Fox holds on to Mike Darnell

US reality exec Mike Darnell has been promoted to the role of president of alternative entertainment at Fox after agreeing to stay at the company. [ALL]

US reality exec Mike Darnell has been promoted to the role of president of alternative entertainment at Fox after agreeing to stay at the company.

Following months of speculation and poaching attempts from rival networks, Darnell, who has been at Fox for 13 years and is a champion of British formats in the US, has said he is staying put

According to Variety magazine his promotion makes him the first reality programming executive at a major network to be appointed to such a large role.

His responsibilities will now include the power to greenlight pilots and he will have creative control over reality formats.

During his tenure at Fox, Darnell has been involved in most of the biggest reality success stories in the US, including American Idol, Hell's Kitchen, Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?and Don't Forget the Lyrics.

Before renewing his deal with Fox, Darnell is understood to have been offered the opportunity to set up a company at Universal Media Studios by new co-chair Ben Silverman.

He is also rumoured to have been approached by both Endemol USA and RDF USA.

Pic courtesy of CNN.