Deirdre Brennan, one of the television industry’s most experienced and respected executives, has today been appointed ABC’s Controller Children’s TV. Brennan will take up her new role in the new year.
Her extensive television career has included roles at MTV Networks and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. She joined BBC Worldwide from Nickelodeon Australia, where she was Director of Programming from 2007 to 2010.
She is currently Director of Content Australia and New Zealand for BBC Worldwide which she joined in 2010 as Director of Television, managing production, programming, acquisitions, on-air promotions and presentation for the local portfolio of channels.
As General Manager/Director of Channels and Branded Services Australasia from January 2012, Brennan was responsible for the ongoing performance and development of the linear channel portfolio – UKTV, UKTV NZ, BBC Knowledge, BBC Knowledge NZ and CBeebies – as well as managing local operations for BBC World News and branded non-linear services in the market, including Global iPlayer. In this role, she successfully secured Jane Campion’s critically acclaimed Top of The Lake for UKTV as co-production partner with BBC Two and Sundance.
‘My three years experience at BBC Worldwide has been invaluable, but I am excited about the opportunity to return to ABC TV as Controller Children’s, an area of content that I hold a deep passion for. The ABC has an incredible connection with Australian children and families and I am thrilled to engage with this audience once again.’
Brennan was last at the ABC in 2007 as ABC Kids’ programmer, and during her six year tenure, ABC Kids established itself as the number one destination for Australian families, a position it enjoys to this day.
“I’m delighted to welcome Deirdre back to the ABC,” says Richard Finlayson, Director ABC TV. “Her achievements and standing in Australia and internationally are exceptional and she will undoubtedly make an important contribution to the development of our children’s brands.”