Courtney Gibson, ABC TV Executive Head of Content Creation has resigned after six years with the network. She will take up the role of Director of Programmes at Southern Star Entertainment after leaving the ABC in October.
Kim Dalton, Director of ABC TV said “I am sad to see Courtney leave ABC TV. Courtney has made a significant contribution to Australian content output during her time here. In recognition of that, her role expanded during the six years from Head of Entertainment to the Executive Head of Content Creation in 2007.
“Courtney has that rare ability – she has a real eye for talent and loves to take a risk. She has an insatiable appetite for hard work and lives for television.
“I know she will continue to make a great contribution to Australia television in her new position and we wish her well,” he said.
Courtney Gibson said "It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to work at the ABC for the past six years, with some of Australia’s most artful and adventurous writers, producers and performers.
“But after more than 10 years commissioning programs for our public broadcasters, it’s time to cross back over to the other side of the equation to be a maker of shows and content, for a variety of networks and audiences. I’m sad to be leaving my great friends and creative collaborators at the ABC, but really looking forward to the challenges ahead.”
Courtney joined ABC TV as Head of Entertainment in April 2003, and her portfolio was expanded to include Arts later that year. In 2006 it was expanded again to include Comedy.
She commissioned comedy for the network including The Chaser’s War on Everything, Summer Heights High, We Can Be Heroes and Double the Fist; entertainment shows including Spicks & Specks, The New Inventors, The Einstein Factor, Strictly Dancing and Triple J TV; along with arts programming including The First Tuesday Book Club, The Art Life, Not Quite Art and The Eternity Man.
Since October 2007, she has been Executive Head of Content Creation, leading the team of genre heads who develop and commission all the Australian programs for ABC1 and ABC2 – outside of News and Current Affairs and Children’s – as well as all the Australian online content.
Prior to joining ABC TV, Courtney had spent four years at SBS, commissioning documentaries and also worked as a freelance producer of talks, entertainment and comedy programs in Australia and the UK.