Scripps int’l chief to take on TVN presidency

Scripps Networks Interactive has named Jim Samples as president of its Polish subsidiary TVN, with Scripps chairman and president Kenneth Lowe taking the role of chairman of the Warsaw-based media group.

Samples has headed up TVN on an interim basis since the departure of Markus Tellenbach in July last year.

He will now serve as president of TVN’s management board with day-to-day oversight of the company. Samples will continue as president of Scripps Networks Interactive’s international operations, which acquired TVN in a US$600 million deal in 2015.

Scripps said that the moves follow a successful year across the TVN portfolio, with the broadcaster increasing its market share by 2.7% in the 16-49 age range, which it said was the biggest growth among Poland’s big four broadcasters.

TVN’s flagship broadcast channel is currently the second most-watched in Poland with 12.75% share of adults aged 16-49, and TVN claims the number one spot in Poland’s biggest cities, driven by entertainment formats including Kuchenne Rewolucje, Mam Talent, MasterChef and MasterChef Junior. Other recent successes have included drama series Druga Szansa, reality show Azja Express and docu-soap 19+.

“Under the ownership of Scripps Networks Interactive, TVN has gone from strength to strength in the last eighteen months, across the full range of entertainment, news and lifestyle networks. The company is central to our plans to grow our business outside the United States, and I am looking forward to working even more closely with the supervisory board as we look to achieve that,” said Lowe.

“Jim Samples has shown incredible leadership of the TVN team over the last six months, and I know that his experience and direction will be integral to the company’s ongoing expansion and success. These are exciting times for TVN, and I’m very confident in Jim and the team’s ability to drive continued strong performance for a long time to come.”

Samples said: “It’s a great honour to be asked to continue to lead TVN, which is undoubtedly one of the best broadcasters and media companies in the whole of Europe. The team here has done an amazing job over the last six months, and there are huge opportunities as we continue to build greater cooperation and integration with the wider Scripps Networks’ business.”