The New Structure of Disney’s General Entertainment Division
Tony Rice, chairman of Disney’s General Entertainment Content, revealed the new structure of the division…
It wasn’t long ago that the headlines out of “Disney” Google searches were about the company’s streaming shakeup.
The whole world watched and wondered what, exactly, would Disney look like when the puzzle pieces came back together.
Now, we begin to see what exactly the new Walt Disney Company looks like…
Disney’s New General Entertainment Division
Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva wrote:
Peter Rice. Image: Disney.
A month ago…content creation was divided into three groups: Studios, General Entertainment, and Sports, headed by Alan Horn and Alan Bergman, Peter Rice, and Jimmy Pitaro, respectively.
Today, Rice, chairman of General Entertainment Content, unveiled the structure of his division, which includes a new direct report, Nat Geo’s Courtney Monroe; changes in titles and responsibilities for existing direct reports Gary Marsh and Dana Walden; and restructuring of the division’s marketing operations, which will be handled by Shannon Ryan and newly appointed Jayanta Jenkins, alongside FX marketing president Stephanie Gibbons…
Rice’s existing direct reports also include John Landgraf, chairman, FX; James Goldston, president, ABC News; and Ravi Ahuja, president, Business Operations, Disney General Entertainment Content.
Image: The Walt Disney Company.
Okay, Who’s In Charge Of Saying Yes?
But, there was one really interesting note extraneous to the job shifts and new org chart; an answer to who gets to “greenlight” or “okay” new projects.
Image: Disney+.
Rice clarified the issue in his memo, saying, “We will be responsible for content strategy, development, greenlighting, casting, production, talent management and budget management for all the entertainment and news that DGE creates.”
Still, those greenlight decisions won’t be made in a vacuum but rather with the input of the leaders from the MED group. That includes Ricky Strauss, formerly president Content & Marketing for Disney+, who now oversees content curation for both Disney+ and Hulu.
As part of Disney’s new focus on streaming, all of the company’s original content, including that for linear networks, will eventually find its way to Hulu (adult content) and Disney+ (kids/family content).
Image: Disney.
A Streamlined Structure Includes General Entertainment
I mean, to a layman, all of this seems to make sense and creates the streamlined structure from conception to Disney+.
Of course, I just outlining the highlights of an in-depth article on Deadline, which — helpfully — includes Mr. Rice’s full memo. Please be sure to take a look at the whole article and give a read to it all:
