Peter Rice (executive)

Last updated
Peter Rice
Peter Rice.jpg
Born1966 (age 56–57)
United Kingdom
Alma mater University of Nottingham
OccupationEntertainment executive

Peter Rice (born 1966) is a British media executive. He is the former Chairman of Disney General Entertainment Content for The Walt Disney Company and former President of 21st Century Fox, where he worked from 1989-2019. [1]

Contents

Early life

Rice was born in the United Kingdom in 1966 and raised in Britain. [2] He earned a degree from the University of Nottingham in 1989. [2]

Career

Fox

Rice began his career at Twentieth Century Fox in 1989, working for Tom Sherak, then head of U.S. distribution and marketing for Fox Filmed Entertainment. [3] In 2000, Rice became President of Fox Searchlight Pictures, beginning in 2000. [4] From 2007 to 2008, he simultaneously oversaw Fox Atomic, which created comedy and genre films, including Turistas and 28 Weeks Later . Fox Atomic was closed in 2009, after Rice moved to Fox's television business. [5] [6]

Rice became Chairman and CEO of Fox Networks Group in 2012, supervising Fox Broadcasting Company, 20th Century Fox Television, FX Networks, Fox Sports (encompassing Fox’s national sports channels, FS1 and FS2 and its 22 regional sports networks) and National Geographic Partners (which includes the National Geographic channels and brands). [7] [8]

Rice was appointed President of 21st Century Fox in 2017. [9] [10] Rice continued to serve as Chairman and CEO of Fox Networks Group, which included all of Fox’s TV assets, with the exception of Fox News, which was run separately. [11] He was also the Chairman of the Board of National Geographic Partners and Fox's lead executive on the Board of Directors for Hulu. [12] [13] [14]

Disney

Rice joined The Walt Disney Company in 2017 following its purchase of many of the assets of 21st Century Fox, [15] [16] where Rice was President and began working in 1989. [17] Upon joining, Rice became the Chairman of Walt Disney Television (all of Disney's non-sports television businesses). [18] [15] [16] In this role, Rice oversaw ABC Entertainment, ABC News, ABC Owned Television Stations, Disney Branded Television, Disney Television Studios, Freeform, FX, Hulu Originals, National Geographic, and Onyx Collective. [19] [20]

As Chairman of Walt Disney Television, Rice oversaw the production of over 300 shows and 4,000 hours of television per year across Disney’s family of networks and streaming platforms Disney+ and Hulu. [21] Disney earned 147 Primetime Emmy Award nominations in 2022 and 146 in 2021. [22] [23] While with Disney, Rice served as Chairman of the Board of A&E Networks and continued to serve as Chairman of the Board of National Geographic Partners. [24]

On June 9, 2022, Rice was fired from The Walt Disney Company. [25]

Personal life

Rice lives in Los Angeles with his family. He has two children. He serves on the Board of Directors of Southern California Public Radio [26] and the Board of Governors of the Motion Picture & Television Fund. [27]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Searchlight Pictures</span> American film studio; a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company

Searchlight Pictures is an American film production and distribution arm of Walt Disney Studios, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company's Disney Entertainment division. Founded in 1994 as Fox Searchlight Pictures for 20th Century Fox, the studio focuses primarily on producing, distributing, and acquiring specialty films. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment distributes the films produced by Searchlight in home media under the 20th Century Home Entertainment banner.

National Geographic is an American pay television network and flagship channel owned by the National Geographic Global Networks unit of Disney Entertainment and National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (73%) and the National Geographic Society (27%), with the operational management handled by Disney Entertainment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ABC Signature</span> Television production studio of Walt Disney Television

ABC Signature is an American television production studio that is a subsidiary of Disney Television Studios, a division of Disney Entertainment, which is a division of The Walt Disney Company. The studio is the production arm of the ABC television network, and started in 1950 as the television unit of Walt Disney Productions, which was later renamed Walt Disney Television as a separate company from Walt Disney Television Animation, in 1983, and launched a subsidiary, the first incarnation of Touchstone Television, established in 1985 and renamed ABC Studios in 2007. It adopted its current identity on August 10, 2020, after a merger between ABC Studios and the original ABC Signature Studios.

The Walt Disney Studios is a major division of the Disney Entertainment business segment of The Walt Disney Company best known for housing its multifaceted film studio divisions. Founded on October 16, 1923 and based mainly at the namesake studio lot in Burbank, California, it is the seventh-oldest global film studio and the fifth-oldest in the United States, a member of the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and one of the "Big Five" major film studios.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Iger</span> American business executive (born 1951)

Robert Allen Iger is an American media business executive who serves as chief executive officer (CEO) of The Walt Disney Company. He previously served as the president of ABC between 1994 and 1995 and as president and chief operating officer (COO) of Capital Cities/ABC, from 1995 until its acquisition by Disney in 1996. Iger was named president of Disney in 2000 and succeeded Michael Eisner as CEO in 2005, until his contract expired in 2020. He then served as executive chairman until his retirement from the company on December 31, 2021. At the request of Disney's board of directors, Iger returned to Disney as CEO on November 20, 2022, following the unscheduled and immediate dismissal of his appointed successor, Bob Chapek.

Anne Marie Sweeney is an American businesswoman. She currently serves as a member of the board of directors at Netflix, LEGO A/S, and the board of trustees at the Mayo Clinic and the J.P. Getty Trust. She was formerly the co-chair of Disney Media Networks and President of the Disney–ABC Television Group, and the President of Disney Channel from 1996 to 2014.

Disney General Entertainment Content (DGEC), formerly ABC Group, Disney–ABC Television Group and the second incarnation of Walt Disney Television, is part of Disney Entertainment, a division of The Walt Disney Company that oversees its owned-and-operated television content, assets and sub-divisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">20th Television</span> American television production company

20th Television is an American television production company that is a division of Disney Television Studios, part of The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment distributes the television series produced by 20th Television in home media formats through the 20th Century Home Entertainment banner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fox Networks Group</span> Subsidiary of Disney that oversees Foxs international television assets

Fox Networks Group (FNG) is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company that oversees the international television assets that were acquired from former 21st Century Fox in March 2019. The division overseed the production and broadcasting of the Fox brands in the United States and internationally. These brands included Fox, Fox Sports, National Geographic, and BabyTV, as well producing and distributing more than 300 entertainment, film, sports and factual channels in 45 languages across Europe, Middle East, Latin America, Africa and Asia, using several brands in those regions. Among their non-linear brands were Fox Play and Fox Plus. These brands reached over 1.725 billion households around the world

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution</span> A business segment of Disney

Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution (DMED), formerly Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer & International (DTCI), was one of The Walt Disney Company's five major business segments consisting of Disney's streaming services and overseas media businesses, formed in March 2018. As part of the segment's formation, Disney Streaming Services was placed under Direct-to-Consumer & International.

The Walt Disney Company India, also simply known as Disney India, is the Indian subsidiary of the Disney Branded Television of the American media and entertainment conglomerate The Walt Disney Company. Disney India is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">21st Century Fox</span> American multinational mass media corporation (2013–2019)

Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., which did business as 21st Century Fox (21CF), also known simply as Fox, was an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate based in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It was one of the two companies formed on June 28, 2013, following a spin-off of the publishing assets of the old News Corporation as News Corp.

Dana Walden is an American businesswoman and the co-chairman of Disney Entertainment.

FoxNext, LLC was a virtual reality and theme park unit of 20th Century Fox, now known as 20th Century Studios. It was established in 2017 prior to Disney's acquisition of Fox and operated under the Disney Parks, Experiences and Products unit of The Walt Disney Company. It handled the development and publishing of virtual reality and augmented reality titles, as well as the development of 20th Century Studios's theme and amusement parks. The division's president was Salil Mehta, a former executive from NBCUniversal and The Walt Disney Company, who has been with Fox since 2013 who later returned to Disney after Disney acquired Fox in 2019 until on January 23, 2020, when the company was sold to Scopely.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney</span> Business acquisition held from 2017 to 2019

The acquisition of 21st Century Fox by The Walt Disney Company was announced on December 14, 2017, and was completed on March 20, 2019. Among other key assets, the acquisition included the 20th Century Fox film and television studios, U.S. cable channels such as FX, Fox Networks Group, a 73% stake in National Geographic Partners, Indian television broadcaster Star India, and a 30% stake in Hulu. One day before the acquisition, 21st Century Fox spun off the Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox Television Stations, Fox News Channel, Fox Business, Fox Sports 1 and 2, Fox Deportes, and the Big Ten Network into the newly formed Fox Corporation. Other 21st Century Fox assets such as the Fox Sports Networks and Sky were divested and sold off to third parties such as Comcast and Sinclair Broadcast Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fox Corporation</span> American mass media company, successor to 21st Century Fox

Fox Corporation is an American multinational mass media company headquartered at 1211 Avenue of the Americas in New York City. Incorporated in Delaware, it was formed on March 19, 2019, as a result of the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by The Walt Disney Company, which was closed on March 20. The company is controlled by the Murdoch family via a family trust with 39.6% ownership share, and by Rupert Murdoch himself to the effect of almost 40%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uday Shankar (businessman)</span> Indian journalist and media executive

Uday Shankar is an Indian media executive and former journalist. As of 2021, he was the President of The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific, and chairman of Star India and The Walt Disney Company India.

Disney Media Networks was a business segment of The Walt Disney Company that oversaw the company's television networks, cable channels, television production and distribution studios, and owned-and-operated television stations. The segment's primary divisions were Walt Disney Television and A&E Networks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">20th Century Family</span> The Family division of 20th Century Studios (Walt Disney Studios)

20th Century Family is a division of 20th Century Studios which produces family-friendly films and television programs. Besides theatrical films, the division oversees mixed media, family animated holiday television specials based on film properties, and film features based on TV shows.

References

  1. ↑ Wyatt, Edward (7 April 2009). "Fox's Low-Key New Boss Is Looking Beyond 'Idol'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
  2. 1 2 "Inside Hollywood with Peter Rice". Archived from the original on 2018-10-16. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
  3. ↑ "Fox's Peter Rice Recalls How He Learned the Biz From Tom Sherak". Yahoo Movies. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
  4. ↑ Ricj, Joshua (March 12, 2009). "Fox Broadcasting executive shakeup: Peter Ligouri out, Peter Rice in". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Fox shutting down youth-focused film unit". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2017-08-25. Retrieved 2017-07-02.
  6. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (12 March 2009). "Trio replaces Chernin at News Corp". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
  7. ↑ Szalai, George (March 26, 2014). "Fox Networks Group CEO Peter Rice Gets Contract Extension". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  8. ↑ Crupi, Anthony (July 23, 2012). "Peter Rice Named Head of Fox Networks Group". Adweek. Archived from the original on October 23, 2017. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
  9. ↑ Ng, David (6 September 2017). "21st Century Fox promotes Peter Rice to president". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on 8 February 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  10. ↑ Flint, Joe (6 September 2017). "Peter Rice Promoted to President at 21st Century Fox". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 13 May 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  11. ↑ "Peter Rice Elevated to Head of Fox Networks Group". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2019-03-27. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  12. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (6 September 2017). "Peter Rice Promoted to President Of 21st Century Fox". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  13. ↑ Maglio, Tony (6 September 2017). "Peter Rice Promoted to 21st Century Fox President". TheWrap. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  14. ↑ Frommer, Dan (12 February 2018). "Fox didn't overpay for its new NFL rights, says Fox exec Peter Rice". Vox. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  15. 1 2 "Members Hub". 30 October 2019. Archived from the original on 6 July 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  16. 1 2 "Disney Completes Its $71.3 Billion Purchase of Fox, Massively Transforming the Industry". Archived from the original on 2019-03-21. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  17. ↑ Koblin, John (10 October 2018). "Peter Rice, Fox's Un-Hollywood TV Boss, Is Getting More Say Over What You Watch". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 10 October 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  18. ↑ "The Walt Disney Company Announces New Organizational Structure for its Media Networks Business, Conditional Upon Closing of 21st Century Fox Acquisition". The Walt Disney Company. October 8, 2018. Archived from the original on November 11, 2018. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  19. ↑ Faughnder, Ryan (18 October 2018). "After 30 years in Murdoch's empire, Peter Rice faces new challenges in Disney's kingdom". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 18 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  20. ↑ Koblin, John (8 October 2018). "Disney's TV Division Makes Room for Fox Executives". Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  21. ↑ Koblin, John (8 October 2018). "Disney's TV Division Makes Room for Fox Executives". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  22. ↑ "The Walt Disney Company Gets 147 Primetime Emmy® Award Nominations in 2022!". ABC.com. ABC.com. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  23. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (13 July 2021). "Emmys: Disney Leads All Combined Nominations as HBO (Thanks to HBO Max) Tops Netflix". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 11 October 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  24. ↑ "Peter Rice Chairman, Walt Disney Television, and Co-Chair, Disney Media Networks The Walt Disney Company" (PDF). The Walt Disney Company. The Walt Disney Company. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  25. ↑ Barnes, Brooks; Koblin, John (2022-06-09). "Disney fires Peter Rice, its top TV content executive". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2023-04-11. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
  26. ↑ "KPCC Board of Trustees". KPCC. Archived from the original on 2023-04-12. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  27. ↑ "MPTF Foundation Board of Governors". Motion Picture & Television Fund. Archived from the original on August 18, 2017. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.