There are question marks over the future direction of BT's internet TV service today following the departure of the telco's entertainment boss.

Andrew Burke, who took up the post of BT Entertainment chief exec at the beginning of 2005, has left the company "by mutual consent to pursue other interests", according to a spokesman for the firm.

It means the man who has helped BT push ahead with the development of its new TV service, "BT Vision", will not be leading the launch of the service when it's unveiled later this year.

The FT reports that Burke and BT Retail chief exec Ian Livingston disagreed on plans for BT's Entertainment business, but a spokesman for the telco denied there was any conflict between the two men.

"I'm not aware of anyone falling out with anyone," he told us. He also rejected claims that BT Vision was suffering any technical glitches insisting the firm was going "full steam ahead for an autumn launch".

"Andrew Burke has made an enormous contribution to the development of BT Vision and has helped assemble a world class team that everyone is confident will deliver a successful launch in the autumn," said the firm in a statement. ®

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