New Role for Ex-ESPN STAR Sports Chief

LONDON: Peter Hutton, who previously ran ESPN and STAR Sports’ now-defunct Asian joint venture, has been tapped as the COO of MP & Silva Group, which distributes the media rights to a host of sporting events.

Hutton has a long career in the business of sports broadcasting, including as a reporter and presenter at the BBC, ITV and Sky Sports and as producer on Futbol Mundial. He also helped establish IMG’s India office before running production for IMG in Asia. He helped found Taj Television/Ten Sports, rising to become COO of the business before its sale to Zee TV. He then moved to News Corporation and eventually became managing director of ESPN STAR Sports, a joint venture with ESPN that encompassed a bouquet of channels across Asia. In November of last year, News Corporation completed its buyout of ESPN’s interest in ESPN STAR Sports, with the business subsequently being incorporated into the FOX International Channels bouquet.

Hutton will be based in London for his new role, effective this July. Andrea Radrizzani, group CEO of MP & Silva, commented, “We are very glad to welcome Peter to work with us at MP & Silva. Peter has over 30 years of sports broadcasting experience and he is the perfect person to join MP & Silva’s leadership team to help the group into our next phase of commercial expansion.”