Bold new investment plans for Channel 5 and changes at the station

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Following its acquisition of Channel 5, Northern & Shell confirmed plans for a      £1.5 billion investment over the next five years which will see a focus of resources on programme and content development. As part of the changes, Channel 5 chief executive and chairman Dawn Airey will depart the company. Ms Airey is leaving to take up a senior role at the RTL Group, Five’s former owner.

However, Ms Airey has agreed with Northern & Shell to remain in her post for several months to facilitate the implementation of a cost-efficiency programme, designed to help return the broadcaster to profitability.

The savings aim to realise efficiencies deriving from Channel 5’s integration into the Northern & Shell group of companies and at the same time develop an ambitious new investment plan that will see the channel go toe-to-toe with the biggest players in the TV world. Long-term financial input in the field of £300m per year for the next five years is planned by Northern & Shell.

The rationalisation is expected to lead to a reduction in the company’s headcount of between 60 and 80 roles. Consultations with affected employees over the proposals will begin immediately. Channel 5’s staff will be relocated to the Northern & Shell prestigious premises in Lower Thames Street and in the Docklands.

Northern & Shell has invested massively in the Daily Star and Daily Express and launched the first Sunday newspaper in 30 years. In fact, if the deal had gone elsewhere it was feared that cuts would have been much harsher. Indeed, maybe leaving as little as 20% of the workforce in place.

Additionally, Ms Airey announced that six board directors and the broadcaster’s Head of HR would be leaving the company.  Channel Controller, Richard Woolfe, Director of Strategy Charles Constable and Director of Corporate Affairs Sue Robertson will leave on 31 August.

Managing Director Mark White, Director of Finance David Hockley, Director of Legal Paul Chinnery, and Head of HR Natasha Adams, will depart on 31 October. Along with Ms Airey, they will remain in post until this time in order to help Northern & Shell manage the change process.

Moving forward, it was announced that Channel 5’s Director of Digital Channels & Acquisitions, Jeff Ford would take on additional responsibility for the main channel becoming Programme Director, Five Channels. The channels over which Mr. Ford has presided since January 2009, Five USA and Fiver, now account for more than a quarter of the Five family of channels’ audience share. 

Kelly Williams, who has been Director of Sales at Channel 5 for the past six years, will continue to lead the channel’s commercial team.

Dawn Airey commented of the changes:

“The day Five was sold, my job was done. I will be returning to the RTL Group but over the next few months will remain in post with a number of my senior colleagues to facilitate the integration of Five into Northern & Shell.

I want to thank Richard, Charles, Sue, Mark, David, Paul and Natasha for the dedication and commitment that they have shown Five and the support they have given me over the years. They have all made a significant contribution to leading Five towards a successful future.

I love Five, its staff, its spirit and all we have achieved. I wish the channel, its team, Richard Desmond and Northern & Shell all the success they deserve.”

This is the first of many initiatives that will see a new streamlined Channel Five make enormous strides over the coming years. One area of particular importance is that of Project Canvas and the amazing possibilities it opens up for the future for viewers.

Northern & Shell Chairman, Richard Desmond, said

“Whilst I’m sorry to see Dawn move on, I’m thrilled that she’ll be in the mix to contribute to the various exciting plans we have and oversee the acquisition and development of brilliant new content”.

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Please contact:

Andrew Sholl | Channel 5 | andrew.sholl@five.tv

07736 364 656

Lesley Land | The Outside Organisation | lesley.land@outside-org.co.uk  

07825 439 012

Sam Bowen | The Outside Organisation | sam.bowen@outside-org.co.uk 

07855 794 461