The Walt Disney Company has split up its underperforming Internet and gaming division bringing in two outsiders to lead the businesses. James A. Pitaro, vice president of Yahoo Media, and John Pleasants, chief executive of Playdom, the social gaming company that Disney bought in July, were named co-presidents of the Disney Interactive Media Group. Pitaro, […]
Comcast and General Electric said that Steve Burke, Comcast’s chief operating officer, would become chief executive of NBC Universal after the close of Comcast’s proposed purchase of a majority stake in NBCU. The news follows the announcement last week that Jeff Zucker, NBCU’s current chief executive, would step down after the expected closing of the […]
Steve Wadsworth is to resign as head of the company’s interactive media group after more than a decade running the unit. Pressure has been building for the division to deliver a better return on the substantial investments Disney has made in its online activities. The company has tried to stay abreast of rapidly changing trends […]
Discovery Networks International has announced a new senior management structure for its operations in Europe, Middle East & Africa. The new structure organises the European operation geographically into two businesses which cluster those markets in similar stages of development. The Western Europe operation covers 16 markets including the UK, Germany, Southern Europe, Nordic and Benelux […]
Sky Italia and Mediaset are back in their war of words with Sky CEO Tom Mockridge writing to the press to accuse Mediaset of dominating the Italian TV and arguing that “more freedom in the TV sector” was needed to encourage competition. Mockridge says Mediaset controlled 65 per cent of advertising revenue. Mediaset chairman Fedele […]
Pace plc has today announced the appointment of Dr Mark Loughran, currently Managing Director of Nokia UK & Ireland, as the President of a new business division, Pace Enterprise. Loughran will spearhead the development of Pace’s international IP, gateway and Networks businesses as part of the Group’s strategy to enable converged digital services for operators. […]
The entry of 3D into the home “isn’t the second coming of HD, and if you say it will have the speed of adoption that HD had, I’m not buying that” Chase Carey president, deputy chairman and COO of News Corp has told a Hollywood audience. Carey predicts that 3D-TV will grow to occupy only […]
Fox International Channels (FIC), News Corporation’s multimedia arm, focused on the production and international distribution of Pay TV channels, contents and digital services for Internet and mobile has announced the appointment of Mirjam Laux as Vice President and Managing Director of Fox Channels Germany. Mirjam Laux joins Fox Channels from ProSiebenSat.1 Group, where she began […]
The BBC Trust chairman, Sir Michael Lyons, has reversed an earlier decision to seek a second term and is to step down in May next year. The former local government executive was the first chairman of the BBC Trust, which replaced the board of governors as the corporation’s governance and regulatory body in 2007 […]
BBC Worldwide is appointing an iPlayer exec from the BBC itself to drive through its plan to launch an overseas version of the VOD service. Global iPlayer Launch Director is to be Mark Smith, who has been filling the role of general manager for programmes and on-demand. It means BBC Worldwide will have an exec […]