ABC Head of Factual quits

Denise Eriksen, the ABC’s Head of Factual is parting with the broadcaster following a restructure in management.

Eriksen has been responsible for a string of successful documentaries and observational shows including Outback House, Peking to Paris, Operatunity Oz, Choir of Hard Knocks, Collectors, Talking Heads, Can We Help, Difference of Opinion, The Cook and the Chef and the Logie winning Dynasties. She has also been instrumental in the successes of Gardening Australia, Catalyst, Compass and Message Stick.

The role of Manager of ABC2, currently held by Chris Winter, is to also be abolished.

The restructuring will see the creation of a position of Executive Head of Content Creation, creation within ABC TV of a Children’s department, and the integration of the functions of ABC2 into the existing structure of ABC TV.

The Director of Television, Kim Dalton, said “I am confident that implementing this integrated, strategic management framework will ensure that ABC TV can continue to provide to our audiences a range of high quality, Australian content across all our platforms.”

Press Release:

May 24, 2007
ABC TV MANAGEMENT CHANGES
The Director of ABC Television, Kim Dalton, has today announced a proposed realignment in the ABC Television’s management framework. The new structure, to be implemented over the next couple of months, is:

1. The creation of a position of Executive Head of Content Creation, responsible for all aspects of ABC TV content development and production across all genres (except Children’s) and all platforms. The position will report to the Director of TV.
2. The creation within ABC TV of a Children’s department that encompasses all of the children’s related areas that are currently dispersed across ABC TV. This department will be headed by the newly created position of Executive Head of Children’s, who will be responsible for producing, acquiring, commissioning and programming ABC TV’s children’s and educational content across all platforms. The position will report to the Director of TV. The existing position of Head of Children’s will be abolished.
3. The integration of the functions of ABC2 into the existing structure of ABC TV. As part of this process the position of Manager ABC2 will be abolished.

The aim is to ensure that ABC TV is structured and resourced effectively to move forward in the digital arena. These positions will be part of the senior team responsible for taking ABC TV forward in the digital environment, reaching more Australians, in more ways, more often. ABC TV will be advertising and actively recruiting for these positions in the very near future.

Kim Dalton says, “I am confident that implementing this integrated, strategic management framework will ensure that ABC TV can continue to provide to our audiences a range of high quality, Australian content across all our platforms.”

As a result of the changes to the management structure of the ABC TV content creation area, Denise Eriksen, ABC TV Head of Factual, will not be renewing her contract with ABC TV in September this year. Mr Dalton acknowledged the very significant contribution Denise has made to ABC TV over the last three years.

This has included major factual series, including Outback House, Peking to Paris, Operatunity Oz, and Choir of Hard Knocks. Denise has also been responsible for developing and launching the highly successful prime-time program Collectors, the early evening programs Talking Heads, Can We Help and The Cook and the Chef, and the strengthening of the Gardening Australia brand.

More recently she took responsibility for the Catalyst, Compass and Message Stick strands. She has overseen the launching of Difference of Opinion, and this year saw Dynasties win the Logie Award for Most Outstanding Factual series. Mr Dalton said he looked forward to working with Denise in the future.

Mr Dalton said he would also like to recognise the significant achievements of Chris Winter and the ABC2 team. Over the past two years, with limited resources, they have established a distinct and energetic presence for the ABC in the digital television space. The next phase of development for ABC2 will be exciting and productive, but it will be building on and consolidating the groundbreaking work of Chris and his team.

“It is vital for ABC TV to respond to the changing audience behaviours and expectations. This proposed realignment will ensure we focus on content, and that we maximise every opportunity in this multi-platform environment,” said Mr Dalton.