The BBC has appointed former Viacom executive Herb Scannell to run its US commercial business, BBC Worldwide America. Scannell, a former president of Viacom-owned Nickelodeon Networks and vice-chairman of MTV Networks, will take up his new job as president of BBC Worldwide America immediately. He will sit on the executive board of the corporation’s commercial […]

SES Astra, an SES company, has appointed Norbert Hölzle to succeed Alexander Oudendijk as Chief Commercial Officer of SES Astra. Norbert Hölzle who is currently CEO of the SES Astra affiliate ND SatCom will take over the sales and marketing responsibility for the media business across all markets served by SES Astra. Before joining ND […]

LOVEFiLM, the movie rental service, has appointed Five chairman and chief executive Dawn Airey as non-executive director. She will take up the role with immediate effect. Prior to Five, Airey was managing director of global content for ITV, where she oversaw the broadcaster’s production and content business. She has also held the position of managing […]

Altech UEC, the South African developer of digital STBs and interactive software solutions announced the appointment of Peter Balchin as Chief Executive Officer. Balchin previously worked with organisations such as Pace Networks, Novatel Wireless and Nortel Networks in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Altech Group Chief Executive Officer, Craig Venter said […]

Rupert Howell, ITV’s managing director of brand and commercial, is to leave the broadcaster. Howell said that given the proposed changes arising from ITV’s strategy review he felt that was “not a role within ITV that I want to commit to for the next three to five years and therefore I have agreed to leave […]

Red Bee Media has joined the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECC), a multinational cross-industry coalition dedicated to establishing the first open market for digital content distribution. Red Bee Media represents international broadcasters and advertisers across TV, web and mobile such as Discovery International, BBC, Channel 4, Virgin Media, UKTV, Nike, Canal+, Lonely Planet, and Action […]

From Colin Mann in London As anticipated, Jeremy Hunt has been named Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport in the new Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government. Having shadowed the role in opposition, Hunt retains his existing brief in the new cabinet, but also gets specific responsibility for the smooth running of the 2012 […]

UK TV-and-video news producer ITN Productions is hiring its first head of mobile – mobile ad net 4th Screen Advertising's Miguel Tatay. Through ITN On, ITN has been providing video news to other services and through apps for the last two years.

ProSiebenSat.1, has announced a restructuring that sets up a New Media division under the leadership of Dan Marks, former head of BT Vision. The division includes Christoph Bellmer as head of new TV and CEO of SevenSenses and Silke Kuisle as managing director of MyVideo and Arnd Benninghoff as CEO of SevenOne Intermedia. “My goal […]

ITV announced the appointment of Kevin Lygo as Managing Director of ITV Studios. Adam Crozier, new Chief Executive of ITV, said: "A clear outcome of the ongoing strategy review is the importance of our in-house production arm to the future of ITV's business. "Kevin's appointment underlines our commitment to ensuring home-grown content stays at the […]