0/5

Foxtel exec lands Premier Media top job

Foxtel Executive Patrick Delany is the new chief executive of Premier Media Group.

Foxtel Executive Director of Product Development and Sales Patrick Delany is set to become the new chief executive of Premier Media Group, reports The Australian.

Delany will replace outgoing chief executive David Malone who is pursuing overseas opportunities.

Premier Media, which looks after FOX Sports, SPEED and FUEL TV, is expected to formally announce his appointment today.

Delany has overseen sweeping technological change within Foxtel including Remote Record, EPG upgrades, HD channels, On Demand, iPhone and iPad apps, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 console and Telstra’s T-box.

The changes at PMG come at a crucial time for the Pay-TV industry, ahead of new deals on AFL and NRL rights and in the lead up to the London 2012 Games.

Delany is expected to examine better ways of leveraging the value of PMG’s sports rights beyond TV broadcasting and to upgrade the look and feel of the various sports.

Foxtel is in the midst of selecting Delany’s successor.

UPDATE: Premier Media Group has confirmed Delany’s appointment.

Chairman Mr John Alexander said: “Patrick is an outstanding television executive who is ideally suited to take on the large scale growth opportunities that are available to us, particularly the FOX Sports channels.”

PMG’s Non-Executive Director Mr Peter Macourt said: “Patrick’s expertise in developing new products and services, negotiating important content deals and his knowledge and insight about what customers want are all qualities that will benefit Premier Media Group as it embarks on its next growth trajectory.”

Mr Delany said: “I have been privileged to play such an important part in Foxtel’s incredible growth under CEO Kim Williams and an incredibly talented team that is passionate about subscription television and the choice it offers consumers.”

“This new role as head of Australia’s pre-eminent sports channels is an incredibly exciting opportunity. FOX Sports is committed to clear leadership in sports broadcasting and to the kind of investment that will stretch its lead as the first choice for viewers who want their sport live in their lounge rooms, in HD, 3D, with the best commentary and analysis and a full suite of interactive options.”

7 Responses

  1. @Blogger. If you think people dont want sport or a sports channel on FTA you are wrong. Just look at FOX Sports. It is a key example that people want live sport and foxtel and Premier Media Group have heavily invested in the channel, and yes they got there first. Still people were overjoyed when ONE HD was anounced i know i was. In my opinion people dont want to battle the traffic and the weather to be able to watch their favorite sport live, they also dont want to be extorted by pay tv. so the answer is a fta 24 hr sports channel. ONE HD didnt rate because of poor timing and yes not enough high demand content, still i think it has potential or it had potential. As for the majority of the viewers what is the point of having 12 commercial channels which have the same theme “General Entertainment”. People want something different. Oh by the way are you a Network Ten shareholder by any chance?

  2. @Armchair “the only network (Ten) to do something right by the audience and provide live sport”

    What about doing something right by the larger part of the audience (ratings don’t lie) who don’t give a flying freak about sport?

    If you want your sport ‘live’, if you want your sport in the highest definition possible – go to the bloody game and look at it with your own eyeballs.

  3. @ TB. At least i was analysing the story and commenting on what has been happening in the media in recent months, what about you what do you think, i have not seen your post abou the story. @ Stephen. i fully understand that the FTA Networks have failed in delivering live sport i am making no appologies for that but the point that i was trying to make was that the only network (Ten) to do something right by the audience and provide live sport, has been raided simply because it was providing competition poor ratings not withstanding.

  4. @Armchair – live fta sport has been ‘ridden into the ground’ despite the most over protective sports anti-siphoning list in the world because they treated their audience with contempt and rarely played it live – if you can’t make a business case with that sort of political deal, you don’t deserve to be in business.

  5. Patrick’s expertise in developing new products and services, negotiating important content deals and his knowledge and insight about what customers want are all qualities that will benefit Premier Media Group as it embarks on its next growth trajectory.” Well he has to know what people or their customers want otherwise they get angry and think about disconnecting their relationship with the service. As for the growth strategy, ofcourse you can grow when you have not been raided by the oposition by the big end of town. Its anouncements like this that i feel sorry for Network Ten and ONE HD. Whilst FOX Sports is allowed to expand and grow the only option of live fta sport has been ridden into the ground simply because it wasnt rating well. Unfortunetly that is the reality and difference between commercial FTA and PAY TV. FTA is not allowed to enter Pay TV’s domain ie launching a genre specific channel (abc excluded) because if they do then another media mogul heavily invested in the Pay TV industry will try and shutt it down. That is one of the reasons why freeview has been a failure.

Leave a Reply