Advanced Television

BT poaches Virgin Media’s Green for future TV development

November 15, 2011

By Colin Mann

BT has hired Virgin Media’s Executive Director, Commercial, TV and Online Alex Green to help drive the telco’s next-generation TV offering. He will be focused on building on the success of BT Vision and developing the company’s involvement in the YouView IPTV service, which is scheduled for launch in 2012.

At Virgin Media, Green was responsible for the day-to-day TV business, including the implementation of its next-generation TV offering, powered by TiVo.

At BT, Green will be TV commercial and product director and will report to Marc Watson, chief executive of TV and Online Services. He will also join the board of BT Consumer and will help BT capitalise on its leading position in broadband by bundling TV and entertainment services. Alex will take over from Andy Baker, who has been promoted into the role of chief executive, BT WiFi.

Gavin Patterson, chief executive, BT Retail, said that Green was joining BT at a pivotal moment for its future television services. “He has direct experience with Virgin Media of launching their next generation TV service, which will be a huge asset to BT as we embark on the transformation of our own TV services in the next year,” he stated.

Green will also focus closely on BT’s entertainment offering and maximising the opportunities that the launch of services such as OnLive will bring to the telco, confirmed Patterson. Green will assume his new responsibilities in 2012.

Categories: Articles, IPTV, OTT, People, Telco