UKTV shuffles channel chiefs ahead of rebranding

by Fiona Ramsay, Media Week 07-Aug-08, 16:05

LONDON - UKTV has rejigged its factual channel bosses, ahead of the channels' rebranding early next year.

The broadcaster has appointed Adrian Wills, currently channel head of UKTV History and UKTV Documentary, as channel head of UKTV People, and UKTV Food head Richard Kingsbury as channel head of UKTV History.

Wills will continue to run UKTV Documentary, while Kingsbury will remain in charge of UKTV Food, with both taking up their new channel responsibility immediately.

They will report to director of lifestyle, factual and new media, Jane Mote. The new factual channels and websites are currently planned to launch early next year.

Wills launched UKTV History in October 2002, while Kingsbury took over UKTV Food in November 2007 and has been instrumental in the channel’s recent ratings successes including New British Kitchen, Market Kitchen and Rhodes Across China. He was previously channel head of UKTV Drama.

UKTV will unveil its entertainment channels rebranding in October, with the launch of the Watch channel and with new formats for Gold and UKTV Drama.