UK producer-broadcaster ITV has proposed changes to its programming team that include a restructuring within children’s channel CITV.
Under the anticipated changes, the position of CITV programming head—currently held by Jamila Metran (pictured)—will be eliminated, leaving the commissioning and acquisition of children’s programming to be carried out by existing genre teams.
The move will bring CITV in line with ITV’s other digital channels, including ITV2, ITVBe and ITV4, which do not have programming heads. The commissioning for all digital channels is currently carried out by relevant genre commissioning groups.
These channels, CITV included, are to be led as a portfolio by ITV’s head of digital channels and acquisitions, Paul Mortimer, who is replacing Rosemary Newell as she makes the move to programming strategy director early next year following the departure of David Bergg. Bergg’s exit, announced today, comes after nearly two decades of him serving as director of program strategy.
While the majority of CITV programming is acquired, the broadcaster will continue to commission original content like Bear Grylls Survival School, Scrambled and Thunderbirds Are Go!
Since helping to launch CITV in 2006, Metran has worked on shows such as Horrid Henry, Fort Boyard: Ultimate Challenge, My Phone Genie and Bookaboo. ITV would not confirm whether or not she was exiting the broadcaster entirely after these programming changes are put into effect.