Battista Tapped to Head Fox Cable Networks
Rich Battista, most recently CEO of Gemstar-TV Guide, returned to Fox as president of Fox National Cable Networks.
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 9/24/2008 7:03:00 AM
Rich Battista returned to Fox as president of Fox National Cable Networks.
Battista will oversee a stable of networks including FX, National Geographic Channel, Fox Movie Channel, Fox Reality Channel, Fuel TV and various sports networks including the Big Ten Network co-venture with the Big Ten Conference, with the heads of all of those networks reporting to him.
He will also head up cable ad sales.
A spokesman said it was a newly created post, and it was created as an opportunity to get Battista back in the Fox cable fold. Battista most recently was CEO of Gemstar-TV Guide International.
Battista will report to Fox Networks Group chairman Tony Vinciquerra. He reported to Vinciquerra in the late 1990s, when he was executive vice president of business development, for Fox's broadcasting and cable networks.
“We’ve been looking for the right opportunity for Rich to rejoin our team ever since the Gemstar sale earlier this year,” Vinciquerra said in announcing the appointment. “He is a uniquely skilled executive who has demonstrated success in virtually every area of the television business. I’m delighted that he’s returning to the company.”
