Crozier Could Poach Chief From Channel 4

The Guardian has reported that Channel 4's director of television and content Kevin Lygo has held talks with ITV regarding a job with the broadcaster.

The newspaper has reported that Lygo met ITV chairman Archie Norman and chief executive Adam Crozier to discuss the possibility of the Channel 4 director looking at new media jobs with the rival station.

Lorraine Heggessey, chief executive of the RTL-owned independent producer Talkback Thames, has also been reportedly linked with ITV as Norman and Crozier try to revitalise the broadcaster.

No official job offer has been extended to Lygo and it remains unclear what the appointment of a new creative leader would mean for Lee Bartlett, the current managing director of ITV Studios.

Lygo, previously Channel 4's head of entertainment, has been at the station since 2003, having rejoined after a two-year stint at Channel Five.

Crozier has approached Lygo as he recently lost out on the Channel 4 chief executive job to head of UKTV David Abraham, according to the Guardian.

Crozier told ITV staff in an email: "The strategy review is well underway and I have been involved behind the scenes with the process.

"Both Archie and I have had a huge response from many of you and we have been really encouraged to see that the need for change is recognised and supported with some really creative ideas."

Crozier may be planning a shock takeover of Channel Five in a bid to increase ITV's advertisement revenue, according to the Times.

Channel Five and ITV have previously held negotiations over establishing greater links between the two broadcasters, however nothing has materialised to date.

Should ITV complete a takeover of Channel Five it would gain an additional eight per cent of the UK advertising market and also cut operating costs by around 100m.

Any possible deal is likely to face intense scrutiny from the Competition Commission as the new ITV group would control over half the television advertising market, which is expected to grow by ten per cent year-on-year in 2010.

In other new media jobs news, Guardian Media Group announced that it has appointed Andrew Miller, chief financial officer, as its interim chief executive.

Miller will take over from Carolyn McCall who is joining easyJet as chief executive after 24 years with the company.

by: Martin Hofschroer

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