BBC Worldwide hires Syfy programming chief

BBC Worldwide Channels, the international channels arm of the British commercial broadcaster, has hired SyFy programming boss Jon Farrar, as vice-president, programming, EMEA.

This comes a few days after the announcement that senior vice-president and general manager, BBC Worldwide Channels, EMEA Dean Possenniskie was leaving the company to join AETN International. Farrar, who will start in August,  will be responsible for the programming strategy at the BBC’s portfolio of channels including BBC Entertainment, BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle, CBeebies and BBC HD.

Farrar, who was previously programming director for Universal Networks International in the UK and Northern Europe, has been in charge of The Hallmark Channel and Diva TV. He made his name by acquiring the pay-TV rights to sci fi hit Heroes for SyFy (then known as the Sci Fi Channel) in 2006.