Südwestrundfunk (SWR) is appointing a new head of its entertainment department: Torsten Amarell will take over as head of the department on 1 August Entertainment & Factual. The experienced programme maker is moving from Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (rbb) to SWR and will be responsible for driving forward the further development of entertainment formats and the expansion of digital services.

Amarell is thus taking on a key role within SWR Entertainment. His responsibilities include, amongst other things, the strategic development of the non-linear portfolio and the management of major entertainment brands. These include ARD’s lead role in the „Eurovision Song Contest“, the SWR classic „Do you get the joke?“ as well as the formats „Tell the truth“ and „Schlager Fun with Andy Borg“.

Experience gained at several ARD broadcasters

Torsten Amarell has many years’ experience within the public service media sector. In recent years, he has worked for various ARD member broadcasters, including Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR), Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR) and, most recently, rbb.

At rbb, Amarell was most recently responsible for the strategic programme portfolio, innovation and the development of new services. He had been Head of the Society Department there since 2020.

SWR Programme Director Clemens Bratzler describes Amarell as an „experienced and well-connected programme maker“ who knows the ARD’s structures very well and has demonstrated how successful entertainment can work across different platforms.

Focus on new formats and digital analysis

With this staffing decision, SWR is signalling its commitment to the further integration of traditional television and digital platforms. In the public service sector in particular, media libraries, streaming services and digital formats tailored to specific target groups are becoming increasingly important.

Amarell sees his new role primarily as an opportunity to further develop established brands and create new formats for various platforms. „From Andy Borg to the Eurovision Song Contest – SWR’s entertainment programmes reach people across generations,“ said Amarell on taking up his post.

With this new appointment, SWR is strengthening its entertainment division and bringing on board a manager who is familiar with both traditional television structures and the current challenges of digital content development.