PinkTV names channel head

With launch now slated for October, France’s upcoming gay channel PinkTV has named Caroline Comte as its programming head and channel director.

Comte is leaving Universal’s French channel 13ème rue to take up the new role at PinkTV. She joined 13ème rue when the network first went to air back in 1997 and held the position of artistic director. Prior to this she worked as a producer before moving to cable service Paris Première.

PinkTV has been the subject of much industry speculation in France, where many believed the channel might not see the light of day. The launch has been put back several times since the network’s president Pascal Houzelot was granted a broadcast licence back in April 2003.

Now that issues concerning the transmission of porn have been settled by providing double encryption, the pink-hued generalist channel will now go to air via cable, satellite and ADSL on October 25.

Comte’s departure from 13ème rue is the second blow to the station’s executive line-up in recent weeks. At the start of this month, Sebastien Meyssan stepped down from his role as marketing and communications director to become the country manager for the Discovery Channel in France.