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ABC exec appointments

Debbie Lee is announced as ABC's Head of Comedy in one of several exec appointments by the broadcaster.

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The ABC has announced several portfolio appointments as part of it structural reform.

Justin Holdforth has been appointed Head of Sport & Events, Debbie Lee has been appointed Head of Comedy and Natalie Edgar has been appointed Deputy Controller ABC TV.

ABC also announced Arul Baskaran has  been appointed the new Controller of ABC TV’s Multiplatform Production.

Justin Holdforth had been acting as Head of Sport & Events since mid 2009. Prior to acting as Head Sport & Events, he was Executive Producer Sport & Events overseeing the Beijing Paralympics, W-League Football, The Hopman Cup and Women’s Open Golf.

Debbie Lee has been Acting Head of Comedy responsible for programs such as Lowdown, The Librarians, Angry Boys, Review with Myles Barlow and John Safran’s Race Relations. Prior to this she was an Executive Producer in the Arts & Entertainment Department and was a Commissioning Editor for Drama and Comedy at SBS. Lee became Acting Head of Comedy following the exit of Courtney Gibson, who took control after Amanda Duthie’s role in the Chaser scandal.

As Deputy Controller of ABC TV Natalie Edgar will work across ABC1, ABC2 and, in terms of inventory management, ABC News24. Edgar has been with ABC TV since 2007 in the role of Programmer ABC2.

Arul Baskaran has been acting in the role of Controller of ABC TV’s Multiplatform Production for the last 14 months. Prior to joining the ABC in 2004, he worked in New York and Europe for digital agencies. He will become responsible for ABC TV’s strategy and execution for internet broadcasting; convergent production; development of innovative new services, tools and applications; and creating websites and social communities on the Internet, hand held devices and emerging platforms.

Baskaran also oversees ABC’s video podcasting service plus iView.

5 Responses

  1. @ Lorenzo M

    Sorry about that.
    Of course I meant to say “the new team is in place”, as in Kim Dalton announced a content commissioning restructure and nearly everyone has been appointed except the most contentious position of all – the Head of Fiction. Drama commissioning at the ABC has been drifting sideways for years for all kinds of reasons – particularly because of lack of funds. However they now have more funds to spend, particularly earmarked for drama, but it seems very difficult to find the right person. I notice that many of the successful appointees have been internal candidates. If the ABC can’t find an internal candidate for the position then obviously they’ve been recruiting the wrong people into the department for years and now have lots of Indians, but no Chiefs. Will someone please stand up and take a leadership position in Australian drama at the national broadcaster!

  2. @Ronnie

    A team is an “is”. It’s a collective noun. There is no such thing as a company “are” …

    The team “is” , etc …

    Sorry, but clarity is the key. Now, what was your point?

  3. The new team are almost in place – except for one glaring omission – the Head of Fiction. Although it must be very difficult to find this person it seems like the ABC has been without leadership or vision in drama for years. There’s a lot of management but not much leadership. I hope they find someone soon.

  4. I note with some trepidation that Arul Baskaran is now responsible for “hand-held” devices. Is this juvenile practice rampant at the ABC? Is it mandatory?

    The ABC at present broadcasts on three channels. That’s a lot of air time. It would be an interesting exercise to tot up the total output of the ABC over its three channels and find out the total hours devoted to kiddie programs. Does the ABC employ grown-up persons?

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