Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2011/11/15/bt_poaches_virgin_media_tivo_man/
BT poaches TV wizard from Virgin Media
Joins at 'pivotal moment'
Posted in Legal, 15th November 2011 14:24 GMT
BT beefed up its TV business today, after it poached Virgin Media wonk Alex Green.
UK's national telco threw more weight behind its plans to embrace IPTV in May when it confirmed it would change the bulk of its broadband network to use multicast routers as from next year.
And now it has hired the exec behind Virgin Media's implementation of TiVo from the rival ISP.
“Alex has an excellent reputation and track record within the industry and he joins BT at a pivotal moment for our future television services," said BT retail boss Gavin Patterson.
"He has direct experience with Virgin Media of launching their next generation TV service, which will be a huge asset to BT as we embark on the transformation of our own TV services in the next year.
“Alex is also going to be focusing closely on our entertainment offering and maximising the opportunities that the launch of services such as OnLive will bring to BT.”
Green, who previously worked at News International and also sits on the board of online ID verification outfit GB Group as a non-exec director, will help develop the delayed YouView service, which is expected to launch in 2012.
He won't be joining the company until the start of next year, BT said. ®