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ABC’s Alan Erson joins Essential Media as Head of Factual

Press release from Essential Media & Entertainment

Independent production company Essential Media and Entertainment is pleased to announce the appointment of Alan Erson as General Manager Australia and Head of Factual. This key appointment furtherstrengthens Essential Media's commitment to factual program making in Australia.

Alan Erson will oversee factual development and production for all Australian broadcasters.Chris Hilton, CEO and previous Head of Factual in Australia, will continue to lead Essential. He will executive produce individual factual projects and focus on building up Essential's new Toronto and Los Angeles offices.

Alan will join Sydney-based Essential Media in July 2012 from ABC TV where he has spent the past five years in factual programming in the role of Head of Documentaries and previously as Commissioning Editor for Science, History and Natural History. He has overseen more than 200 hours of television including The PM is Missing, Wide Open Road, Contact, Penguin Island, How Kevin Bacon Cured Cancer, Voyage to the Planets, Surviving Mumbai and The Making of Modern Australia. Prior to joining ABC, he worked as an independent producer with major networks worldwide including Discovery, National Geographic, BBC and CBC Canada.

Chris Hilton, CEO of Essential Media said: "Alan brings a wealth of experience and proven success in delivering both television and multi-media content. He will be a great asset in this newly created role at Essential.”

Alan Erson added: “I’m looking forward to being part of Essential’s innovative team – and to taking up the challenges of independent production in this time of great change.”

Recent Essential Media programs to screen in Australia include the landmark natural history series Australia: The Time Traveller's Guide and docudrama Australia On Trial. Productions to air later this year include Jack Irish – a two-part crime drama starring Guy Pearce, a second series of the highly acclaimed Rake starring Richard Roxburgh, TheGrammar of Happiness, the adventure survival series Do orDie, Dingo: Wild Dog at War and a third season of the SBS hit food series Gourmet Farmer.