Danny Cohen appointed Director for BBC Television

BBC One controller Danny Cohen has been appointed as Director for BBC Television.

Cohen’s appointment – the final addition to new Director General Tony Hall’s senior management team – will see him sit on the BBC’s Executive and Management Boards where he will oversee BBC One, Two, Three and Four, as well as iPlayer and online content for BBC Television.

Cohen became BBC One Controller in 2010 and since then has commissioned programmes such as Call the Midwife, The Voice and The Syndicate.

The news follows the release of the BBC’s iPlayer performance figures for March, which equalled the record breaking figures that the corporation saw in January this year. Similarly, Call the Midwife has seen huge ratings success since it launched in 2012.

Tony Hall names Cohen as the “driving force” behind a successful period in BBC One’s history.

“Key to his success has been an ability to provide viewers with a mixture of high quality programmes they enjoy whilst also introducing them to new subjects they might not have considered before,” said Hall.

“I am looking forward to seeing his impressive mix of creativity and vision being put to great effect across the whole of the BBC Television portfolio.”

Cohen said: “I’m honoured to be taking over as Director of BBC Television. Our ambition is to be the finest broadcaster and producer in the world and our values will be based on talent, creativity, storytelling and innovation.

“I’ve had a wonderful time at BBC One and am grateful for the work of all the talented people who have made the channel the most popular in the UK in recent years.”

Cohen will begin his new role on May 7th and will be paid a total package of £327,800.