Andrew Solomon to fill Walter Köhler’s shoes as Universum boss

Andrew Solomon has been tapped as Walter Köhler’s replacement as head of Universum, the influential factual TV department of Austrian public broadcaster ORF. Solomon was previously executive producer at Canal+’s international documentary arm Docstar.

He said: “I look forward to the opportunity to further Universum’s exceptional reputation within Austria and internationally as a commissioner, producer and coproducer of the highest quality nature and science documentaries. With my new team we will continue to broaden our appeal abroad and surprise and entertain our audience in Austria.”

Solomon needed a new team after Köhler took most of the Universum staff with him late last year when he left the company. They are now running Terra Mater Factual Studios, a new factual production unit owned by Red Bull Media.

Solomon’s previous experience includes a stint as director of Studio Hamburg Documentaries, a subsidiary of German broadcaster NDR and serving as a consultant to ZDF Enterprises, the commercial arm of the German public broadcaster, While at Docstar he worked with Universum after the two inked a ten-film output deal.