Sky's Woolfe Heads to Five

LONDON, November 12: Dawn Airey is busy assembling her new team at
Five, tapping Sky's Richard
Woolfe to be the channel's controller.

The announcement follows news that Jeff Ford would leave Channel 4
to become managing director of digital channels and acquisitions at Five.

Woolfe is currently the
director of programs at Sky1, 2 and 3. At Five, he will assume responsibility
for the commissioning, scheduling and strategy for the broadcaster's main
channel, reporting directly to Airey, the new chair and chief executive. He
will sit on Five's executive board, alongside Ford. With Woolfe's appointment,
Five's current director of programs, Ben Gale, will be leaving the company.

"Richard is the
greatest showman working in British television today," Airey said.
"He has a sixth sense for commissioning and producing popular programming
that truly strikes a chord with viewers. He will bring a tremendous energy,
creativity and chutzpah to the Five brand and I'm thrilled to be working with
him again. I'd also like to thank Ben for the great job he has done in
difficult circumstances, but I feel at this time Five needs someone with a
different programming background and crucially, experience in turning around
channels."

Woolfe noted: "I
relish a challenge and the opportunity to reinvigorate Five with Dawn and the
team is simply irresistible. I will miss Sky1 but I know I'm leaving the channel
in good health and in the very capable hands of what is without a doubt one of
the best teams in telly. Now I can't
wait to put entertainment at the heart of the Five to complement and build upon
the existing successful program brands, put the channel in the spotlight and
delight viewers of all ages."

—By Mansha Daswani