Bios
RICH BATTISTA
President Fox National Cable Networks
Fox Networks Group
Rich Battista was named President, Fox National Cable Networks by Tony Vinciquerra, Chairman and CEO, Fox Networks Group in September 2008.
In this newly created position, Mr. Battista oversees the company’s national cable programming services, including FX, National Geographic Channel, Fox Movie Channel, Fox Reality Channel, SPEED, FUEL TV, and Fox Cable Ad Sales.
Most recently, Mr. Battista served as Chief Executive Officer of Gemstar-TV Guide International—parent of the TV Guide brand from 2004-2008. He was the chief architect of the company’s impressive turnaround in which it revitalized TV Guide Magazine and TV Guide Network while significantly expanding its reach across emerging media platforms. Mr. Battista directed the successful sale of the company to Macrovision in May 2008.
Prior to joining Gemstar-TV Guide International, Mr. Battista served as Executive Vice President, Business Development and Strategy for Fox Entertainment Group (FEG), reporting to Mr. Vinciquerra and News Corp COO Peter Chernin. Mr. Battista was responsible for managing business development and identifying potential strategic partners for the various FEG companies. Before assuming that role, Mr. Battista served as Executive Vice President, Fox Networks Group, where he oversaw business development on behalf of Fox Broadcasting Company and the Fox Cable Networks.
Mr. Battista first joined Fox in 1990, holding numerous management positions throughout the rapidly evolving Fox television portfolio. He left in 1999 to become Co-Founder and CEO of iFUSE, a youth culture media company, and returned in 2001 as Executive Vice President, Fox Television.
Before joining Fox, Mr. Battista worked as a financial analyst at the investment-banking firm of Morgan Stanley. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, and graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Georgetown University. He and his wife Brenda have two twin sons and live in Los Angeles.
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