Chase Carey, the fancifully mustachioed CEO of DirecTV, is closing in on a deal to replace Peter Chernin after the News Corp president steps down as Rupert Murdoch's second-in-command later this month. This is something of a homecoming for Carey, having previously served as CEO of Fox Television from 1994 to 2000, co-chief operating officer of Fox Entertainment Group from 1998 to 2002, and held a seat on News Corp's board of directors from 2002-2007. Murdoch had been courting him heavily since Chernin announced he would not renew his contract, assuming instead a producing role on the Fox lot after two decades of indentured servitude to the Liberal-flogging tabloid magnate.
A contingency plan reshuffled Murdoch's current brass, giving more power to Twentieth Century Fox film execs Tom Rothman and Jim Gianopulos, promoting Peter Rice to run entertainment at Fox Broadcasting under Tony Vincequerra, and putting Fox Interactive under Jon Miller's jurisdiction. Now all department heads report to Carey, who insists on starting every breakfast strategy meeting by having his team four-part-harmonize on "Sleepy Time Gal." One potential wrench in the works: John Malone of Liberty Media, the company to whom Murdoch sold his controlling interest in DirectTV three years ago, is trying to go public with the satellite broadcasting giant, and might insist their CEO -- whose contract locks him in through the end of next year -- stick around. Yes, this is all one gigantic, incestuous hot tub of Rich White Media Mogul soup. Mmm ... soup. [The Wrap]