Simon Pitts


STV shuts down STV2 channel as it invests in digital

STV has laid out its plans for the next three years, which will see the Scottish broadcaster axe its STV2 channel to make room for digital initiatives. The broadcaster hopes that its “three year growth plan” will mean that a third of profits will arrive from outside of linear advertising by the end of 2020. […]

STV’s MD Alan Clements to depart in Spring

STV Productions has confirmed that its managing director Alan Clements is to leave the company this May. Clements joined the company as director of content in 2008 and has since worked to create a multi-genre production company supplying major UK networks and international customers. A process is now in place to appoint a successor, according […]

STV names ITV online chief as CEO

Scotland’s STV has appointed ITV’s managing director of online, pay television, interactive and technology, Simon Pitts, as its next CEO. Pitts (pictured), who has worked at ITV for 17 years in various senior roles, is due to join the Scottish broadcaster’s board as chief executive on January 3, 2018. His appointment comes after STV’s current […]

Amazon launches subscription TV in UK, Germany

Amazon has launched its Amazon Channels offering in the UK, Germany and Austria, allowing Prime users to add live and on-demand TV as part of their subscription package. Amazon Channels launches with a line-up of more than 40 channels in the UK and more than 25 in Germany and Austria, with Amazon promising more additions […]

BBC, ITV, AMC pact for BritBox US SVOD service

The UK’s two largest broadcasters and The Walking Dead cable net AMC are joining forces to launch BritBox, a new US SVOD service that will debut early next year. The partners said they want to roll out the service in other international markets after the US. BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the UK pubcaster, […]

ITV, AwesomenessTV create UK block

Details of the upcoming AwesomenessTV-themed block coming to UK digital terrestrial channel ITV2 have been revealed. 2Awesome is the name of the programming block first touted when broadcaster ITV and youth-skewed digital producer and network Awesomeness joined forces to distribute programming in the UK in July. The pact marks one of the most significant partnerships […]

ITV, AwesomenessTV create UK pact

UK broadcaster ITV and kids-focused YouTube channel operator AwesomenessTV have entered into a two-year content agreement. This will see AwesomenessTV shows debuting exclusively in the UK on digital terrestrial ITV2 and on-demand platform ITV Hub, which is getting exclusive programming for the first time. Included is a new extended weekend programme for ITV2 in early […]

ITV buys into parent-focused MCN

UK broadcaster ITV has acquired a stake in Channel Mum, which is billed as the first YouTube network for mothers. This comes soon after analysts criticised a perceived lack of investment in the multichannel network space at ITV, which is different to other European broadcast groups such as MTG, RTL and ProSiebenSat.1 that have spent […]