Jackson quits Channel 4

UK terrestrial Channel 4's ceo Michael Jackson has been poached by USA Entertainment Group, where he'll fill the posts of president and ceo.

Jackson is expected to inform Channel 4 board members today. He was unavailable for comment.

At USA Entertainment, Jackson will run a bouquet of cable channels, including USA Network and The Sci-Fi Channel. He will report to Barry Diller, ceo of USA Entertainment's parent USA Networks.

Under Jackson's wing will be the TV production division Studio USA, and the film studio USA Films (Traffic, Being John Malkovich, Nurse Betty).

Jackson joined Channel 4 in 1997, and ushered in an era of {modern mainstream{ programming, rather than relying on the publicly-owned channel's tradition of minority interest shows. However, critics have said that Jackson's approach has forced serious factual and experimental shows out of the schedule, in favour of commercially-successful entertainment – arguably against the channel's remit to be alternative.

Likely candidates to replace Jackson include Channel 5's ceo Dawn Airey, Endemol UK's creative director Peter Bazalgette (who recently joined the Channel 4 board as a non-exec director), Channel 4's director of programmes Tim Gardam, ex-ITV ceo Richard Eyre, ITV's head of programmes David Liddiment, and BBC director of TV Mark Thompson.