LOS ANGELES (Diya TV) — Netflix named former Disney and Fox executive Peter Rice its next chief content officer Thursday, replacing Bela Bajaria as the streaming company cuts jobs and confronts slowing viewer engagement.
Rice starts Oct. 26 and will oversee Netflix’s global films, scripted and unscripted series, live events and other programming. Bajaria is leaving after nearly a decade at the company.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos credited Bajaria with expanding unscripted programming and launching live events and sports. The company did not disclose a reason for her departure.
Bajaria joined Netflix in 2016, became head of global television in 2020 and rose to chief content officer in January 2023. Her tenure included major hits such as “Bridgerton” and “Squid Game,” alongside partnerships with WWE and the NFL.
The leadership change follows approximately one thousand job cuts, representing about six percent of Netflix’s workforce, TheWrap reported. Viewer engagement increased two percent in the first half of this year.
Rice previously served as chairman of Walt Disney Television and Disney’s general entertainment division. Before that, he was president of 21st Century Fox and chief executive of Fox Networks Group.
As president of Fox Searchlight Pictures, he oversaw releases including “Slumdog Millionaire,” “Juno,” “Little Miss Sunshine” and “Sideways.”
Sarandos praised Rice’s experience across film and television and his relationships with creative talent. Rice said he would build on the global content team Bajaria established.
