US TV
Bill Hilary, a former executive vice president and general manager of US cable channel Comedy Central, has been appointed as BBC America's new President and CEO.
Hilary will report to the BBC's director of television, Jana Bennett, and Mark Young, president and CEO of BBC Worldwide. His responsibilities include the main BBC America digital cable channel, BBCAmerica.com, BBC America On Demand - a VOD service available on some digital cable systems - and "any other digital channels and services associated with the future growth" of the BBC America brand.
The new BBC America CEO is not new to the BBC: before his 4.5 year tenure at Comedy Central, he was the Head of Independent Commissioning at the corporation. Prior to that, he was the BBC's Head of Independent Entertainment and Comedy Commissioning; Channel 4's Commissioning Editor of Youth and Entertainment; and Granada's Head of Arts and Entertainment.
"Bill's leadership at Comedy Central has seen the channel garner both ratings and awards. Bill knows what makes both Americans and the British laugh," said Jana Bennett. "His understanding of the American audience and British talent, together with his knowledge of the BBC and British programmes, makes him uniquely qualified to head BBC America - recently described as the hottest network on TV."
Hilary promised that he would "drive BBC America to the next level," saying that the channel was "poised to enter the next phase of its development."
Hilary will report to the BBC's director of television, Jana Bennett, and Mark Young, president and CEO of BBC Worldwide. His responsibilities include the main BBC America digital cable channel, BBCAmerica.com, BBC America On Demand - a VOD service available on some digital cable systems - and "any other digital channels and services associated with the future growth" of the BBC America brand.
The new BBC America CEO is not new to the BBC: before his 4.5 year tenure at Comedy Central, he was the Head of Independent Commissioning at the corporation. Prior to that, he was the BBC's Head of Independent Entertainment and Comedy Commissioning; Channel 4's Commissioning Editor of Youth and Entertainment; and Granada's Head of Arts and Entertainment.
"Bill's leadership at Comedy Central has seen the channel garner both ratings and awards. Bill knows what makes both Americans and the British laugh," said Jana Bennett. "His understanding of the American audience and British talent, together with his knowledge of the BBC and British programmes, makes him uniquely qualified to head BBC America - recently described as the hottest network on TV."
Hilary promised that he would "drive BBC America to the next level," saying that the channel was "poised to enter the next phase of its development."
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