SALMON APPOINTED AS BBC DIRECTOR OF SPORT

THE BBC have appointed Peter Salmon as their first Director of Sport.
Salmon will be a member of the BBC’s new Executive Committee, this is the first time that sport has been represented at this level in the BBC.
Salmon will head the new BBC Sport division, created last April as part of the BBC’s overall restructuring. The new appointment fills the final post on the Executive Committee, promoting BBC Sport to the heart of the BBC’s decision making.
Director General Greg Dyke said: “Peter told Mark Thompson, BBC Director of Television, and I some months ago that he didn’t want to continue as Controller of BBC One beyond this autumn. It so happened that we were looking for a new Director of Sport and Peter seemed an obvious choice.”
Expected to take up his new appointment at the start of November, Salmon will be responsible for ‘integrated commissioning and programme-making to with the aim of creating a single face for BBC Sport on television, radio and online’.
Salmon said: “Dynamic creativity is at the heart of programme making, and sport is no exception. I am keen to encourage new ideas, explore emerging technologies and connect BBC Sport to all parts of Britain and the world.”
Salmon who has been controller of BBC One for the past three years was responsible for programmes including ‘Walking with Dinosaurs’, ‘Clocking Off’ and ‘The Royle Family’.