Five restructures programming team

Five is to change the reporting structure of its programming team, and is seeking to appoint a director of programmes for the main channel.

Five will be recruiting a head of factual to replace Justine Kershaw, who is leaving in the summer to set up her own production company. The head of factual will report to the new director of programmes, as will the sport, news and current affairs, factual entertainment, comedy, and children’s programming departments.

Drama and special events will become part of an enlarged features and entertainment department.

Acquisitions, scheduling and planning will report to managing director, content, Lisa Opie as will both the director of programmes for the main channel and newly appointed director of programming for Five Life and US, Hannah Barnes.

The existing factual commissioning department consisting of history, science, arts and religious programming will remain the same.

Opie said: “By streamlining the reporting structure of the programming team we will be better placed to have a unified sense of brand ownership across all genres as well as becoming more nimble and responsive editorially.

“This new structure will allow us to make the most of commercial opportunities in terms of converging content across Five’s family of channels and allow us to share creative expertise within the programming teams.”