Industry sources have tipped Jackson for the post, and increasing speculation within the broadcaster suggests that the role will be handed to a candidate currently working outside the UK television industry.
Jackson has been working in the US since he left Channel 4 in 2001. He is currently president of programming for US internet giant InterActiveCorp, which owns Ask, Expedia, Ticketmaster and the Home Shopping Network. He was previously chairman of Universal Television Group and president and chief executive of USA Entertainment overseeing the USA Network, Sci Fi and Trio.
If the speculation turns out to be correct, it will not be the first time that ITV has approached Jackson. Four years ago, headhunters Gill Carrick, acting for ITV, were understood to have approached the former Channel 4 chief executive about taking the top job at ITV following the resignation of Stuart Prebble, who quit after the collapse of ITV Digital.
His candidacy has been boosted by the public backing of WPP Group chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell, who has called Jackson a "much-needed choice" to run the broadcaster.
Through WPP agencies MediaCom, MindShare, Mediaedge:cia and BJK&E, the holding company accounts for an estimated quarter of all television adspend in the UK, giving Sorrell's recommendation added gravitas.
Speaking at a conference held by Morgan Stanley investment bankers in Barcelona yesterday, Sorrell said that the key issue is not who owns ITV, but who is placed at the helm to take the network forward into the future, whether or not a proposed £5bn merger with NTL Telewest was green lighted.
Last week, NTL Telewest confirmed that it had entered discussions with ITV regarding a possible merger of the two broadcasters.
In a statement released to the London Stock Exchange at the time, the cable giant said: "NTL confirms that it has advised ITV of its interest in exploring a possible combination transaction and has scheduled an initial conversation with ITV to that end.
"This process is at a very preliminary stage and there is no assurance that these discussions will lead to any offer being made for ITV."
During his time at Channel 4, Jackson was responsible for turning the station into a more commercial organisation, with programmes commissioned including 'Big Brother', 'Da Ali G Show' and 'So Graham Norton'.
Sky programming head Dawn Airey; United International Pictures' UK chairman and chief executive Stewart Till; former Capital Radio chief executive David Mansfield; and former Ofcom chief executive Stephen Carter have all been reported to be in the running to replace Allen, who left last month.
If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the .
.jpg)
.jpg)