TV4 names programmes chief

Swedish broadcaster TV4 has promoted one of its high-ranking executives to director of programmes for acquisitions and formats, local production and drama.

Cathrine Wiernik

Cathrine Wiernik, who takes up the role vacated by Åsa Sjöberg last year when she became director of content, has been head of acquisitions and formats since June, and before that was head of formats and development and worked as exec producer across all genres.

Wiernik was upped last year as part of TV4’s plans to focus on digital, amid changes that brought its acquisitions and formats divisions together to increase flexibility between local Swedish production, multi-platform content, international acquisitions and drama.

Wiernik, who will continue to report to Sjöberg, said: “Mobilising even more extensively around digital, and optimising our rights across all platforms and windows, are crucial for us to continue to be able to offer the best and most relevant content to our viewers and users.

“We will look at how we can find synergies, specifically between drama, programmes and acquisitions, as well as generally within the group, with the aim of being able to work more effectively with our programmes, as well as generate must-see content in the digital world.”

She will take up the post immediately, with acquisitions exec Maria Lidén taking temporary charge of free-to-air programming and Bo Thörnwall having acting responsibility for pay tv programming.

Both will report to Wiernik, while Jakob Hansson will take over as acting head of commissioning for the local production department when Maria Mowbray leaves after 20 years at TV4 at the end of February.