In a shocking turn of events, Peter Rice was fired as Disney’s head of television content to be replaced by his senior lieutenant, Dana Walden.
This move raises Walden’s status as one of the most powerful and prominent leaders in the content business. Within Disney, this elevates Walden to her longtime colleague John Landgraf of FX Networks. Walden’s coverage includes ABC Entertainment, ABC News, Disney Branded Television, Disney Television Studios, Freeform, FX, Hulu Originals, National Geographic Content and Onyx Collective. She will now report directly to Chapek.
“Dana is a dynamic, co-leader and cultural force that in just three years has transformed our television business into a powerful content hub that consistently delivers the entertainment that audiences crave,” Chapek said. Her well-earned reputation for upholding creative talent and developing programming that truly captures the cultural spirit has led to hit after hit, from ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” and the Oscar-winning Oscar of the Onyx Collective “Summer of Soul” to Hulu Originals as “Building Murders Only”, “Drugs”, “The Dropper” and “The Kardashian Family”. She and Peter have worked closely together for years to create the best programming in the industry, and I can’t think of anyone better than Dana to take Disney General Entertainment to even greater heights. “
Susan Arnold, chairman of The Walt Disney Company, also issued a statement saying: “The strength of The Walt Disney Company’s emerging pandemic business is a testament to Bob’s leadership and vision for the company’s future. In this important time of business growth and transformation, we are committed to keeping Disney on the successful path it is taking today, and Bob and his leadership team have the support and trust of the board. ”
Rice, who chaired general entertainment content, came to Disney with the acquisition of 21st Century Fox in 2019, as did Walden. His dismissal came as a shock to Disney insiders and the entertainment community.
Sources close to the situation said that the decision was made on Wednesday by Chapek and surprised almost everyone on the plot in Burbank. Many sources say that the decision was entirely related to business and strategy and has nothing to do with any personal behavior on the part of Rice.
“It’s all business,” said a source familiar with the situation. “Peter was blinded.”
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