ITV

Tag: Darren Childs

  • Christian Brent takes a senior position in BBC Worldwide’s global channels business

    Christian Brent takes a senior position in BBC Worldwide’s global channels business

    MUMBAI: In the first appointment of its kind for BBC Worldwide’s Global Channels business, the division’s MD Darren Childs has announced Christian Brent as VP, audiences.

    As part of his new role, Brent will provide Global Channels with genuine insight into international audiences. He will identify and interpret local demands and make recommendations on strategic and creative decisions through market and pre-market-entry, research and assessment.

    Childs said, “Our goal is to deliver top performing channels that appeal to the local audience. With Christian’s appointment, I have put audiences at the centre of everything we do. Global Channels serve over 140 countries worldwide therefore a deeper understanding of audiences and how best to serve them will be one of the biggest contributors to our success.”

    Brent said, “I am very proud to be joining BBC Worldwide’s global channels business at this hugely exciting period in its development. It’s especially exciting to work with the amazing quality and range of programming we have here, and I’m looking forward to bringing my experience from other consumer-facing industries to bear in launching some truly great global channel brands.”

  • BBC Worldwide looks to expand reach of channels in Latin America

    BBC Worldwide looks to expand reach of channels in Latin America

    MUMBAI: UK pubcaster the BBC’s commercial arm BBC Worldwide has made an appointment with a view to expanding the reach ot its chanels in Latin America.

    Jessica Rodriguez becomes VP, global channels for Latin America and for the Hispanic US Market. She will be responsible for the strategic development and implementation of BBC Worldwide’s channels and will manage the day-to-day activity across the Latin American region and in the US Hispanic market.

    BBC Worldwide MD global channels Darren Childs said, “Jessica’s appointment is a commitment from BBC Worldwide to further develop the Latin American and Hispanic North American market for our channels business. Jessica has introduced a number of new channels and we are keen to explore new opportunities for growth.”

    Rodriguez says, “In Latin America, BBC Worldwide’s presence is already strong through our programming participation and investment in Animal Planet and People and Arts. Given its rapid growth and strength, the US Hispanic market is critically important to our strategy. BBC America has already successfully demonstrated the power of the BBC’s superlative content in the US, and I am delighted to be developing our new branded channels in this marketplace.”

    She has over 16 years of experience in launching and expanding brands such as Travel Channel, National Geographic and USA Network across international markets. She also has an extensive development and management record having worked in business development positions at Discovery Channel and Landmark Communications and having spearheaded several channels in Latin America and Asia.

    Based in Miami, Jessica will be working across BBC Worldwide’s content divisions of program sales, new media, magazines, consumer publishing and home entertainment to maximise and consolidate brand exposure in the Latin and US Hispanic markets.

  • BBC Worldwide global channels appoints Anne Howarth as SVP

    BBC Worldwide global channels appoints Anne Howarth as SVP

    MUMBAI: Anne Howarth is BBC Worldwide global channels senior vice president. She is the first senior management appointment for this division.

    Anne joins Worldwide from the BBC and will be responsible for the strategic direction of BBC Worldwide’s international television channels business, as well as the development and growth of its portfolio of channels, currently 18 wholly owned and joint venture television channels, available in 324 million homes around the world.

    She has already begun working with BBC Worldwide global channels MD Darren Childs, on a new strategy for BBC Worldwide’s TV channels business. The strategy will roll out in 2006 and will gradually develop BBC Worldwide’s portfolio of TV channels in both existing and new markets.

    Childs said, “Anne brings to this role a wealth of expertise. She has played key roles in transforming business into focused, robust operations as well as successfully closing major deals. We are embarking on an unprecedented period of growth around the world and Anne will be instrumental in delivering this growth.”

    Howarth said, “The BBC brand is one of the most respected around the world, and in the UK, its name is synonymous with high-quality, engaging programming. Our new strategy will engender the same feeling with our international audiences, building a strong portfolio of channels that engage and entertain audiences worldwide and it is tremendously exciting to be joining BBC Worldwide TV channels at this time.”

    Prior to this, Howarth had been with the BBC where she most recently played a leading role in the sale of BBC Broadcast now known as Red Bee Ltd, to Macquarie Bank. The sale won Acquisition Monthly’s award for the best mid-market corporate deal of 2005.

  • BBC Japan to go off air from 30 April

    BBC Japan to go off air from 30 April

    MUMBAI: BBC Japan will cease transmission from 30 April. The reason for the channel’s shutdown, barely two years after launch is because local distribution partner Japan MediArk Co (JMC), has declared its inability to financially support the channel any longer.

    Launched in 2004, BBC Japan was the second channel designed exclusively for one country. Prior to this, BCC Worldwide had launched BBC America in 1997.

    According to information posted on www.bbcjapan.tv, BBC Worldwide has received a notification from JMC that it no longer has the financial means to honour its contractual commitments to distribute BBC Japan.

    The JMC’s shareholders will not be providing any further financial support. This decision results in JMC no longer being able to continue distribution of the channel after 30 April.

    The statement posted on the website also stated that this decision has been taken without any consultation with BBC Worldwide and is beyond the corporation’s control. The corporation is actively seeking alternative ways to continue to provide the service in Japan.

    BBC Worldwide managing director Darren Childs said, “We are extremely disappointed to announce that, due to the apparent decision of the JMC shareholders to no longer support JMC, BBC Japan may have to end transmission.”

    “We are looking to replace the channel in the market as soon as possible, and hope to announce shortly how BBC Japan’s loyal customers will be able to receive the channel in the future. In the meantime, we extend our sincere apologies to subscribers of the channel who have been inconvenienced by the decision of JMC,” he adds.