24/09/2002 - The head of Channel 5 snubs multi-million offer from ITV to manage BSkyB' film and entertainment channels

Channel 5’s Chief Executive, Dawn Airey is to replace Elisabeth Murdoch at the much sought-after post of Managing Director for Sky Networks. Airey’s new job will start early in 2003.
She will be responsible for overseeing 11 movie channels, three music channels and the soon-to-be-launched entertainment channels on the BBC-run digital terrestrial platform which is owned by Sky.
The appointment came as a shock to the UK media community as independent TV channel, ITV, recently offered Airey a multimillion-pound job as their Director of Channels. While Airey’s decision to go to Sky may represent a set-back for ITV (who are now reported to have set their sights on media mogul, Michael Grade instead), this is not a view shared by Airey’s current employer, Channel 5. That company is owned by the Luxembourg-based RTL Group, who see Airey’s future key role at BSkyB as an opportunity to get Rupert Murdoch’s satellite TV on board. BSkyB is widely expected to bid for Channel 5 when media ownership restrictions in the UK are lifted next year.