Channel 4 Loses Online Video Exec Joel Stark

Joel Stark

Channel 4 is losing one of its key on-demand executives: Joel Stark, who has been the broadcaster’s head of business development, is planning to leave the company to join his family’s business in the energy sector, Channel 4 has confirmed to paidContent:UK.

Stark has been with Channel 4 since April 2008; before that he was a business development executive at Virgin Media (NSDQ: VMED), overseeing VOD strategy among his remit.

Channel 4, like other broadcasters, has been extending its footprint through third-party syndication deals, and Stark is credited with playing a big role here. Channel 4 says he led negotiations for Channel 4 when it joined Project Canvas in December.

He also helped secure deals to put 4oD long-form content on the recently-launched SeeSaw, as well as YouTube and Virgin Media. And he helped move 4OD content onto mobile, in a deal with Orange in the UK.

The broadcaster in January announced a new chief executive, David Abraham.

Channel 4 has not yet announced a replacement for Stark.

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