FX Promotes Grad, Schrier & Saftler to President Posts

Longtime FX Networks executives Nick Grad, Eric Schrier and Chuck Saftler each have been promoted to the position of President as the company embarks on its planned expansion this fall. Making the announcement was John Landgraf, Chief Executive Officer of FX Networks and FX Productions, to whom they will report.

Grad and Schrier each will hold the title of President, Original Programming for FX Networks and FX Productions, where they will oversee all original programming for FX, FXX and FXM, and head business and entertainment operations for FX Productions. Saftler will serve as President of Program Strategy and Chief Operating Officer of FX Networks and will have oversight of programming strategies including scheduling and acquisitions, program operations, business operations, and digital operations for FX, FXX, FXM, and the new video-on-demand app FXNOW in conjunction with FX Digital Marketing. In addition, Saftler will oversee specials including awards shows and continue to have creative and business oversight of "10/90" series.

Landgraf said, "Nick, Eric and Chuck have been involved in every facet of FX's success over the past decade. It is only appropriate to see them each take on more responsibility as we pursue an ambitious expansion of our channels, programming and distribution platforms. While it is hard at times to step back from some of the day to day creative dialogues I love so much, it makes it easier when trusted colleagues and long-time partners are stepping up. It is my honor to work with them."

Grad previously served as Executive Vice President of Original Programming and Development for FX. Schrier formerly held the position of Executive Vice President of FX Productions and Head of Series Development for FX. Saftler previously held the title of Executive Vice President, FX Networks and General Manager of FXM (formerly FOX Movie Channel).

Nick Grad joined FX as Vice President of Series Development in May of 2002. After becoming head of the network's original programming in 2005, Grad developed FX's upcoming and highly-anticipated drama series, The Bridge, plus the critically-acclaimed drama The Americans, the Emmy(R), Golden Globe(R) and SAG Award-winning miniseries American Horror Story, the Emmy(R) Award-winning Justified, the critically-acclaimed Terriers, the smash-hit Sons of Anarchy, and the Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning Damages. He also developed the critically-acclaimed comedies Archer, Emmy-winner Louie, The League and Wilfred, as well as the late-night series Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell. As SVP of Drama and Comedy Series Development for FX, Grad was heavily involved in the development of a variety of network programs, including the Emmy and Golden Globe Award-nominated drama series Rescue Me, the acclaimed hit comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the Emmy Award-winner Thief, the acclaimed drama Over There, and Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning hit drama Nip/Tuck. In 2011 he was named one of Broadcasting & Cable's Next Wave of Leaders.

Prior to joining FX, Grad worked for Columbia TriStar Television from 1995-2002, rising to the position of Vice President of Comedy Development in 1999. At Columbia TriStar he developed The King of Queens for CBS, and Action and The Tick for FOX. He began his career in programming at FOX in 1992. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.

Eric Schrier joined FX in September of 1999 as an assistant to then President of Entertainment, Kevin Reilly, and has been on the fast track ever since. In June of 2001, he was promoted to Manager of Current Series, and a year later became Director of Current Series. He was elevated to Vice President of Current Series and Alternative Programming in March of 2004, and by December of 2005, he was named Senior Vice President FX Original Programming.

In his most recent position as Head of Series Development, Schrier developed of the critically-acclaimed series The Americans, American Horror Story, Sons of Anarchy, Justified, Terriers, Archer, Louie, The League and Wilfred. His most recent projects include Legit, Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell and the highly-anticipated drama, The Bridge. Schrier also played an integral role the growth of FX Productions, managing day-to-day operations for the studio. In addition to managing the studio's interest in foreign sales, home entertainment, syndication, and new media opportunities, he initiated product merchandise for all FX original series under the FX Productions banner. He was a key player in the inception and launch of FX Canada, the joint venture network of FX Networks and Rogers Media.

During his tenure as head of current series from 2001-2008, Schrier had day-to-day oversight of all of FX's original series, including the Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning dramas The Shield, Nip/Tuck and Damages, and the Emmy and Golden Globe Award-nominated drama Rescue Me, as well as It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and 30 Days. In 2004, Schrier took over the development of FX's alternative programming where he developed FX's most successful unscripted series ever, Morgan Spurlock's 30 Days, as well as the network's Black.White. Schrier began his career as an assistant at CAA and then Brillstein-Grey Entertainment before landing at FX. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television, where he currently teaches a graduate-level course on the worldwide business of television.

Chuck Saftler has the longest tenure of any FX employee, having joined the network in December of 1993 as Director of Scheduling, seven months prior to the launch of FX. In addition to being a member of the FX launch team, he also helped launch FOX Movie Channel in its original incarnation as fXM in October of 1994. He was promoted to Vice President of Programming in 1996, and then to Senior Vice President of Programming at FX in June 2000. He added General Manager of FOX Movie Channel to his responsibilities in July 2003, and he was promoted to Executive Vice President of FX Networks in 2006.

For FX, Saftler has played an enormous role in the growth and expansion of FX Networks. He has been responsible for assembling the most impressive movie library of any broadcast or basic cable network on television, which has the highest number of box-office hit films and the most commercial television premieres of any network.

He is also responsible for acquired television series deals on FX including Two and a Half Men, Mike & Molly and How I Met Your Mother. Saftler negotiated a non-traditional first-run and syndication deal for the comedy series Anger Management starring Charlie Sheen and Saint George starring George Lopez, for which Saftler also oversees creative on both series. He also oversaw FX's interests of all UFC properties including three seasons the reality competition series The Ultimate Fighter.

Saftler spearheaded the transformation of FXM from FOX Movie Channel and has expanded its growing library of award-winning hit and prestige films. Saftler also oversees the creation of the network's original programming, including Life After Film School, FOX Legacy and the Emmy Award-winning Writer's Draft.

Prior to joining FX, Saftler worked in various program research positions at KTLA-TV in Los Angeles, as well as at Columbia Pictures Television, where he participated in the successful Syndicated launches of Seinfeld and Married...With Children. Saftler is a member of both the national and local Los Angeles Board of Directors for Autism Speaks. Saftler is a graduate of Boston University and currently serves on the National Boston University Alumni Council.

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