SRF seeks new kids boss

Swiss pubcaster SRF has appointed an interim head of children’s after its previous kids boss left to join the organiser of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Thomas Grond

SRF is currently searching for a replacement for Thomas Grond, who joined the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) this summer as manager of young audiences.

In the meantime, Zurich-based SRF has appointed Christian Messerli, a veteran of the pubcaster for almost 20 years, as interim head of children’s programming.

Grond, who joined SRF in 2009, was spearheading the company’s ambitious plans to move all its kids’ content from linear TV to VoD online.

The exec has previously told C21 that he believed the German-speaking part of Switzerland in which the pubcaster airs will have completely moved away from traditional linear television to online viewing by 2017.

As well as organising the annual international song competition, Geneva-based EBU works to defend the interests of public service media and spread industry knowledge and expertise.

It has members in 56 countries in Europe and is currently gearing up for this year’s Eurovision Creative Forum in Berlin, held between September 14 and 16.