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ABC appoints new ABC1 Channel Controller

ABC1's new Channel Controller is Brendan Dahill, former BBC3 exec and currently Director of Television for BBC Worldwide Channels.

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The ABC has announced its new Channel Controller for ABC1.

He is Brendan Dahill, currently Director of Television for BBC Worldwide Channels, Australasia.

Dahill will be responsible for the vision, branding and programming strategy for the channel in a revamp of the role that replaces outgoing ABC Programmer Marena Manzoufas.

ABC recently announced it would appoint BBC-style Controllers for its separate channels as part of a major structural revamp.

Dahill moved to Australia in 2004 after seven years years with the BBC, including three and a half years as Head of Planning and Scheduling for BBC Three. He was also he was Daytime Scheduler for BBC One and BBC Two.

After four years as Head of Programming, Presentations and Promotions Australia and New Zealand for UKTV, he was appointed to his current position with BBC Worldwide Channels Australasia where he has been responsible for production, programming, acquisitions, on-air promotions and presentation for the BBC’s suite:  UKTV, BBC HD, BBC Knowledge, BBC World News and CBeebies.

ABC’s Director of Television, Kim Dalton, said, “I am delighted to be able to welcome Brendan to our management team at ABC TV.

“He brings a great depth of experience in the areas of programming, acquisition and commissioning along with a passion and commitment for Australian content, Australian audiences and Australian public broadcasting. His experience and success in recent years in the Australian multi-channel market along with his background in UK broadcasting makes him ideally suited for this new role at ABC TV.”

Dahill adds: “I am thrilled to be joining the ABC at the start of this new and exciting chapter in its history. I look forward to ABC1 being the home of choice for Australian audiences and also Australian producers and talent.”

TV Tonight interviewed Dahill in 2008 as part of the BBC Knowledge and CBeebies Australian launch. Some of the Australian-made productions under his watch include False Witness, Make or Break and the new Penelope K, All the Way.

ABC is yet to announce its additional new Channel Controllers.

Dahill begins his new role in August.

6 Responses

  1. this sounds very exciting – Marena Manzoufas has been running the show for years now and i think an outsider like Brendan will bring a fantastic new perspective to the channel. this is very good news. though i doubt anything will change till Jan 2011.

  2. If his new role is responsible for branding, lets hope he reconsiders ABC’s policy of vandalising every aired program by inflicting intrusive large coloured logos over ithem like pop-up spam.

    BBC listens to its viewers and removed this type of garbage when they objected. Likewise, BBC apologised for ‘accidently’ using such rubbish over Dr Who recently.

  6. Sounds like a great appointment. It’s a pity we have to wait until August. Wonder if they’ll wait to appoint a new Head of Fiction until after that? ABC drama continues to drift sideways unfortunately. Someone needs to take the helm.

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