Foxtel appoints new music channels boss

Foxtel has appointed former MTV General Manager Rebecca Batties as its General Manager of Foxtel Music Channels & Head of Digital.

She will oversee Channel [V], [V] Hits, MAX, smooth and CMC, together with audio service, Foxtel Tunes, plus digital operations for Foxtel Networks channels, across the music, movies, lifestyle, factual and general entertainment portfolios.

Batties was General Manager of MTV Networks, Australia and New Zealand from 2008 – 2013. Previous roles include Creative Director; Brand & Marketing for Discovery Channels’ ten international brands, based in Washington; MTV International – Head Of Content & Creative for markets including Europe, Russia and Japan; and Executive Vice President – Programming & Marketing for UGO Networks.

Foxtel Executive Director of Television Brian Walsh said, “I am delighted to welcome Rebecca to Foxtel and this pivotal role in our channels group.

“Rebecca is an award-winning international media executive with an extensive background in media and content across all platforms. In particular, her experience in cable and subscription television, both here and globally, distinguished her for this appointment.”

Batties added, “I am absolutely thrilled to join Foxtel. The brief I have been given is all about growth and my focus will be consolidating the impressive success of Foxtel’s music portfolio and maintaining a distinctive Australian voice.

“There is also an enormous opportunity to continue to expand Foxtel’s digital destinations to enhance subscribers’ entertainment experience and complement Foxtel’s quality content.”

She begins from Monday May 5, located at North Ryde from May 26.