Tony Vinciquerra

The executive who oversaw the business operations of the profit engine behind Rupert Murdoch's global media empire is stepping down, triggering a reorganization of News Corp.'s Fox television unit. Tony Vinciquerra, a low-key executive who joined Fox a decade ago and ran the company's entertainment and sports networks, will leave Feb. 11 ? two years before his contract expires. The point person for the business side of the TV group, Vinciquerra was responsible for Fox's recent negotiations with hard-nosed cable and satellite TV operators to win higher payments for the carriage of Fox networks, haggling with "American Idol" judges over new contracts, and navigating the downturn in TV advertising during the recession.

The executive who oversaw the business operations of the profit engine behind Rupert Murdoch's global media empire is stepping down, triggering a reorganization of News Corp.'s Fox television unit. Tony Vinciquerra, a low-key executive who joined Fox a decade ago and ran the company's entertainment and sports networks, will leave Feb. 11 ? two years before his contract expires. The point person for the business side of the TV group, Vinciquerra was responsible for Fox's recent negotiations with hard-nosed cable and satellite TV operators to win higher payments for the carriage of Fox networks, haggling with "American Idol" judges over new contracts, and navigating the downturn in TV advertising during the recession.

News Corp. executives are famous for their swagger and bravado. But not Tony Vinciquerra. "You won't get any witty banter out of me," he said matter-of-factly. News Corp. Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch this month put Vinciquerra in charge of all the company's entertainment networks, including Fox Broadcasting and 30 cable channels, such as FX, Fox Sports and National Geographic.

News Corp. executives are famous for their swagger and bravado. But not Tony Vinciquerra. "You won't get any witty banter out of me," he said matter-of-factly. News Corp. Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch this month put Vinciquerra in charge of all the company's entertainment networks, including Fox Broadcasting and 30 cable channels, such as FX, Fox Sports and National Geographic.

The low-key Fox movie executive who shepherded the offbeat Oscar winners "Slumdog Millionaire" and "Juno" was put in line Thursday to become Rupert Murdoch's No. 2, spearheading his News Corp. media empire in Hollywood and on Wall Street. Peter Rice, a publicity-averse executive at Fox adept at turning quirky films into mainstream commercial hits, was tapped by Murdoch to run the Fox television network.

News Corp. named Tony Vinciquerra, now at Hearst-Argyle Television Inc., president of the Fox TV Network, where he will oversee the U.S. broadcaster's advertising sales and finances. Vinciquerra, 47, will report to News Corp. President Peter Chernin. His new job will start Jan. 1, said a spokesman for News Corp., the media company controlled by Rupert Murdoch. He will be Fox TV's first president since December 1999, when Larry Jacobson left to join USA Networks Inc.'s Ticketmaster.

Fox television's top entertainment executive, Peter Rice, will probably see his responsibilities grow beyond the flagship broadcast network into cable programming as part of a management restructuring at News Corp., according to people familiar with the situation. In addition, Fox Sports Chairman David Hill -- a longtime lieutenant of News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch -- is expected to take over programming of such cable channels as Speed and Fox's collection of regional sports networks.

Fox is really sinking its teeth into "reality" TV. News Corp. announced Tuesday that it was launching the Fox Reality Channel early next year on cable and satellite services. Rupert Murdoch's company, which will spend nearly $100 million to start the channel, is aiming to be the dominant player in an increasingly crowded field. There is already a flood of reality shows on broadcast and cable, and several upstart cable channels devoted to the genre. Reality TV runs on EchoStar Communication Corp.'

Fox Broadcasting Co. on Tuesday named longtime television executive Ed Wilson as network president -- less than two weeks after Wilson waved goodbye to NBC. At Fox, Wilson, 47, will be filling a job that has been largely vacant for two years, since Tony Vinciquerra was tapped as president and chief executive of Fox Networks Group, which also includes the company's non-news cable channels, including FX, Fox Sports Net and the National Geographic Channel.

FX Networks' entertainment president, John Landgraf, was named Tuesday to the cable channel's top post of president and general manager. Landgraf, 42, had been considered the leading candidate for the job. He will be responsible for all business and programming operations including program development, scheduling, marketing, public relations, research and business affairs for FX and the Fox Movie Channel.

Pat Haden was throwing passes to John McKay when the two were teammates at La Puente Bishop Amat High and USC. And now McKay, also known as "J.K.," has thrown the ultimate compliment to Haden. McKay and his wife Kim on Tuesday became the parents of a 7-pound 15-ounce boy and named him Haden McKay. "I was incredibly moved by the fact that they named their son after me," Haden said. "Not sure what the middle name is, but I suggested 'To.'

With bigger government fines looming and a new opinion poll showing 6 in 10 people "very concerned" about racy programs their children might see on television, broadcast executives on Tuesday said they would soon issue a voluntary indecency code for stations.