AMC’s Collier to join new-look Fox

AMC president Charlie Collier is to head entertainment for the new-look Fox, with Gary Newman, co-chairman and CEO of Fox Television Group, set to leave the company.

Charlie Collier

The changes, which follow Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox’s assets, will see Collier become CEO of entertainment at Fox Broadcasting Network. The recently formed company is being headed by chairman and CEO Lachlan Murdoch.

During his tenure at AMC, Collier oversaw hits such as Mad Men, Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead, and before that worked for cablenets including Oxygen, A&E Networks and TeleRep. AMC has not yet named a replacement for Collier.

Newman will leave once the transition is complete, with his exit coming a month after his long-term executive partner Dana Walden was appointed to the new role of chairman at Disney Television Studios and ABC Entertainment.

“Charlie is a singular talent, combining creative success with operational expertise to lead the AMC Network with some of television’s most memorable programming,” said Murdoch. “Charlie’s skills and experience will help Fox continue to transform the broadcast television business.”

Newman added: “I am incredibly gratified by the accomplishments, relationships and legacy we created during my time with the Fox family. This accelerated transition allows me to pursue new opportunities on my own timeline with the comfort I am leaving the network in capable hands.”

Walden and Newman had been in charge of the Fox studio since 1999 and have had oversight of the Fox network since 2014. Both will stay in their current roles until the Disney/Fox deal is completed.

Further details of the management team that will run the new-look Fox company emerged last month, with Mike Biard, previously president of distribution for Fox Networks Group, becoming president of operations and distribution for Fox. John Nallen has already been named chief operating officer at Fox.

The appointments will become effective on the closure of 21st Century Fox’s US$52.4bn deal with Disney. That will see the Mouse House take over a cable operation that includes National Geographic, FX and FXX, as well as a 30% interest in streamer Hulu.

Disney is also acquiring entertainment properties such as X-Men, Avatar and The Simpsons. However, Comcast, which lost out in the fight for many of the 21st Century Fox assets, has picked up the company’s stake in European pay operator Sky.