BBC Worldwide Channels Gets New VP of Programming for EMEA

LONDON: BBC Worldwide Channels has appointed Jon Farrar to VP of programming for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, taking up the post as of August 2.

Farrar will be responsible for the development and execution of the programming strategy for the BBC portfolio—BBC Entertainment, BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle, CBeebies and BBC HD—for EMEA. He will initially report to Dean Possenniskie, the senior VP and general manager of BBC Worldwide Channels EMEA until Possenniskie’s replacement is appointed. He will also join BBC Worldwide’s team of regional programming heads working into the division’s senior VP of programming and TV channels, David Weiland.

He joins from NBC Universal, where he worked as programming director for Universal Networks International in the U.K. and Norther Europe. Since July 2009, Farrar has had overall responsibility for all programming and marketing for the Hallmark Channel and Diva TV in the U.K.

Weiland said of the appointment, “Jon comes to us with a unique skillset and a thoroughly impressive track record that will help challenge and support us during the next stages of our growth. He joins the business at a particularly important time, as we look to grow the reach of our existing channels and pursue new launch opportunities.”

Farrar added, “I am thrilled to be joining BBC Worldwide. To develop BBC branded channels across Europe, the Middle East and Africa is an exciting privilege, particularly to be working with some of the most outstanding content anywhere in the world. I cannot wait to start building strategies that connect local audiences across many corners of the globe with the best of British content, building the same depth of relationship with these big brands as exists in the U.K.”