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Airey: hot tip for executive position |
Dawn Airey, Channel 5's chief executive, and Mark Thompson, BBC director of television, are being touted as the hot contenders to replace Michael Jackson as Channel 4's chief executive. Jackson, who joined C4 in 1997, is leaving the role to become president and chief executive officer of USA Entertainment Group, based in New York. Airey previously worked at C4 as the head of arts and entertainment before joining C5 in 1996. She's known to be extremely ambitious, turning down a job at Sky in a quest to get the top job at C5. A TV insider said: "Airey would be a very strong contender for the Channel 4 job as she will have learnt a huge amount at Channel 5. However, Channel 5 is her baby and I think she's determined to make it a success before she moves elsewhere."
This week, Airey met with C5 shareholders to ask for money to buy more high-profile programmes such as Aussie soap Home & Away.
The biggest marketing programme launch in Channel 5's history has proved a success. last week Home & Away helped the channel score a 6.1% overall peaktime share, compared to a 5.2% peaktime for last year.
A C5 spokesman said: "The shareholders are delighted by the success of Home & Away. Dawn is pushing for increased funds to fulfil the potential of the channel, and the performance of the soap makes her case even stronger."
Mark Thompson, BBC's director of television has been editor of Panorama and the controller of BBC2, but has never before worked for a commercial broadcaster, although this didn't count against Jackson.
Other contenders for the post are thought to be Tim Gardam, C4's director of programmes and David Liddiment, ITV's director of programmes.
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