ITV

Tag: Gerhard Zeiler

  • Turner International hires Ricky Ow as Marcopoto’s replacement

    Turner International hires Ricky Ow as Marcopoto’s replacement

    MUMBAI: Turner International’s Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific has been beset with some bad news or the other emerging from it over the past couple of years. Restructuring, layoffs and the sudden stepping down of its long serving boss Steve Marcopoto earlier this year all caught the headlines.

     

    A hunt for his successor was on, the company had stated at the time of Marcopoto’s announcement.

     

    The good news now is that the company has announced his replacement. And it is international television executive Ricky Ow who will be joining Turner International as President of Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific effective January 2014. The announcement was made by Gerhard Zeiler, President of Turner Broadcasting System International.

     

    Most recently Executive Vice President & General Manager for Sony Pictures Television (SPT) Networks Asia, Ow will lead Turner International’s portfolio in the Asia Pacific region, based in Hong Kong.

     

    As President of Turner APAC, Ow will have executive oversight for all entertainment and kids networks, the digital and media services offered, the distribution of CNN’s services in that region, and all licensing and merchandising activity in APAC.

     

    “We are delighted that Ricky is joining us and look forward to the leadership and wealth of international media experience he will bring to one of the most strategically important areas of Turner International,” said Zeiler in a press release. He continued: “His vast experience in the region, his successes in launching and establishing channel brands both locally and regionally, his experience in local content production, as well as his deep understanding of sales and marketing, make him the ideal choice to lead our business in the Asia Pacific region into the next stage of growth. Looking with fresh eyes at our business as a true leader, he will be a strong addition to Turner International. We all look forward to working with him to extend our core brands and build international scale.”

     

    “I am very excited to join Turner and it is an honour to work with Gerhard and the team that has built some of the most valuable media brands in the world including CNN, TNT, Cartoon Network, Pogo and Turner Classic Movies,” said Ow. “This is an opportunity to leverage on our incredible heritage of creativity and innovation to grow a dynamic portfolio of iconic brands, to develop new ventures and to strengthen relevance and value for our viewers, partners and the business community.”

     

    Ow joins Turner after a 14-year career at Sony Pictures, most recently as Executive Vice President & General Manager for Sony Pictures Television (SPT) Networks Asia. In that role, Ow was responsible for overseeing the networks business across Asia as well as developing new channel opportunities in the region. He also had oversight of SPT’s two Korean joint ventures, AXN Korea and Animax Korea. Prior, Ow was the Senior Vice President & General Manager, Networks Asia, overseeing the company’s channel brands, including AXN India and Animax India. He joined SPT in 1999 as Head of Sales and Marketing. Under his leadership, AXN became the leading English language general entertainment channel in Asia while SPT Networks Asia grew into a bouquet of entertainment brands including “One”, the leading Asian language channel in Southeast Asia. Additionally, Ow has led SPT’s networks in Asia to pioneer various award-winning pan-regional entertainment productions. Prior to joining SPT, Ow held positions at SBC Enterprises (now Mediacorp TV), Asia Business News, and CNBC.

  • Now Steve Marcopoto to go from Turner International APac

    Now Steve Marcopoto to go from Turner International APac

    MUMBAI: Management change are continuing at Turner International Asia Pacific as the Time Warner company tries to stay relevant and fit in the slowing and strongly localising Asia-Pacific region. After a massive bunch of layoffs earlier this year, Turner made another announcement which some are coining as the end of an era. It announced that the man who steered its fortunes just a few years after the broadcasting skies opened up in Asia will be stepping down. We are talking about Turner International president and managing director Steve Marcopoto, who has decided not to continue with his charge when his contract expires in December. Steve will, however, continue to work with Turner in a consultative capacity as a senior advisor to Turner International President Gerhard Zeiler.

     

    Turner announced that a successor will be announced in due course.

     

    Says Zeller: “I thank Steve for his outstanding achievements in his 15 years with Turner Broadcasting. Steve has guided Turner Asia Pacific through a period of rapid change. Under his exceptional leadership Turner went from broadcasting two networks in the region to 36 channels today along with a vast variety of digital and off-channel commerce activities. In an increasingly competitive environment, he has maintained our leadership position in news and kids channels, forged entry into new territories and built great partnerships.”

     

    Adds Steve Marcopoto in a release issued by Turner: “Turner is poised for a great run and now is the best moment for the company to put a fresh set of hands in charge. I am very proud of the growth of our business while I’ve had the privilege of holding this role. I want to deeply thank each member on the team that has made all this happen while maintaining a high-spirited culture of collaboration, innovation and optimism. It feels right to initiate the handover now as I complete 15 years in this job, and I intend to hand over Turner Asia Pacific to my successor in an optimal state.”

     

    Since taking the helm as president and managing director in 1998, Steve Marcopoto has overseen the growth of the business in Asia Pacific from the first linear, pan-regional TV channel to a multimedia, multi-language, multi-territory enterprise creating award-winning programmes. Under his leadership, Turner broadcasts 36 channels in 11 languages in 40 countries throughout the Asia Pacific region. This includes CNN, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Pogo, TCM Turner Classic Movies, Tabi Channel, MondoTV, WB, QTV and truTV.

  • MipTV’s Milia conference ‘Capture Innovation’ gets 3 industry execs as keynote speakers

    MipTV’s Milia conference ‘Capture Innovation’ gets 3 industry execs as keynote speakers

    MUMBAI: MipTV featuring Milia has announced that three industry executives Joseph Jaffe, Philip Rosedale and Gerhard Zeiler, will be keynote speakers for this year’s conference programme.

    Milia’s 2007 conference programme entitled “Capture Innovation,” will focus on five key themes looking at ‘Trends-in-Television,’ the ‘Explosion of Mobile Media,’ ‘Branding and Marketing 2.0,’ ‘On-Demand Television and Digital Distribution’ and ‘Content 360 and the Future of Media,’ informs an official release.

    Joseph Jaffe president and ‘Chief Interruptor’ of new-age marketing specialists, Crayon L.L.C. and author of the marketing best-seller “Life after the 30-second Spot,” will look at how advertising is evolving in a world ruled by an empowered consumer and a television industry no longer governed solely by the 30-second spot. His speech, entitled “Energize Your Brand: The New Marketing Renaissance,” is part of a new conference track featuring debates between advertising agencies, brands and content industry leaders.

    Philip Rosedale founder and CEO of Linden Lab, the creator of the 3D online digital world phenomenon “Second Life,” will open the ‘Future of Media’ day on 19 April by discussing the next generation of media and how to engage audiences and brands in the a virtual world. The ‘Future of Media’ day will include Content 360 conferences, showcasing new talent along with enabling technologies and creative cross-platform formats, as well as two super panels “TV 2.0 meets Web 2.0” and “Future of Lifestyle Media.”

    Gerhard Zeiler chief executive officer of European entertainment network, RTL Group, will give his “Traditional Media Fights Back” keynote speech on 16 April. A former ‘Mipcom Personality of the Year,’ Gerhard Zeiler will share his vision of how the networks across the world are responding to fragmented media distribution and embracing change.

  • RTL CEO Gerhard Zeiler to deliver keynote at Mip TV 2007

    RTL CEO Gerhard Zeiler to deliver keynote at Mip TV 2007

    MUMBAI: Reed Midem, which organises the television markets Mip TV and Mipcom in Cannes, France, has announced that European entertainment network RTL CEO Gerhard Zeiler will give a keynote speech at Mip TV/Milia 2007.

    Gerhard Zeiler returns to Cannes after being named Personality of the Year at Mipcom 2004 for his career. During his keynote, Zeiler will share his vision of how the leading networks across the world are responding to fragmented media distribution and embracing change.

    He says, “There’s an amazing amount of intuition involved in television. If you strike the right note, you don’t just reach viewers, you genuinely move and captivate them. Your content wins them over. That’s why, for me, television is the most complete medium.”

    Mip TV/Milia’s 2007 conference programme entitled ‘Capture Innovation’ will be taking a close look at cross-platform content, innovative formats and concepts. Other key topics to be discussed are the latest global developments in television programming, new business models, new marketing concepts, mobile TV content and new digital platforms such as mobile TV, IPTV, VoD and broadband TV.

  • Carter appointed as president of FremantleMedia Creative Networks

    Carter appointed as president of FremantleMedia Creative Networks

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia has appointed Gary Carter to the newly created position of president, FremantleMedia Creative Networks. It is a new division combining the currently separate departments of Worldwide Drama and Worldwide Entertainment.

    He joins the FremantleMedia operating board with immediate effect and will report to FremantleMedia CEO Tony Cohen.

    In his new role, Carter will build on FremantleMedia’s creative success in drama and entertainment programming. He will also be responsible for driving the company’s increasing emphasis on in-house programme development, working with its global network of more than 20 production companies, as well as coordinating with FremantleMedia Enterprises, which comprises its ancillary exploitation businesses, Fremantle International Distribution and FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide.

    Carter will also continue in his role as chief creative officer, FMX (formerly known as New Platforms), part of FremantleMedia Creative Networks, working with producers to create new brands and concepts specifically for mobile, broadband, game consoles and IPTV (Internet Protocol Television).

    Carter joined Worldwide Entertainment in January 2005, having been a consultant for the company since August 2003. He worked closely with the division to set the overall strategic and creative direction and the operational agenda. He also provided central support to the development, acquisition and exploitation of entertainment formats which have international potential, and drove entertainment development activities across the company globally.

    Prior to setting up his own consulting business, he was executive director, programme affairs, at Endemol Entertainment International for five years and was responsible for the roll out of its key programme brands. Before joining Endemol, he was international business manager for Planet 24 Productions and a literary agent for Roger Hancock for almost 10 years.

    Alan Boyd, currently president of Worldwide Entertainment, will be changing his role in the company. He will take on a new role as a special advisor to Tony Cohen, where he will have particular responsibility for consulting on the Idols and The X Factor franchises, as well as consulting on creative and company issues and producer training. He will also act as a special advisor to RTL Group CEO Gerhard Zeiler, consulting on programming matters and entertainment output across the RTL Group of channels as well as creative training for group executives.

    Mike Murphy, currently President of Worldwide Drama, will also change his role. He will remain a key part of the Worldwide Drama team working on FremantleMedia serial dramas around the world, as well as focussing on building FremantleMedia’s scripted business in the US, a priority growth area for the company. He is currently executive producer on Bianca, a 20-part primetime telenovela that FremantleMedia first made in Germany and that FremantleMedia North America is now producing for US network Lifetime Television. Murphy will oversee production of the US version of Bianca in Australia.

    Cohen said, “Gary is a very talented executive and will play a crucial role in future working with our producers to build on our tremendous success in scripted and unscripted programming around the world and to drive forward our in-house programme development. Mike has made a fantastic contribution to growing our international drama business over the past few years and I am delighted that he will now focus on the vital task of building on our scripted business in the US. I am also delighted that Alan has agreed to become a special advisor to FremantleMedia and RTL Group. He has done a tremendous job of overseeing the roll-out of the Idols brand and his years of production and commissioning experience will continue to prove a great asset to the company.”

    Carter added, “I’m thrilled to have been given the opportunity to drive FremantleMedia’s creative output into the global market with our exceptional team of producers and executives in both drama and entertainment. I look forward to building on the fantastic legacy that Mike and Alan have achieved and I’m excited about the challenge of creating new hits for television as well as for new platforms and working with FremantleMedia Enterprises to ensure the company develops programmes with significant off-air, interactive and international distribution potential.”