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Salmon will take on the top job at TV Corp in the summer and will be in charge of running 'Paradise Hotel' independent production company Mentorn, sports producer Sunset + Vine as well as documentary and music producers Red Back Films and Music Box among others.

"I leave BBC Sport at the top of its game, rejuvenated and reinvigorated with big audiences and major awards stacking up, like this week's Olympics Bafta, but The Television Corporation's ambitious plans are just too tempting to turn down," Salmon said.

Salmon took up the newly created BBC director of sport role in November 2000 after Greg Dyke became director general. Previously, he was controller of BBC One for three years.

During his five-year tenure, Salmon was responsible for securing the Six Nations Rugby until the end of the decade, the FA Cup, football highlights for 'Match of the Day', The Derby, The Open Golf, Wimbledon and The Grand National among others.

More recently, he won the UK rights to cover the 2010 Winter Olympics from Vancouver and 2012 Games and he brought in a record-breaking 11m viewers for the 2004 Athens Olympics on BBC One last year.

Prior to taking the director of sport role, Salmon spent three years as BBC One controller before vacating the role which was snapped up by Lorraine Heggessey.

At BBC One, he commissioned programmes including 'Walking with Dinosaurs', 'The Royle Family' and 'Clocking Off'. He also played a pivotal role in getting the FA Cup back for the corporation.

Before joining the BBC in 1997, Salmon was Granada Television's director of programmes, responsible for contributing more than a third of all ITV programmes.  

He played a key part in the rejuvenation of 'Coronation Street', managing its move from three to four episodes a week.

Mark Thompson, director-general of the BBC, said: "Peter is one of those rare television breeds, combining business and creative brilliance with being an inspirational leader of people."

Dave Gordon, BBC head of major events, will take on the role of acting director of sport when Salmon leaves in the summer until a replacement is found.

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