ABC commissioner joins BBC

Mandy Chang is leaving Australia’s ABC for another pubcaster, the UK’s BBC.

Chang was head of arts and acting head of non-scripted TV at the ABC, but is exiting to become commissioning editor of BBC documentary strand Storyville.

Nick Fraser previous held the role for 17 years, but left the BBC in September last year to launch Yaddo, a new factual-focused subscription VOD service.

Chang has been working at the ABC for five years, after beginning her career in the UK as a filmmaker.

She had first joined as arts commissioning editor before rising to arts head and acting head of non-scripted.

Her recent projects include David Stratton’s Stories of Australian Cinema, Stop Laughing… This is Serious and Artsville, a documentary strand.

She also oversaw the iView Arts Channel, overseeing strands such as Art Bites and Love Bites.

“Mandy has been a fantastic advocate of the Arts and has done an outstanding job of delivering vibrant and engaging content to all Australians over many years,” said David Anderson, the ABC’s director of television.

“She is highly regarded across the industry and brought a creative and innovative edge to the ABC Arts team. Mandy is taking up a brilliant opportunity and we wish her the very best with this next stage of her career.”

Anderson was named television chief to replace Richard Finlayson in a restructure managing director Michelle Guthrie ordered last year that saw 200 staff axed.

Chang leaves in September. She said she was “sad to leaving the ABC at this exciting and crucial time in its history”.

Earlier this week, UK online channel BBC Three bought ABC comedy Ronnie Chieng International Student.

The 7x30mins Sticky Pictures-produced series ran to good ratings in June and July in Australia, and will debut on BBC Three.

It follows a Malaysian student studying law in Australia, and was a co-commission with Comedy Central in the US.