BBC Worldwide Bolsters Channels Team

LONDON, October 28: BBC
Worldwide Channels has named Ian McDonough as its VP of commercial development
for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

McDonough will report to Dean Possenniskie, the senior VP and general manager of BBC
Worldwide Channels for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He will be
responsible for growing revenue lines and subscription figures for the new
portfolio of thematic channels, including BBC Entertainment, BBC HD, BBC
Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle and CBeebies, as well as BBC
World News. McDonough’s role will involve developing the sales and business
strategy for channels, negotiating multiplatform distribution deals and
maintaining relationships with internal shareholders within BBC Worldwide.

He comes to the role from
The History Channel U.K., where he served as commercial director, also taking
on responsibility for ad sales, sponsorship and digital media.

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.”

—By Kristin Brzoznowski