which they have run for the past 15 years.

FTG will also comprise cable production arms Fox 21 and Fox Television Studios, L&M division Fox Consumer Products and syndication unit Twentieth Television. However, FTG and TCFTG will continue to operate as separate businesses, and be separate to Fox International Channels, 21^st Century Fox’s global programming and channels arm. FIC is part of the larger FNG.

“As we look to the future of the broadcast television business, it is clear that the best path forward is to operate our creative and broadcast divisions under the leadership of a single team, and that Gary [left] and Dana [right] are the perfect executives to take on this new role,” said Chase Carey, president and COO of 21st Century Fox.

“While TCFTV and FBC will each continue as an open supplier and an open network, respectively, the closer alignment of these two properties, coupled with a unified vision from Dana and Gary, gives us a clear advantage in creating even more hit content that will benefit both businesses. We are incredibly fortunate to have two such accomplished leaders already under our roof to take on these important new roles.”

Newman and Walden, who replace Kevin Reilly at FBC, are credited with overseeing development and production of successful network shows such as ABC’s Modern Family, Fox’s Glee, New Girl and Sleepy Hollow, and FX cable series including Sons of Anarchy, Tyrant and The Americans.

“The time is right to unite these divisions,” they said in a statement. “Television has never been more creatively vibrant and the business has never been more dynamic. Our goal is to make FBC the number one destination for creators with big visions and bold ideas, because our guiding principle has always been ‘talent first’.”