The traditional dominance of broadcasters has collapsed as audiences migrate to mobiles, websites and gaming, said Roger Parry – one possible candidate for the much-discussed role of ITV’s CEO in UK. Writing for The Telegraph, Parry said TV is in turmoil as advertising has slumped and digital channels have proliferated. Hinting at his strategy ideas for ITV, Parry pointed to comments made by CBS head Leslie Moonves speaking in London this week that mobile holds no fear for him because “quality, branded content” cuts through digital fragmentation. Parry, who chairs Johnston Press and Future Publishing, noted that an increasing amount of the UK’s TV content is independently produced and proving popular in the US. “We may no longer have the best TV channels in the world but we could be on the brink of creating a great, new, television industry and one that can claim its place as a major exporter not just of talent but the programmes themselves – if we can capture a bit of Mr Moonves’s religious zeal and his programme budget.”
In a recent interview with MediaGuardian, Parry said there will continue to be very considerable change in media company boardrooms. “We’re going through a period of quasi-religious reform where you either embrace new media or find it all too exhausting and give up and go fishing.”
— Brand Republic and MediaGuardian: Stewart Till, chairman of United International Pictures and BBC Worldwide head John Smith are also in the running, as well as Channel 4 CE Andy Duncan, BSkyB programming boss Dawn Airey and, controversially, former Ofcom CE Stephen Carter.
This article originally appeared in MediaGuardian.
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