Jeff Ford has been appointed the new director of content at TV3, it has been announced.
Ford, a former director of programming of Channel 5, is replacing Ben Frow at TV3, who left the commercial broadcaster in December. In a coincidental twist of fate, Frow has also replaced Ford at Channel 5, resulting in the two commissioning men effectively swapping roles.
Ford will take up his new position at TV3 at the end of February, and is expected to get stuck into commissioning more original series for the station as soon as possible.
The former Channel 5 helmer has big shoes to fill replacing Frow, who is credited with transforming TV3 from an acquisitions-led station to a content-led station, with original content accounting for almost 40 per cent of TV3’s schedule.
Frow commissioned original series such as ‘Adoption Stories’, which is currently airing on Thursday nights, ‘Deception’, which broadcasts on Mondays, and ‘Tallafornia’, which has been a staple for the station’s younger audience on both TV3 and 3e.
Prior to his director of programming role at Channel 5, London-based Ford was the director of acquisitions at Channel 4 and controller of acquisitions at ITV. He began his career as a film editor in the BBC where he worked for 10 years. He will move to Dublin next month in preparation for his new role.
Speaking of the new appointment, CEO of TV3 David McRedmond said: “Attracting Jeff to TV3 is a major coup for the network. Jeff is recognised as one of the most experienced, capable and thoughtful TV executives in the UK.
“Unusually he has worked across all the major UK networks in a variety of roles. Jeff will provide the TV3 management team with an unrivalled depth and breadth of industry experience to build on the brilliant, creative work of Ben Frow.”
Ford paid tribute to TV3’s recent transformation in the original content market, and noted that its new Sony HD Studio Ireland made it an “attractive” company to join. He added: “I can't wait to meet the talented team there and start working alongside them to bring viewers even more great programming which will take TV3 to the next stage in its development.”
Frow is also expected to take up his new position at Channel 5 in February.
