TV4 installs new acquisitions boss

Swedish broadcaster TV4 has appointed a new head of acquisitions and formats following a restructure that will bring the two departments together.

Cathrine Wiernik, currently head of formats and development, will take on the new role as part of a reorganisation of the commercial broadcaster’s content department.

As part of the plans the existing director of acquisitions position at TV4 will disappear and the present incumbent, Clara Scherman, has been offered an undisclosed new position within the group.

The channel said in a statement today that the integration is designed to increase flexibility between local Swedish production, multi-platform content, international acquisitions and drama.

Wiernik will report to Åsa Sjöberg, TV4 group director of programmes, when she starts her new role on July 1.

Wiernik said: “In a digitalized and rapidly changing media world flexibility and interaction between acquisitions and local productions is becoming ever more important, regardless of platform.

“Having previously relied on international output deals, we will now need to work more closely with both national and international production companies and producers, so that we continue to secure the best and most locally relevant content.”

TV4 recently rejected claims it plans to move operations abroad in a bid to avoid the threat of politicians slashing its hourly advertising allowance.