Ex-WB Chairman Joins BBC Worldwide Americas

NEW YORK, February 13: Garth Ancier, the former chairman of
The WB Television Network, has joined BBC Worldwide Americas as its president
of U.S. operations, a newly created post.

Ancier will be responsible for developing the BBC brand in
the U.S. This includes expanding BBC Worldwide’s portfolio of channels, which
in the U.S. currently includes BBC America, and working with U.S. networks on
behalf of LA-based BBC Worldwide Productions to produce new shows and formats.
Ancier will also manage BBC Worldwide’s U.S. TV and video sales business and
will oversee the introduction of BBC Worldwide’s web-based program delivery
system, bbc.com, which is currently in the process of approval.

John Smith, the CEO of BBC Worldwide, to whom Ancier will
report, commented: “Garth has an impeccable pedigree in U.S. media. His
experience with America’s most formidable networks, in both traditional and new
media, will be fantastic for us as we grow the BBC brand in this market.
Bringing all of our businesses in the U.S. under the guidance of someone with
Garth’s experience and vision will be invaluable for BBC Worldwide as we move
to double the scale of our business in this territory.”

Ancier will sit on, and be accountable to, the BBC Worldwide
Americas Board along with Darren Childs (MD of Global Channels), David Moody
(MD of Digital Media), Mark Young (MD of Global Sales) and Wayne Garvie
(Director of Content & Production). He will be based in BBC Worldwide
Americas’ New York headquarters and all U.S. businesses will report to him with
immediate effect.

Most recently, Ancier ran In2TV, the Warner Bros./AOL
broadband television network. Previously, he was chairman of The WB until its
merger with UPN in September 2006. He also served as The WB’s chief programmer
from 1994 to 1999, before joining NBC as its president of entertainment. Ancier
was also a member of the FOX launch team in the 1980s, serving as its president
of programming.