Jeff Ford quits Channel 5; Kellogg's sponsor peak-time films
TV industry veteran Jeff Ford is quitting his post as head of programmes at broadcaster Channel 5. But he has already confirmed that he is not planning on leaving the TV industry.
Ford took on his current role after the channel was acquired by press baron Richard Desmond in 2010. Since then, he is best known for having brought Big Brother back to life in the UK.
Ford’s relationship with Channel 5 stretches back more than a decade though he did have a short spell at Channel 4. His career saw him progress via programme acquisitions and digital channels before Desmond awarded him the top programming job in 2010.
As yet there is no news on a successor for Ford, though the advertising community is hoping Desmond will go for an exec with a proven track record rather than a relative unknown.
In a statement, Ford said: "I have really enjoyed my time as director of programmes at Channel 5. Since the acquisition of the channel by Northern & Shell in 2010, Channel 5 has once again found its voice. I am leaving the brand in a far better place with programmes that viewers talk about and truly engage with. I am proud that we are the only commercial family of channels to have grown our audience share year-on-year and that we have also increased audiences for the main channel across 16 to 34s and ABC1s."
In a separate Channel 5 development, Kellogg’s owned snack brand Pringles is now sponsoring peak-time films on C5’s network of channels. Pringles is using the sponsorship to drive awareness lesser known flavours like Prawn Cocktail and Thai Sweet Chilli.
Caroline Pathy, Pringles marketing manager at Kellogg’s, said: "We wanted to find a medium where consumers would be receptive to our flavour message. Sponsorship of movies is not only relevant as a snacking occasion for all the family but it provided us with rich territory to talk about the different Pringles flavours."
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