Jonathan Newman becomes UKTV’s Chief Commercial Officer

Newman, who recently helped secure a deal with Channel 4 for UKTV’s U service to be carried on Channel 4 Streaming, was previously General Manager of Commercial at UKTV and BBC Studios UK/Ireland. Newman will reportedly continue to lead commercial strategy and growth initiatives across the UK region, while retaining responsibility for selected BBC Studios portfolios, including BBC SER distribution in Ireland.

In his expanded remit, Newman will now oversee the full breadth of UKTV’s commercial activity, adding in everything from advertising to distribution, content funding, and UKTV Ventures. He also leads on the UK region’s routes to market strategy in partnership with BBC Studios and BBC Public Service. As a member of UKTV’s Executive Leadership Team, he is responsible for shaping and delivering commercial strategy, managing key industry partnerships, and driving long-term value creation across the business.

As part of the evolution of UKTV’s commercial function, Swetman will also join the business on 7 April 2026 and report to Newman. In the newly created, he will lead the newly structured Content Partnerships and Sales (CPS) team, with responsibility for UKTV’s content funding strategy combined with optimising and delivering on the BBC Group’s UK routes to market approach. Working closely with BBC Studios Global Content, Swetman will align commercial and editorial priorities, shape content investment decisions across UKTV and BBC Studios, lead key negotiations, and build strategic industry partnerships. He will also head the CPS team to drive greater cross-group collaboration and deliver on commercial objectives.

Swetman joins from All3Media International, where he is currently Senior Vice President (SVP) of Content and Commercial Strategy. In this role, he led the team responsible for identifying the scripted content pipeline and managing relationships and commercial negotiations with production companies. Since joining in 2011, Swetman has built experience supporting producers across development and production, with a particular focus on financing series through the international market.

Newman commented: “I’m delighted to step into the role of Chief Commercial Officer at a time when UKTV and BBC Studios are deepening their commercial collaboration and sharpening their focus on growth. David’s appointment is a key part of that ambition. His expertise across content investment, funding, and distribution will be invaluable as we expand our partnerships and unlock new commercial opportunities.”

Swetman added: “I’m thrilled to be joining UKTV and BBC Studios at such a pivotal time. The strength of the portfolio, combined with the opportunity to bring together content investment, partnerships, and routes to market, creates a compelling platform for growth. I’m looking forward to working with Jonathan and the team to build on this momentum.”

Sam Tewungwa, recently appointed CEO of UKTV, added: “Jonathan’s appointment as Chief Commercial Officer reflects both his strong track record and the critical role commercial strategy will play in UKTV’s next phase of growth. We’re equally pleased to welcome David, whose deep expertise in content strategy and partnerships will further strengthen our capabilities as we continue to invest in content and expand our reach.”

Richard Watsham, Chief Creative Officer at UKTV and Global Director of Acquisitions for BBC Studios/UKTV, is stepping down from his roles in September after a 14-year tenure in the business. Discover more here.