Netflix has made a major change in its content leadership, announcing Peter Rice as the new Chief Content Officer. The former chairman of Walt Disney Television replaced Bela Bajaria, who is leaving the streaming company after almost ten years of contribution.
After Bajaria’s exit, Rice will lead Netflix’s global content organization from October 26. He will oversee scripted and unscripted series, films, live events, and other programming across markets.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos thanked Bajaria for her decade of service. He also credited the former CCO with expanding the content portfolio to bring unscripted programming, live events, and sports, alongside its global slate of films and series.
The new content head, Rice, has impressive experience across television, film, and entertainment operations. Previously, he served as chairman of Walt Disney Television and general entertainment at The Walt Disney Company. In this role, he oversaw several businesses, including ABC, FX Networks, Hulu, National Geographic, Disney Channel, and Twentieth Century Fox Television.
Before Disney, Rice was president of 21st Century Fox and chief executive of Fox Networks Group. He also served as president of Fox Searchlight Pictures, where he was associated with films including Slumdog Millionaire, Juno, Little Miss Sunshine and Sideways.
Rice also served as executive vice president of production at Twentieth Century Fox, where he worked on films including Moulin Rouge, Romeo + Juliet, and The Beach. He also served as supervising creative executive on the first X-Men film.
Describing Rice, co-CEO Sarandos called the new head an experienced entertainment executive with strong relationships across the talent community and a deep understanding of television and film.
Sharing his vision, Rice said he aims to build on the global content organization Bajaria and her team had developed.
