Rob Wade New Fox Alternative President

Fox Broadcasting Co. today named producer and executive Rob Wade president of alternative entertainment and specials.

Reporting to Dana Walden and Gary Newman, chairmen and CEOs, Fox Television Group., Wade will oversee the network’s unscripted programming, specials and alternative development slate. He will join the network in March.

“Unscripted programming is one of the true hallmarks of broadcast television. No other platform captures the immediacy and excitement of a big, broad, breakout unscripted hit like broadcast, and we are committed to expanding our efforts in this area beginning today, with Rob,” said Newman and Walden. “Rob’s an incredibly well-respected executive and producer with a proven track record working on reality hits. He’s also a creator himself, which makes him the perfect person to lead this charge. We’re confident Rob has the creative vision to shape this area in the same way we’ve shaped the scripted side at the studio through our partnerships with some of the best talent in the business.”

Over the last 20 years, Wade has specialized in live, music, variety and reality programming. He most recently served as the showrunner on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, and was the head of Entertainment Development at BBC Worldwide. Wade was executive producer on Fox’s The X Factor and NBC’s America’s Got Talent, and was Head of TV at SyCo Entertainment North America.

In addition to Dancing with the Stars, he has worked on a broad spectrum of successful series, including Grease: You’re the One that I Want, Big Brother, Dog Eat Dog and I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here. He’s also developed shows and pilots for NBC, Fox, ITV, Univision, MTV, VH1, Channel 4 and the BBC.