FX Networks Promotes Longtime Exec Team as Company Prepares to Expand

Following Landgraf's bump up to CEO, Grad, Schrier, Saftler get president posts; FXX orders first series

By Melissa Grego -- Broadcasting & Cable, 6/6/2013 2:26:00 PM

Updated 3 p.m. ET

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Following John Landgraf's promotion to CEO of FX Networks and FX Productions and in anticipation of the company's September expansion to include new young adult-aimed network FXX, longtime FX Networks execs Nick Grad, Eric Schrier and Chuck Saftler each have been promoted to the position of president.

In addition, the company has ordered its first original series for FXX, an animated comedy from the creative teams behind Eastbound & Down and Archer called Chozen. The series follows a gay white rapper fresh out of prison with a new message and new skills, which he will use in his quest for redemption and domination, according to the company. 

Grad, Schrier and Saftler all will report to Landgraf, who will oversee all aspects of entertainment and business operations for FX Networks, made up of FX, Fox Movie Channel (now called FXM) and the to-be-launched FXX. Landgraf also is in charge of FX Productions and FXNow, the unit's video-on-demand app.

Grad and Schrier each will hold the title of president, original programming for FX Networks and FX Productions, where they will oversee all original programming for FX, FXX and FXM, and head business and entertainment operations for FX Productions, according to an announcement Thursday.  

Saftler will serve as president of program strategy and chief operating officer of FX Networks and will have oversight of programming strategies including scheduling and acquisitions, program operations, business operations, and digital operations for FX, FXX, FXM and FXNow, working in conjunction with FX Digital Marketing. Saftler also will oversee specials including awards shows and continue to have creative and business oversight of 10/90 series. 

Landgraf explained his philosophy for the new executive structure, which is markedly different from other network groups that more often assign a general manager to each network, during a press briefing in Los Angeles Thursday. Landgraf said he "doesn't believe in those kinds of structures," where one exec is put in charge of one network, saying he doesn't want his staff's abilities limited to one network. Very few people working at FX Networks will work on just one channel, he said.

One of the problems with creative organizations, when they become large and bureaucratic, Landgraf said, is that the person engaging with creators doesn't have authority -- "they're carrying a message for a person not in the room." Under this structure, "these guys will have a lot of authority to make key, important decisions," he said. "A lot of what this is about is pushing creative authority down."

Landgraf said this is his idea for "how not to become a factory" and to maintain a "boutique" culture where individual vision is supported. "I thought a lot about how to structure this organization as it's growing," Landgraf said.

All development will be done on a group level, the execs said, with the home network -- FX, FXX or FXM -- to be determined during the development process. The network brands are being distinguished largely by demographics, with FX targeting 18-49-year-olds, FXX targeting 18-34 and FXM 25-54. Some movies will air on one, two or three of the channels but by and large, originals will have a home network. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, Legit and Totally Biased With W. Kamau Bell are being dedicated to FXX, along with Chozen, which is being targeted for a first-quarter launch next year.

FXNow is slated to launch in November or December, Saftler said at the briefing. It will be an authenticated service, offering live streaming of the networks and on-demand content. Shows on FXNow will be made available based on their home network. So for example, if a viewer doesn't get FXX on their MVPD, they will not gain access to the shows on the app that are based on FXX such as Sunny.

Grad previously served as executive VP of original programming and development for FX. Schrier formerly held the position of executive VP of FX Productions and head of series development for FX. Saftler previously held the title of executive VP, FX Networks and general manager of FXM (formerly Fox Movie Channel).

Grad joined FX as VP of series development in May 2002. He developed FX's upcoming drama series The Bridge, as well as dramas The Americans, Justified, Terriers, Sons of Anarchy and Damages; miniseries American Horror Story; comedies Archer, Louie, The League and Wilfred; and late-night series Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell. In 2011, he was named one of Broadcasting & Cable's Next Wave of Leaders.

Schrier joined FX in September 1999 as an assistant to then-president of entertainment, Kevin Reilly, and rose quickly since. In his most recent position as head of series development, Schrier developed The Americans, American Horror Story, Sons of Anarchy, Justified, Terriers, Archer, Louie, The League and Wilfred. His most recent projects include Legit, Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell and The Bridge. Schrier also played an integral role the growth of FX Productions, managing day-to-day operations for the studio. He also was a key player in the inception and launch of FX Canada, the joint venture network of FX Networks and Rogers Media.

Saftler has the longest tenure of any FX employee; he joined the network in December 1993 as director of scheduling, seven months prior to the launch of FX. In addition to being a member of the FX launch team, he also helped launch Fox Movie Channel in its original incarnation in October 1994. Saftler has been responsible for assembling the large FX Networks movie library, which has the highest number of box-office hit films and the most commercial television premieres of any network, according to FX. 

Saftler also is responsible for acquired television series deals on FX including Two and a Half Men, Mike & Molly and How I Met Your Mother. Saftler negotiated the non-traditional first-run and syndication deal for the Charlie Sheen-led Anger Management and Saint George starring George Lopez; Saftler also oversees creative on both series. He oversaw FX's interests of all UFC properties including three seasons of the reality competition series The Ultimate Fighter.

Chozen, announced by Grad, is produced by FX Productions. Grant Dekernion serves as writer and executive producer, and he will also be writing and rapping the songs. Danny McBride, Jody Hill and David Gordon Green from Rough House Pictures (Eastbound & Down) are executive producers. Adam Reed and Matt Thompson of Floyd County Productions (Archer) are executive producers and their company will animate the series. Although it's animated, Grad said Chozen will be produced relatively quickly, taking about a month to produce after a script is locked.