Wednesday 13 June 2007

Five has named Richard Brent as the channel’s new Head of Scheduling, it was announced today (WEDS).

Brent, currently the BBC’s Head of Planning and Scheduling Daytime and Early Peak, will take up his new post scheduling the broadcaster’s core channel later this year.

Five’s Managing Director, Content, Lisa Opie, said: “Richard has a great track record at both the BBC and in commercial television. I know he will be a real asset to the channel in maximising the full potential of every aspect of the schedule.

Richard Brent said: “I’ve had a hugely enjoyable six years at the BBC but I feel the time is right to tackle a new challenge. I’m really looking forward to working at Five and scheduling its portfolio of exciting programming.”

He will report directly to Five’s incoming Director of Programmes, Jay Hunt, when she joins the channel from the BBC later in the year.

Brent has held his current position at the BBC since May 2006. His responsibilities were scheduling and strategy across both BBC One and Two Daytime and Early Peak and he was instrumental in the strategy that led to brands such as Great British Menu and Shopping the Supermarkets moving into peak.

From September 2004 until May 2006 he was BBC One Schedule Manager working to the Head of Scheduling with particular responsibility for developing and implementing several areas of the schedule, including Sunday afternoons and the post 10.35pm slot.

Brent joined the BBC as BBC One and Drama Research Manager in May 2001 before that he had been Broadcast Manager in the Audience Research Department at Carlton, Senior Audience Research Executive at Paradigm Limited and a Senior Audience Research Executive at the BBC.

Contact: Paul Leather at Five on 020 7550 5541/07711 019 853 or paul.leather@five.tv.