UKTV Names New Channel Heads for People, History

LONDON, August 7: UKTV has
appointed two new channel heads, Adrian Wills for UKTV People and Richard
Kingsbury for UKTV History, in preparation for the re-branding of its factual
portfolio in 2009.

Both will assume their new
responsibilities immediately and will report to Jane Mote, the director of
lifestyle, factual and new media. They are responsible for maximizing content
as well as for strategic development of the channels. The new factual channels
and websites are planned to launch in early 2009.

Wills will continue to run
UKTV Documentary. He previously launched UKTV History in October 2002.

Kingsbury will remain in
charge of UKTV Food, which he took over in November 2007. He was previously the
channel head of UKTV Drama.

Mote said: “As part of our
commitment to pay TV, we’re developing exciting and distinctive channel brands
that will wow our audiences and open up new commercial opportunities. Both
Adrian and Richard are hugely talented and their wealth of experience will
ensure the success of these channels going forward.”

—By Jackie Stewart