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Media Executive | Emmy Award-Winning Producer | Strategic Innovator

An Emmy-winning Executive Producer with a distinguished career in the creative industries, Richard brings a rare blend of strategic insight, creative vision, and operational expertise. Specialising in new business development and transformation, he has consistently delivered high-impact results—tripling both turnover and profit through strategic innovation and effective change management.

Richard’s productions have earned prestigious accolades including the Emmy, Grierson, Peabody, Royal Television Society, FOCAL, and Broadcast awards, reflecting his commitment to excellence and storytelling that resonates globally.

With a calm and decisive leadership style, Richard has successfully launched 14 television channels for internationally recognised brands. He is a skilled negotiator with deep experience in budgeting, forecasting, and financial oversight. Passionate about emerging technologies and their application in media, he is a forward-thinking leader who thrives in fast-paced, evolving environments.

An articulate communicator and seasoned public speaker, Richard regularly presents at industry events and has served on juries for BAFTA, the RTS, the Emmys, and other leading organisations.

 

Experience

Executive Producer & Managing Director

Present: Freelance Executive Producer and Consultant

  • BARRISTERS – 3 x 1-hour series for Channel 4 (Tx 2025)
  • CENTRE STAGE – In production: 3 x 1-hour series for Sky Arts
  • WHAT IF WE WERE WRONG – Development and pre-production of a 90-minute live TV event
  • Consultant – Caledonia Television - an independant production company based in Glasgow.

2020–2022: Channel Director, 67pallmall.tv & Freelance Executive Producer

  • Led the creation of a 24/7 global FTA 4K web channel dedicated to wine
  • Established two 4K studios in London’s Pall Mall and launched the channel within six months (during lockdown)
  • Produced 85% of the channel’s programming, delivering over 900 hours in two years
  • Executive ProducerSecrets of the Imperial War Museum (6 x 1-hour) for Channel 5

2012–2020: Managing Director & Executive Producer, Spring Films Ltd.

  • Oversaw operations for a London-based independent production company specialising in international co-productions and factual programming
  • Executive Producer credits include:
    • Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds (Apple TV+) – Dir. Werner Herzog & Clive Oppenheimer
    • How to Stay Out of Jail (Channel 4) – Dir. Jemma Gander
    • PRISON 2 (Channel 4) –  Dir. Paddy Wivell
    • Indian Space Dreams – RTS Award winning, 90-minute featre documentary. Dir: Sue Sudbury
    • Meeting Gorbachev (A&E/MDR) – Dir. Werner Herzog & André Singer
    • PRISON (Channel 4) – RTS, Broadcast & Grierson award-winning three-part series, Dir. Paddy Wivell
    • Where the Wind Blows – Feature-length documentary, Dir. André Singer
    • Into the Inferno (Netflix) – Emmy-nominated, Dir. Werner Herzog
    • Night Will Fall (BFI/Channel 4/HBO) – Feature-length documentary. RTS, Peabody & Emmy award-winning, Dir. André Singer
    • Beyond Bollywood (BBC Four) – Feature-length documentary
    • Lonnie Donegan and Me (ITV) – One-hour special
    • Tinderbox - Feature documentary, Dir. Gillian Mosely
    • Cool DaddioFeature documentary, Dir. Monika Baran & Imogen Pulter

2010–2024: Executive Producer & Programme Consultant, Urban Canyons Ltd.

Executive producer: 

  • Samurai 6 x 1 hour, broadcast across Europe and on the Smithsonian Channel (US)
  • Warrior Women 8 x 1-hour, Smithsonian Channel
  • God’s Soldiers 2 x 1-hour, ZDF

2010–2011: Programme Consultant

  • Consult for – Pricey Media Ltd., Global Arts, and Alchemiya

2002–2010: Channel Director & Head of Programming

  • Oversaw – History, Bio, Bio HD, History HD, Military History, The Crime & Investigation Network, and Crime & Investigation HD
  • Commissioned -  Over 1000+ hours of Broadcast programmes
  • New Channels - Helped create and launch two new genre channels
  • Expanded operations – From 2 UK digital channels to 7 channels across 3 continents in 5 years
  • Increased turnover and profit – By over 300%
  • Scaled team – From 26 to 110 staff with <5% annual staff turnover
  • Pioneered HD broadcasting – Delivered one of the UK’s first HD channels for SKY
  • Introduced new post-production technologies – Saving over £500K annually
  • Designed and implimented a company wide programme database – Significantly improved efficiency
  • Awarded – Broadcast’s Factual Channel of the Year (nominated twice more)

1999–2002: Channel Director & Executive Director, Artsworld (now Sky Arts)

  • Co-created – Channel and business plan with Sir Jeremy Isaacs and John Hambley
  • Project-managed – All aspects of the Channel launch and transmission
  • Raised – £6.5 million in equity finance
  • Commissioned – 500+ hours of programming, including documentaries, concerts, and magazine shows

1998–1999: Head of Production, Jeremy Isaacs Productions

  • Managed all production and operations – Reporting to Sir Jeremy Isaacs
  • OversawMillennium, a 10-part award-winning series on the history of the last 1000 years

1997–1998: BBC Launch Manager, People+Arts & Animal Planet

  • Based in – Discovery’s Latin American HQ (Miami)
  • Led BBC input and Supervision – Into two BBC/Discovery joint venture channels under a $600 million contract

1995–1997: Producer & Director, Cold War (CNN)

  • Produced and directed – 3 episodes of the BAFTA-nominated, Peabody-winning 24-part series
  • Designed – Operational and editing systems for Jeremy Isaacs Productions

1993–1995: Head of Production & Producer/Director, InCA

  • Produced and directed – Programmes for BBC and Channel 4, including Equinox, Horizon, and The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

1988–1993: Managing Director & Producer, Picture House Productions

  • Specialised in – Music videos and commercials
  • Increased revenue – By over 100% year-on-year

1986–1988: Producer, Wood Film

  The Future of Things Past (2 x 1 hour)  Channel 4 Dir: Elizabeth Wood


1985–2005: Managing Director, Heavy Pencil

A camera and crewing facilities company. 

  • Grew the company – From a £1,500 investment to an asset value of £500,000
  • Achieved – Annual turnover of £350,000 with a 35% profit margin

Industry Involvement

  • Member of – BAFTA and the Royal Television Society
  • Regular jury member and chair – For major industry awards including the Emmys, BAFTA and the RTS

Awards include:

  • Emmy – Outstanding Historical Programme
  • Grierson – Best Factual Series
  • Broadcast – Best Factual Series
  • Royal Television Society – Best Factual Series & Best History Documentary
  • Peabody Award (x2) – Best History Documentary
  • Silbersalz Science & Media Award
  • FOCAL Awards – Best History Documentary & Best Use of Archive Footage

 

Richard Melman