ABC taps new head of kids TV

Former ABC Kids programmer Deirdre Brennan is returning to the Australian public broadcaster as controller of children’s TV.

Deirdre Brennan

Brennan, who starts her new job in the New Year, is currently director of content, Australia and New Zealand, for BBC Worldwide (BBCWW).

She joined BBCWW as director of television in 2010, managing production, programming, acquisitions, on-air promotions and presentation for the local portfolio of channels including UKTV, UKTV NZ, BBC Knowledge, BBC Knowledge NZ and CBeebies.

At the ABC, she will take over from Tim Brooke-Hunt who announced in June he would step down in September after six years with the broadcaster.

Barbara Uecker, currently head of programming and acquisitions at ABC children’s TV, will be acting controller until Brennan is released by BBCWW. Brennan joined the BBC from Nickelodeon Australia, where she was director of programming from 2007 to 2010.