Dawn Airey To Join Five In October

Dawn Airey is to take up her role as chief executive of Five in October, six months earlier than previously thought.

Airey left her role as managing director of ITV’s global content division in April, having been with the broadcaster for just eight months (see Dawn Airey Leaves ITV For RTL).

Gerhard Zeiler, chief executive of RTL Group, owner of Five, made the announcement today as the group unveiled its niterim results for the first half of the year.

RTL reported a 2.5% drop in operating profits for the six months to the end of June, along with a 2.5% year-on-year drop in earnings before interest, tax and amortisation, to €502 million (£398 million).

Five saw its first half income fall by 12.4% to €212 million, although RTL said that this was due to the strength of the Euro against the pound.

Five’s share of the ad market fell 1% in the first half of the year, said RTL, while the audience share across Five, Fiver and Five US grew to 6.4% from 6.3%.

Speaking at the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival, director of programmes Ben Gale, revealed that the Five could launch a children’s channel based on its Milkshake pre-school programmes (see NewsLine).

Five: 020 7550 5555 www.five.tv