ITN PRODUCTIONS APPOINTS IAN RUELL AS HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMES

ITN PRODUCTIONS APPOINTS IAN RUSSELL AS HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMESFormer Channel 5 Commissioning Editor and Cineflix Executive Ian Russell has joined ITN Productions as Head of International Programmes.

As a producer and commissioner with 20 years' experience, Ian joins ITN in this newly created role to spearhead international growth and production. His immediate focus is on developing ITN Productions' programme ideas and existing formats for the US and other markets. These programmes will span the genres that ITN Productions is renowned for in current affairs, topical programming, documentaries, crime and entertainment. Ian's work will build on the steps that ITN Productions has already taken in the international market with multi-territory commissions for Discovery Networks International, advertiser funded programming for international broadcasters and work with distributors such as Cineflix and DRG.

Ian will join fellow broadcast executives Emma Read and Ian Rumsey in reporting in to ITN Productions Editorial Director Chris Shaw.

Ian started his TV career in 1994 at Rapido Television where he worked on international programmes such as Eurotrash. Moving to Channel 5 in 2002, Ian commissioned factual and post-watershed programmes including True CSI and Victoria Cross Heroes. In this role, Ian worked with international broadcasters to develop many shows as co-productions.

He joined Cineflix as Director of Co-productions in 2009 where he pitched and secured funding for international programmes such as Air Aces/Heroes of the Skies a high budget co-production between Discovery Military US / Channel 5 / National Geographic Channels / History Canada. Other international Executive Producer credits include Campus P.D. which ran for 46 episodes on US youth network G4, Salvage Hunters (Discovery Networks International) and Casino Confidential (TVtropolis Canada / TLC US).

More recently Ian has been an Executive Producer on global adventure series Car vs Wild (Discovery Networks International) at Dragonfly Productions and been Head of Development at Barcroft Productions, where he Executive Produced Amanda Knox Trial: 5 Key Questions for Channel 5 and developed a number of a number of single programmes commissioned by TLC International and Channel 5.

Ian's international pedigree makes him the ideal person to spearhead our concerted push into the US and other markets, said Mark Browning, Managing Director of ITN Productions. His vast experience in production, commissioning and securing funding for great programmes will add real firepower to ITN's international offering.

Ian Russell said, ITN Productions has established itself as a premiere provider of multiple genres of topical content. Taking existing programmes and new formats from this burgeoning production business to the international market is an exciting and tantalising prospect.

Ian Russell and Emma Read will attend the Realscreen Summit in Washington D.C. on January 26th-29th 2014 on behalf of ITN Productions.

LINK:	http://corporate.itn.co.uk/press.php?parent_id=13&content_id=1396...
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