BBC Studios has hired BBC4 channel editor Cassian Harrison on a nine-month attachment, as SVP Commissioning and Content Global Services.
The new role combines editorial and strategic development around BBC Studios’ international ‘consumer facing outlets’ including BBC Earth, BBC Brit and BBC First.
Harrison will work on the creation and distribution of original programming for digital services that BBC Studios owns and operates around the world. He will report into Paul Dempsey’s Global Distribution Division.
Tim Davie, CEO, BBC Studios said, “Cassian’s extensive experience and excellent track record in creating and commissioning great British television will help supercharge our offering to international viewers as we look to take the premium, original content for which the BBC is world renowned, to an even wider global audience.”
Charlotte Moore, Director, BBC Content said, “Cassian is an original thinker with an insatiable curiosity and creative edge. Under his leadership, BBC Four has flourished and achieved continued success. He has championed a range of brilliantly innovative programmes from Slow TV to The Secret Life of Landfill and British History’s Biggest Fibs to the award winning Bros documentary and Life Drawing live. His broad range of interests and eclectic taste make him perfectly placed to take on this new global role and I would like to wish him all the best.”
Cassian Harrison said, “I’m hugely looking forward to helping BBC Studios shape our offer to global audiences. I’m tremendously proud of BBC4’s continuing success, and it’ll be brilliant to be bringing the BBC’s distinctive voices and unrivalled quality to viewers around the world in similarly original and innovative ways. I can’t wait to jump in and start working with such a talented Studios team.”
Harrison will begin his new role in this month. He is currently Channel Editor of BBC4. Prior to this Harrison spent five years as Commissioning Editor for Science, Natural History and History across BBC One, Two and Four. And prior to that he spent 15 years in the independent sector, working as a Director, Producer and Executive Producer across a variety of genres including history, documentary and current affairs. His programmes have won multiple awards including a Bafta, three Emmys and five RTS awards.
BBC Studios runs a number of linear and digital services around the world including the international channel brands BBC Earth, BBC Brit and BBC First and a digital service, BBC Player, in Singapore and Malaysia.
Jon Creamer
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