Steven Chao and Barry Diller Reunite for New Project

Seems Like Old Times: Steven Chao, the former Fox TV executive who was fired by Rupert Murdoch last year after he hired a male model to disrobe in front of dignitaries at a company meeting, is reuniting with former boss Barry Diller. Chao is developing a three-hour block of programming for QVC-2, the second home shopping channel operated by Diller’s QVC Networks. Diller is reformatting QVC-2, currently called the Fashion Channel, into a health and fitness shopping channel.

Chao is now an independent movie producer affiliated with Fox.

Cable TV

Turner Broadcasting System Inc., the center of much speculation regarding potential merger activities, is bringing on Price Waterhouse partner and merger adviser Wayne H. Pace as the company’s chief financial officer.

Pace, who also joins the Atlanta-based television concern’s executive committee, will report to Chairman Ted Turner on mergers and acquisitions.

Pace has been associated with the company since 1970, and previously advised Turner when the company acquired Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s film library.

Film

Columbia Pictures named Dana Precious vice president of creative advertising. Before joining Columbia, Precious worked at Seiniger Advertising as vice president and creative director of the company’s television division.

Permut Presentations has named Steve Rabiner vice president of development.