Rupert Murdoch, the billionaire chief executive of News Corp., shuffled leadership of the company’s Fox operations in Los Angeles on Thursday, as the media company prepares for the departure of President Peter Chernin.

Peter Rice, president of boutique movie label Fox Searchlight, which distributed Oscar-winners “Slumdog Millionaire,” “Little Miss Sunshine” and “Juno,” was promoted to chairman of entertainment, Fox Broadcasting.

The network’s entertainment division buys and broadcasts such long-standing Fox shows as “American Idol,” “24,” “The Simpsons,” “King of the Hill” and “Family Guy.” Peter Liguori, whose contract was to expire this summer, is stepping down from the post immediately, the company said.

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