FIC preps first UK free-to-air net

Fox International Channels is launching its first free-to-air channel in the UK, and has made a series of executive appointments at its global sales arm.

YourTV will launch on October 1, airing factual and lifestyle content aimed at a female audience from 07.00 to 03.00 daily.

FIC already operates Fox, National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild and Baby TV on the country’s main pay TV platforms but this is the firm’s first move into the UK FTA market.

The schedule will be structured to the time of day with cookery programming at lunchtime, character-driven stories in the afternoon and shocking real-life stories in the evenings.

Scripted content acquired includes US legal drama Shark, while the station has also picked up the repeat rights to the BBC’s Don’t Tell The Bride.

In other news, FIC Content Sales has expanded its team with appointments in Australia, Singapore, Turkey and the UK.

Julius Toh is taking the newly created senior role of VP of content sales for Asia Pacific based in Singapore. He has held senior positions with Mediacorp and Asia City Media Group during a 16-year career in sales, marketing and communications.

Annette Kollek, once of BBC Worldwide sales, is the new director of content sales for Australia New Zealand.

Melis Hamamcioğlu has been appointed director of content sales for Turkey, Middle East and North Africa and will be based in Istanbul

They will all join the global sales team lead by Prentiss Fraser, senior VP and global head of content sales based in the UK.

Separately, Rachel Lane joins the FIC Content Sales team in the UK as director of marketing, reporting to Connie Hodson, VP of content and marketing.