Netflix names Disney veteran Peter Rice as chief content officer, succeeding Bela Bajaria
What happened
Netflix named Peter Rice, former chairman of general entertainment at The Walt Disney Co. and president of 21st Century Fox, as its new chief content officer. Rice will officially take on the role Oct. 26, succeeding Bela Bajaria, who is stepping down after a nearly 10-year tenure. He will oversee all global content operations, including scripted and unscripted television, feature films, and live events. Co-CEO Ted Sarandos called Rice 'one of the most effective at-scale operators in the entertainment industry.' Netflix shares rose about 1.5% in after-hours trading on the news.
Why it matters & what’s next are part of Pro, along with the audio summary.
Start your free 14-day trialWho’s affected
- Netflix (NFLX) — new content chief tasked with re-energizing the slate as viewing and subscriber growth stall; Walt Disney (DIS) — loses a veteran operator, though Rice had already departed Disney
Sources