The chief executive of RTL, Europe’s biggest commercial broadcaster, has quit to take charge of the telecoms operator Belgacom.
The departure of Didier Bellens throws into doubt the future direction of RTL which has a 65% stake in Channel 5 and interests across the continent. Bellens is credited with guiding the company relatively unscathed through the debilitating advertising recession but a deteriorating relationship with the management at Bertelsmann is believed to have contributed to his decision.
RTL admitted last month that there was no sign of a recovery in market conditions (see No ‘Sustained Recovery’ In European Broadcasting Markets, Says RTL) and the company may listen to offers for Channel 5 when UK media ownership rules are relaxed in the forthcoming Communications Bill.
Bellens had pledged to build the station up as a rival to ITV (see RTL Remains Alive To Five) but it remains to be seen whether his replacement will keep to this commitment. Jane Lighting was recently appointed chief executive of Channel 5 in succession to Dawn Airey (see Channel Five Names Lighting As New Chief Executive).
