ITV Appoints Head Of American Programming

ITV has appointed Rick Mitz as senior vice president, American programming for ITV Channels.

In this new role Mitz will be working as part of director of acquisitions, Jay Kandola’s team to bring the best of US acquired programming to ITV’s portfolio of channels.

Mitz, who is based in Los Angeles, has spent the last 13 years as US Consultant for Channel 4. Some of the shows acquired during Mitz’s tenure there include ER, Friends, Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives, and My Name is Earl.

Speaking of his new role, Mitz said: “I am very excited about the challenge of helping ITV enhance their current crop of American programmes and to help increase their American profile both in the US and the UK.

“I’ve been very happy at Channel 4, where I have been working since the ‘pioneer days’ when the Channel had very few American programmes, and it’s been exciting to help Channel 4 grow. Now I hope to do the same for ITV.”

Prior to joining Channel 4, Mitz was a television writer with a string of credits including series for ABC and the Emmy-winning The Lot.

Simon Shaps, director of television at ITV, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have Rick joining our acquisitions team. Acquired programming plays an increasingly important role across ITV’s family of channels and what we have in Rick is not just someone with great contacts but someone who understands the creative workings of Hollywood and knows what makes a quality programme.”

Jay Kandola, Director of Acquisitions, said: “I’m thrilled that Rick Mitz is joining my team, he is as rare as the shows that he has helped Channel 4 acquire over the years.”

On Wednesday, Michael Grade, ITV’s executive chairman, bemoaned the broadcaster’s lack of innovation as it announced a decline in full-year pre-tax profits from £311 million to £288 million (see Grade Says ITV Lacks Innovation As Profits Decline).

ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com