Channel 5 has left TV marketing body Thinkbox as it focuses its investment on programming and IPTV platform YouView.

The broadcaster, under its new Northern & Shell management team, has opted to leave the trade body which represents 92% of the market including commercial rivals Channel 4, ITV, Sky Media and UKTV.

C5’s sales director Kelly Williams who previously represented the broadcaster on the Thinkbox board will step down in January. He will be replaced by Julia Jordan, UKTV’s executive director of business and operations.

Stan Myerson, group joint managing director at Northern & Shell, said C5 had to look hard at the correct areas to both invest and save money.

“Northern & Shell is committed to the future of Channel 5 - to invest in exciting new content, to redistribute money to other key areas of the business and to make important savings,” he said.

 “We have a strong and stand alone sales team at Channel 5 which will continue to demonstrate the effectiveness of the channel’s offering for advertisers.”

Thinkbox chief executive Tess Alps added the body would work hard to minimize the blow. “Inevitably, the loss of financial support from Five will limit the amount of work we are able to do, but, as far as possible, it is business as usual and we will continue to work hard for our shareholders and help advertisers get the best out of TV.”

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