The Bizarre magazine editor, Alex Godfrey, has been appointed controller of the user-content TV channel Sumo.tv.

Godfrey is the first major hire by Loaded magazine founder James Brown since he joined the company in October as creative and editorial director.

Brown was brought on board to raise the profile of Sumo.tv, which publishes user-generated content across mobile, web and TV, with a brief to build strong marketing and editorial teams.

Godfrey has been tasked with establishing the Sumo.tv brand in the UK - where it has digital TV channel on Sky - as well as overseas.

His responsibilities include commissioning programmes, supervising the schedule and finding new talent.

"He was the first person I thought of when looking for someone to oversee the day-to-day content of the channel and website," said Brown.

"At Bizarre he managed an extremely profitable magazine with content that was far removed from the mainstream. Sumo.tv's exciting and challenging short form content is perfect for a man of his contacts, experience and interests."

Godfrey had been editor of Bizarre magazine since 2003. Previously he has held roles including deputy editor of Hotdog magazine and film editor of Jack magazine, both launched by Brown when he ran publishing company I Feel Good. Godfrey has also freelanced for the Guardian and the BBC.
Sumo.tv, which is owned by Cellcast, now has around 3,000 alternative online channels created by its users wanting to show their content to a worldwide audience.

· To contact the MediaGuardian newsdesk email editor@mediatheguardian.com or phone 020 7239 9857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 7278 2332.

· If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".