Channel 4’s Director Of Television To Step Down
Channel 4’s director of television, Tim Gardam, has announced his intention to step down at the end of the year.
Gardam joined Channel 4 five years ago and was promoted from director of programmes to director of television last October after chief executive, Mark Thompson, cut almost 200 jobs in what he described as the most radical restructure in the broadcaster’s 20 year history (see Channel 4 Announces Most Radical Restructure In 20 Years).
Commenting on his departure, Gardam said: “My decision is partly for personal reasons. I am announcing it now because I want to ensure there is a smooth succession. And it leaves me free to consider various options without it causing uncertainty here.”
Channel 4 chief executive, Mark Thompson, added: “Tim warned me sometime ago that he was unlikely to stay beyond 2003. Although I understand and respect his reasons for going, I and all his colleagues will still miss the integrity he has brought to Channel 4. He is an enormous creative force and will be a big loss.”
During his time at Channel 4, Gardam has been responsible for a number of ratings successes, including the launch of Big Brother in 2000, Faking It and V Graham Norton. However, he has also faced accusations that the station has been dumbing down with a growing number of reality TV programmes during his tenure.
Gardam began his career at the BBC, where he worked alongside Mark Thompson and edited programmes such as Newsnight and Panorama. After spending twenty years at the Corporation he left for a brief stint at Five, where he was the station’s first controller of news, documentaries and current affairs, before joining Channel 4 in 1998.
Channel 4 recently announced plans to increase its programming budget for the coming year by an additional £9 million to £439 million, the highest annual budget in the channel’s history. Gardam, claimed the increase will allow for an “even richer” autumn schedule (see Channel 4 Boosts Programming Budget To Record High).
Channel Four: 020 7396 4444 www.channel4.co.uk
Recent Television Stories from NewsLine BBC Satellite Service Will Transform Digital Broadcasting Five Renews Conditional Access Deal With Sky Freeview Convinces Sceptics To Join Digital Revolution
Subscribers can access ten years of NewsLine articles by clicking the Search button to the left