MUMBAI: UK pubcaster The BBC has announced that BBC One controller, Danny Cohen has been appointed as BBC Television director.

Cohen?s appointment follows an open recruitment process and is the final addition to new director-General Tony Hall?s senior management team.

He will sit on the BBC?s executive and management boards and will oversee the BBC?s four main channels, BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC Four alongside BBC iPlayer and online content for BBC Television. He also oversees the drama, entertainment, knowledge and comedy genres as well as BBC Films. In addition, he will be responsible for the BBC Television archive and BBC Productions, Europe?s largest television production group.

Hall said, "Danny Cohen has been the driving force behind an extremely successful period in BBC One?s history. Key to his success has been an ability to provide viewers with a mixture of high quality programmes they enjoy whilst also introducing them to new subjects they might not have considered before. I am looking forward to seeing his impressive mix of creativity and vision being put to great effect across the whole of the BBC Television portfolio."

Cohen said, "I?m honoured to be taking over as director of BBC Television. Our ambition is to be the finest broadcaster and producer in the world and our values will be based on talent, creativity, storytelling and innovation. I?ve had a wonderful time at BBC One and am grateful for the work of all the talented people who have made the channel the most popular in the UK in recent years."

Cohen begins his new role on 7 May. He will be paid a total package of GBP 327,800.