New Head of Programming at UKTV’s Watch

LONDON: UKTV has tapped Adam Collings, currently serving as the director of channels at NBCUniversal, as head of programming for its pay entertainment network Watch.

Collings will be responsible for driving viewing share, aiming to refine the channel's scheduling and programming strategy. He will also lead forward planning and editorial discussions relating to the channel’s schedule and program supply from acquisitions and commissions. Collings will report to Watch's general manager, Steve North. He steps into the post in the new year.

Previously, Collings was at NBCU with responsibility for Syfy and Movies 24. Prior to NBCUniversal, he spent seven years at ITV, working across its digital portfolio.

North said, “Adam comes equipped with fantastic experience from both a terrestrial and multichannel background. Having, in recent years, been at both NBCUniversal and ITV he has developed a complete knowledge of the acquisitions market and the dynamics of the digital environment from a scheduling and programming perspective. I’m confident he’s going to be a huge asset for Watch and UKTV.”

Collings added, “I have been fortunate enough to work for some of the biggest broadcasters in the U.K. and, having truly enjoyed my time at NBCUniversal, I am now thrilled to be joining UKTV, and specifically Watch, at an incredibly exciting period in its development. With its enviable content mix and sizeable viewer base, Watch has the ability to cement itself as a vital channel to U.K. audiences. I'm relishing the prospect of that task.”