BT Media Boss Approached For Thinkbox CEO Post

Reports this morning suggest BT’s head of media, Steve Huddleston, has been invited to become the first chief executive of TV marketing body Thinkbox, marking growing acceptance of BT as a player in the television industry.

The move would conclude a lengthy search for a chief executive, which has been part of Thinkbox’s roadmap for several months (see Thinkbox Sets Out Activity Roadmap For 2006).

The post is believed to carry a salary of up to £250,000, with Huddleston reportedly offered the position on Monday.

BT has pushed itself increasingly into the TV arena in recent months, with impending launches for its own-branded IPTV service (see BT Unveils Next Generation TV Service), and a wholesale mobile TV service operating true one-to-many broadcasts on the move (see ‘Real’ Mobile TV System To Launch Within Four Months).

Last month saw Thinkbox appoint Andy Barnes, sales director of Channel 4, as its new chairman following the departure of previous chairman and former director of customer relationship marketing at ITV, Justin Sampson (see Andy Barnes Appointed New Thinkbox Chairman).

Barnes is responsible as the group’s lead ambassador, representing all eight member TV companies, Channel 4, five, GMTV, Turner Broadcasting, ITV, Sky, ids and Viacom. The chairman was also instrumental in the search for a chief executive, as well as plotting a “major research initiative” by Thinkbox.

November 2005 saw the Thinkbox budget increased to £3 million, following renewed investment by its member broadcasters (see Thinkbox Sets Out Activity Roadmap For 2006).

The increased funding will allow the marketing body to employ a full time workforce, with a research strategist, content editor and website manager all supporting the marketing body’s events, training and research timetable.

BT: 0207 469 2337 www.btplc.com Thinkbox: www.thinkbox.tv