“He is one of the most prolific format creators around spanning gameshow, reality and entertainment,” Sarah Dillistone said of Adam Adler, who has been named Creative Director of Channel 4’s in-house production unit, Deadline reported.
Adam Adler Joins Channel 4 In-House Production Unit
Channel 4 has appointed Adam Adler as Creative Director of its nascent in-house production business. Adler will lead the creation of new shows for the unit, which emerged following the UK government’s aborted attempt to sell off the broadcaster.
Adler is best known as the creator of ITV’s The Cube, which ran for 11 seasons and nearly 100 episodes between 2009 and 2021. An American version of the game show aired for three seasons on TBS. His other creation credits include Bar Wars and The Games. He also served as a Channel 4 entertainment commissioner overseeing shows such as Beauty & the Geek, Derren Brown: The Heist, Death Wish: Live, and 8 out of 10 Cats. More recently, he executive produced Channel 4’s upcoming reality series Derren Brown: Incognito. His industry background includes running an independent label named Gameface and holding senior roles at Granada, Objective, Potato, and Endemol.
Dillistone, who was announced as the lead of the in-house unit at the start of the year after relocating from Los Angeles where she made shows like Perfect Match and The Ultimatum, called Adler an “unrivalled creative force.” Adler stated that he wants to help bottle the attitude and originality of Channel 4 and take it out into the world for television and beyond.
Operational Firewall and IP Strategy Under Media Act 2024
Channel 4’s in-house production studio is separated from its traditional commissioning team by a clear operational firewall. The setup is designed to allow the Gogglebox network to forge intellectual property that can be sold around the world, unlocking new revenue streams following the removal of the publisher-broadcaster restriction under the Media Act 2024.
Sarah Dillistone reports directly to Priya Dogra, Chief Executive of Channel 4. While Dillistone oversees the creative and development side of the in-house studio, further appointments to the team are expected soon.
Channel 4 Lays off Half Its Commissioners in Leadership Restructure
The appointment of Adler coincides with a broader structural shakeup across Channel 4 that has resulted in approximately half of its commissioners being laid off. Alisa Pomeroy has been promoted to head of unscripted, expanding her oversight to include documentaries, factual entertainment, reality, entertainment, and specialist factual.
The restructure follows reports that comedy boss Charlie Perkins and entertainment chief Steve Handley are leaving the broadcaster. David Brindley is set to begin his role as the new content boss in January, and a scripted supremo overseeing both drama and comedy is expected to be appointed in the coming months.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Channel 4 Restructure
Who does Adam Adler report to at Channel 4?
Adam Adler reports directly to Sarah Dillistone, who leads Channel 4’s in-house production business. Dillistone herself reports to Priya Dogra, Chief Executive of Channel 4.
How is the in-house production unit separated from the rest of Channel 4?
The new ideas studio is separated from Channel 4’s traditional commissioning team by a clear operational firewall to govern intellectual property creation and global sales.
What are some of Adam Adler’s notable television credits?
Adler created ITV’s game show The Cube, which ran for 11 seasons, and co-created reality formats like Bar Wars and The Games. He also executive produced the upcoming Channel 4 reality series Derren Brown: Incognito.
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