The drama at NTL, the UK cable operator, continues: it has approached Michael Jackson, the former Channel 4 CEO and now the head of Barry Diller’s content operations at IACI, to run ITV should its bid succeed, with support from Malcolm Wall, head of its content business, according to reports. Earlier this year, Jackson’s name has been thrown around as a potential candidate for the new CEO of ITV, even though Jackson and Diller have denied or hedged it in the past. Jackson’s reputation as a program maker and talent magnet would give NTL credibility it sorely needs, reports HR.
Jeremy Warner over at Independent explains it well: “I’m told that one of the reasons why Michael Jackson…is now working in the US for the media tycoon Barry Diller, is prepared to come in and run ITV for NTL, but is not apparently interested in the vacant CEO’s job at a standalone ITV, is that he understands these convergence arguments better than any. Without NTL, ITV is condemned to swift death by analogue switch off.”
If Jackson does leave, who would come in at IAC? This would come just as IAC’s content plans are finally coming together…
Related: NTL To Rebranded As Virgin Media; Approaches ITV for Merger
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