Hot 100 2012 DIGITAL


All3Media connected-TV app will further bolster distribution. Opting to cherry-pick the most appropriate shows to spin off into apps and games has also proven lucrative. But it is YouTube that is Taylor’s main area of focus for development, with four original channels launched and more likely to follow if funding from the video- sharing site can be secured.


4 Ben McOwen


Wilson Director of YouTube


website and roll out 4oD (above) across emerging platforms such as tablets.


Way Is Essex is paving the way for programme brands. The elephant in the room remains ITV’s digital payments strategy. Yet to start trialling, this could be the one area in which Pem- brooke really cements his status at the broadcaster.


1 Richard Davidson-


Houston C4


Channel 4 dominated the online categories at Broadcast’s recent Digital Awards, showing how it is leading the charge in innova- tive multiplatform TV content. At the helm is head of online Richard Davidson-Houston, who has put in place a clearly defined digital structure that is closely embedded within the TV commissioning teams, with multi platform commissioning lead Louise Brown steering this. The results have regularly been critically acclaimed, popular and innovative, spanning an array of two-screen apps, games and websites. The one area in which there has yet to be signifi- cant headway is connected TV, but it’s early days. C4 has also continued to evolve its own


24 | Broadcast | Hot 100 2 Robin Pembrooke Managing director, itv.com


Say it quietly, but ITV is being talked up as the next big opportu- nity by the most forward-think- ing multiplatform executives, and former Global Radio interactive director Robin Pembrooke is credited with the turnaround. Having inherited a sprawling service, Pembrooke is gradually delivering real focus to ITV’s digital strategy and has restruc- tured the division into four dis- tinct areas: VoD, news, commerce and programme support. The reliability of ITV Player has settled down, with wider distri- bution secured, the news site has been relaunched and The Only


3 Andy Taylor


Commercial and digital director, All3Media


The ambitions of super-indie All3Media’s digital and commer- cial director, Andy Taylor, match those of the wider business. He is on track to boost digital activity to 11% of group profits – as much as £6.5m – this year. First-of-a- kind distribution deals with emerging VoD players such as Hulu and Netflix have helped break shows such as The Only Way Is Essex to a US audience, while a direct-to-consumer


YouTube is positioning itself as a new platform for original content and the former ITV director of online is leading the charge. Ben McOwen Wilson has issued a call to content companies to pitch channel ideas in which he will invest up to £500,000. Final deci- sions are expected to be made this month, with McOwen Wilson certain to have some steer over the channels’ production. It’s not yet clear if YouTube will continue to invest, but if its strategy to increase the level of original content it hosts pays off, McOwen Wilson will be at the epicentre as the Google-owned site shakes up the UK content sector.


5 Gill Whitehead


Head of audience technology & insight, C4


It was Channel 4 chief executive David Abraham who said “data is the new oil”, but Gill Whitehead is the one mining it. More than


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