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John Landgraf New Head of FX Networks

John Landgraf has been named president/gm, FX Networks, replacing former FX Networks president/ceo Peter Liguori who joined FOX Broadcasting Co. as its president of Entertainment. Landgraf will be responsible for all business and programming operations including program development, scheduling, marketing, public relations, research and business affairs for FX Networks, which consists of FX and Fox Movie Channel.

Landgraf has been president of entertainment for FX since January 2004, overseeing FX's original program strategy and making significant creative contributions to the network's three award-winning hits THE SHIELD, NIP/TUCK and RESCUE ME. In 2005 alone, FX will more than double its number of original series, all of which were developed under Landgraf.

"John's experience as both a network executive and also a producer and writer is exactly what's needed for FX to keep building upon its momentum of the past three years," said Tony Vinciquerra, president/ceo of Fox Networks Group, to whom Landgraf will report. "FX is better positioned today than it has ever been, and we expect John's expertise will enhance FX's strength across both the business and creative communities."

Arriving at FX 17 months ago, Landgraf has developed and enhanced cutting edge programming, while implementing the network's strategy to get back into the comedy and unscripted series business. FX's new approach to unscripted series will be unveiled on June 15 when the network debuts the documentary-style series 30 DAYS from Academy Award-nominated documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock. In late July, the network will introduce OVER THERE, the highly anticipated Iraq war drama from Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winner Steven Bochco and Golden Globe Award-winning writer/director Chris Gerolmo. Comedies STARVED and IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA are scheduled to debut in August while FX's fifth drama series, THIEF, starring Emmy Award-winner Andre Braugher, is slated for early 2006.

Before FX, Landgraf was president of Jersey Television, a company he co-founded along with former Jersey Films partners Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher. Jersey Television has produced such series as KAREN SISCO (ABC), RENO 911! (Comedy Central), UC: UNDERCOVER (NBC), THE AMERICAN EMBASSY (FOX) and KATE BRASHER (CBS). Landgraf and his partners served as exec producers on all of these projects.

Prior to his stint at Jersey Television, Landgraf was vp of primetime series at NBC from 1994-1999 and was a key contributor to developing hits THE WEST WING, PROFILER and SUDDENLY SUSAN. He also maintained daily oversight as current programming exec on ER, FRIENDS, PROFILER, JAG and SUDDENLY SUSAN.

Landgraf began his television career at Sarabande Productions as director of development in 1988, rising to the level of svp before his departure to NBC in 1994. At Sarabande, Landgraf learned to produce and was active in selling, developing and producing television series, television/cable films and feature films.

Fox Networks Group, an operating unit of News Corp. consists of the FOX Broadcasting Co., Fox Cable Networks, FOX Sports and Fox Networks Engineering & Operations (FNE&O). FCN networks include FX, FSN and its 14 owned-and-operated regional sports networks; Fox College Sports; National Geographic Channel; SPEED Channel; Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Sports en Espanol; Fox Movie Channel; action sports network FUEL and Fox Reality. FCN also includes Fox Sports Enterprises, which manages Fox interests in sports franchises and leading statistical information provider STATS Inc.

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