Kevin Reilly promoted to Fox Entertainment chairman

Kevin Reilly now is officially the top programmer at Fox.

The network said Monday that Reilly has been promoted to chairman of entertainment at Fox Broadcasting Co., overseeing all programming, scheduling, marketing, research and business affairs for the News Corp.-owned network.

Reilly’s elevation has been expected since last month when his boss Peter Rice’s portfolio was dramatically expanded.

“Kevin is a uniquely gifted executive with the strong strategic vision and creative instincts to ensure that FOX continues to drive the future of our industry,� Rice said in a statement. “We are incredibly fortunate to have him here and thrilled he will be with us for many more years.�
Reilly joined Fox in 2007 after he was pushed aside at rival NBC in an ill-fated move, masterminded by former NBCUniversal chief Jeff Zucker, to bring free-spirited producer Ben Silverman to the peacock network. NBC’s programming comeback that Reilly had sparked, by introducing such hits as “The Office,� “30 Rock� and “Friday Night Lights,� quickly flamed out.

During his five years at Fox, the network has remained in first place in the advertising category of adults ages 18 to 49 as well as in the young adult demographic of viewers ages 18 to 34. Reilly helped guide such shows as “New Girl,� “Glee,� “Terra Nova� and “Lie to Me� onto the schedule. This year, Reilly is betting big on “The Mindy Project,� starring Mindy Kaling, which NBC also rejected.

Fox also credited Reilly as the “architect behind the recently launched Animation Domination HD,� a mini-studio to produce animation for digital channels and a late-night block on Fox Broadcasting.

But until now, Reilly has not been in charge of such divisions as alternative programming -- run by Mike Darnell -- or marketing, which is overseen by Joe Earley. Before joining NBC, Reilly ran programming at the FX network, and was instrumental in ramping up programming with such edgy series as “The Shield� and “Nip/Tuck.�

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