BBC Worldwide Channels today announced the appointment of Ian McDonough to the role of Vice President for Commercial Development, EMEA.

 

Reporting to Dean Possenniskie, SVP & GM, BBC Worldwide Channels EMEA, McDonough will be responsible for growing revenue lines and subscription figures for the new portfolio of thematic channels - BBC Entertainment, BBC HD, BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle and CBeebies, as well as BBC World News, the BBC's commercially funded international 24-hour news and information channel.

 

His role will involve developing the sales and business strategy for the channels in key markets across EMEA, negotiating multiplatform distribution deals in conjunction with local teams and establishing and maintaining relationships with internal stakeholders within BBC Worldwide.

 

Ian joins BBC Worldwide from The History Channel UK. As Commercial Director, Ian has been instrumental in launching The History Channel and The History Channel HD on networks across Scandinavia, the Benelux and Central Europe; establishing VOD services in the UK, Ireland, Belgium and The Netherlands; brokering carriage extensions for The History Channel in Africa and Greece and launching the Crime and Investigation Network as a new channel in Africa. He was also responsible for ad sales, sponsorship and digital media.

 

Commenting on Ian's appointment, Dean Possenniskie said: "Ian brings to the role a broad range of channel launch experience across distribution, ad sales and digital media, and will be invaluable in creating new commercial relationships and building on existing ones.

 

"BBC Worldwide Channels has made a strong start in securing distribution for our portfolio across EMEA, and we look forward to taking the business in even more exciting directions."

 

McDonough added: "This is a very exciting time to join BBC Worldwide Channels and I relish the challenges and opportunities ahead."

 

BBC Worldwide Channels continues to export the BBC brand and showcase great British talent through 36 channels worldwide. In EMEA, the business recently announced plans to launch four local channels across Scandinavia – including the European debut of BBC HD – following new channels in Africa and Poland bringing the EMEA tally to 12 channel launches in just 12 months.

 

 

Amy Castle Young                                                                                                   

 

Notes to editors:

BBC Worldwide Channels is one of seven BBC Worldwide businesses.  Formed in 2005, the business has 36 channels reaching over 285 million homes around the world.

 

BBC World News, the BBC's commercially funded international 24-hour news and information channel, is owned and operated by BBC World News Ltd, a member of the BBC's commercial group of companies.

 

BBC World News attracts 78 million viewers a week, is available in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, and reaches 283 million households and more than 1.6 million hotel rooms.  

 

The channel's content is also available on 64 cruise ships, 42 airlines, 37 mobile phone networks and a number of major online platforms including bbc.com/news.  For further information on how to receive BBC World News, download schedules or find out more about the channel, visit bbcworldnews.com.