Chambers Leaves Five

Director of programmes at Five, Dan Chambers, is to leave the channel by mutual agreement after five years, with former Flextech executive Lisa Opie appointed as managing director of content.

“Dan has done a good job at Five and has been a wonderful colleague,” said Five’s chief executive, Jane Lighting. “However we now need a creative director with the skills and expertise to run a portfolio of channels.

“I worked with Lisa during my time at Flextech and I know that she has the expertise and ability to take Five into the next phase of its digital strategy and to develop our content strategy across all platforms.”

Five recently launched its video-on-demand service, Five Download, offering new episodes of the current series of CSI:Miami a full week before transmission (see Five Launches VOD Service), whilst its new digital only stations Five Life and Five US (see Five Unveils Biggest Marketing Campaign In Channel’s History) received good viewing figures at their launch.

In June, Opie left Flextech with no role to go to (see Opie Quits Flextech). She had been managing director at the company since April 2003, having previously been director of programming and then executive vice president of Flextech channels since 1999.

As MD, she was responsible for the creative and commercial management of LIVINGtv, LIVINGtv2, Bravo, Trouble, Challenge and Ftn. She was also a director on the board of UKTV and MD of Minotaur International, Flextech’s distribution arm.

“I am delighted to be joining Five during this most exciting period in its history,” said Opie. “Five has fantastic content and a unique position in the market. I’m looking forward to working with the team to build a distinctive digital portfolio.”

The channel’s weekly reach, daily reach and share of viewing have dipped in the past year and September saw revenues fall by 5.5% (see TV Market Round-Up – September 2006).

Five: 020 7550 5555 www.five.tv