UTV appoints directors and celebrates license renewal for ITV
The Board of UTV’s parent company, UTV Media, has announce the appointment of two Non-Executive Directors on the day the broadcaster also celebrated having its ITV transmission license renewed until 2024.
The two board members, joining with immediate effect, are to make the UTV Media plc board compliant with the principles of the UK Governance Code.
Andy Anson has significant experience in the media and sports sectors, including previous roles as Commercial Director and Board member of Manchester United plc, Managing Director of Channel 4 Interactive and Head of Strategy for Channel 4 TV and Director of Finance and Planning for the Consumer Products business of The Walt Disney Company.
He is currently CEO of Kitbag, one of Europe’s leading online sports retailers, and a Non-Executive Director of the British Olympic Association.
Coline McConville is a former European Chief Executive of Clear Channel International, an outdoor advertising company. Prior to this, she worked for McKinsey, the strategic consulting company. She is a Baker Scholar from Harvard Business School.
Coline is an experienced Non-Executive Director and currently sits on the Boards of TUI Travel plc and Wembley National Stadium. She previously served on the boards of Halifax, latterly HBOS plc, and Shed Media plc, the independent TV production company.
These appointments follow the recent arrival of Stephen Kirkpatrick.
Richard Huntingford, Chairman of UTV Media plc, says,”I am delighted to welcome Andy and Coline to the UTV Media plc Board. Each bring highly relevant, different yet complementary skills and experiences to the Board which will be of great value as we continue to grow our market-leading businesses in the UK, Ireland and selectively around the world.”
UTV also today praised the decision by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to renew its broadcast licence for its main ITV service which will run from the 1st of January 2015 until the end of 2024.
Michael Wilson, Managing Director, UTV notes, “Today’s announcement recognises that Channel 3 remains as important to viewers today as it was when it was first licenced in 1954. It enables UTV to plan for the future and to continue to invest in the local economy in Northern Ireland.
“Earlier this year we signed a new agreement with ITV plc to ensure the ITV network arrangements were simplified and fit for the digital world in which we all now operate. Today’s announcement ensures UTV can plan ahead to invest in further technology to enable our content teams to deliver our programming on an increasing number of platforms.”
UTV is the ITV franchise holder for Northern Ireland and has the highest TV penetration locally thanks to not cutting back on regional content and local presentation unlike other ITV regions across England and Wales.
UTV Media also operates national radio station TalkSport as well as thirteen local radio stations and a number of digital radio multiplexes throughout Great Britain.
John McCann, Group Chief Executive, UTV Media, adds, “We are delighted that the Secretary of State has decided that our licence should be renewed for another ten years.
“Today’s announcement provides much needed clarity for the Television division. It is wonderful news for our staff and our business as it recognises the major role UTV plays in Northern Ireland life both as a broadcaster reflecting what’s happening onscreen and as a business providing employment for staff, contractors and the creative industries.
“As a successful regional broadcaster, we are totally committed to providing our audience with high quality public service programming in the future as we have for more than 50 years. The commitment of our staff has never been stronger and the quality of our regional output continues to enjoy the highest ratings in the whole of the ITV Network.”
ITVplc owned regions along with the two STV broadcast areas of Scotland on ITV have also been renewed without any opportunity for new companies to bid for the contracts.