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BBC3’s Bennett joins Sky

Zai Bennett, controller of soon-to-be online-only youth channel BBC3, is leaving the UK pubcaster to take up a new role as director of Sky Atlantic.

Zai Bennett

Zai Bennett

Bennett’s departure comes after the BBC announced controversial plans earlier this year to close BBC3 as a broadcast channel in autumn 2015 and replace it with a new online service.

If approved by the BBC Trust, the proposal to move BBC3 online will save over £50 million (US$84m) a year.

The exec leaves BBC3 with the channel currently enjoying the biggest share of 16-34 market in the UK, beating other youth-skewing networks such as E4 in its transmission hours.

His commissions include The Revolution Will Be Televised, The Call Centre, Life And Death Row, Tough Young Teachers and comedies Bad Education and Cuckoo.

Prior to joining BBC3 in 2011, Bennett was director of digital channels and acquisitions at UK broadcaster ITV.

Julia Barry has been serving as interim channel director of pay-TV channel Sky Atlantic, home to HBO series such as Game of Thrones and Veep, since November last year.

She has been filling in for Elaine Pyke, who left to join New Pictures, the fledgling drama shingle being set up by former Company Pictures founder Charlie Pattinson, in September.

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