Weekend Spy - Job Spec: Tony Orsten

Each week we'll be asking people from all parts of the media industry - from channel controllers to catering staff, directors to digital technicians - to tell us about themselves and their job.

This week is the man who puts the boost into Joost (well the content anyway), Tony Orsten, who is responsible for the getting the likes of Viacom, CNN and Sony to add their ‘stuff’ to the newly-launched internet TV site.

Name
Tony Orsten

Job Title
Head of UK content strategy and acquisition

Age
52

Lives
Hertfordshire

In the role since
September 2006

Responsibilities
Convincing content providers to put their programming on Joost in return for a share of ad revenue.

Best thing about your job
Seeing a mixture of utter fear mixed with incredulity each and every time I demonstrate the platform to a programme maker or broadcaster.

Worst thing about your job
It’s in beta, so it crashes.

First thing you do in the morning when you get in
Stroke my Mac, stroke the office dog Marley, share my bagel with Marley etc…

What question have you been asked most this week?
"How does it work?" (no idea)

What’s the best thing about Joost?
Being able to be involved with something genuinely magical in my own profession – like finding life on another planet.

What’s your favourite content on Joost?
Braindead TV – The World of Stupid from Bullseye TV.

Any downsides to working in the media?
You’re kidding right?

First media job
Disc Jockey in BFBS Germany. Not ‘arf…(Yes I did three-way-family favourites on Radio 2 with Jean Challis in 1978.)

Biggest achievement to date
Launched a comedy channel in the UK for a Hollywood Studio without them having the slightest clue what was going on – bless!

Anything you wish you'd done differently?
Too many late nights, long edits, conference calls, heavy meals and plane journeys. That and the fact that all my hair fell out in protest. Not sure if the two are related.

Dream job
Directing a movie about two Scadinavian entrepreneurs who set out to stun the world of music, telephony and TV and still stay nice guys. (Arrgh)

Best media jolly/event you've ever attended
Six days in California hosting 40 media buyers playing golf, eating, drinking and drinking. Long Island Ice Tee shirts all round.

Click here to find out more about Joost.