MTV music chief moves to BT Vision programming role

by Mark Banham, Brand Republic 05-Feb-07, 11:15

LONDON - Michael Barry, managing director of MTV's music channels in the UK and Ireland, has been appointed by BT to become director of programming at its new broadband television service BT Vision.

He will be responsible for new programming initiatives across the service, to shore up its presence after a "soft" launch at the end of December.

Barry will be a valuable asset as the telecoms company enters a battle during this quarter with rivals Sky and Virgin Media, formed from the merger of NTL and Virgin Mobile. Virgin Media will launch on February 8, and has already received a heavy promotional push this weekend.

Barry was responsible for all MTV channels in the UK including MTV2, MTV Dance, MTV Base, MTV Hits and the new user generated content channel MTV Flux.

BT Vision, incorporating Freeview with a video-on-demand service broadcast through broadband, will offer hit movies such as Peter Jackson's 'King Kong' and Sam Mendes' 'Jarhead'.

At the end of December, BT signed video-on-demand agreements with MTV Networks channels MTV, Paramount Comedy and Nickelodeon.

The deals will allow on-demand access to content including hidden camera show 'Punk'd' from MTV, cult cartoon 'SpongeBob Squarepants' from the Nickelodeon stable and 'South Park' from Paramount Comedy.

Sky has countered BT Vision with its own video-on-demand package, which will allow viewers to download TV programmes, movies and sports highlights.

The satellite broadcaster is set to expand its Sky Anytime download service beyond the web and mobile phones to its Sky+ PVR, currently in 1.7m UK households.

Sky+ subscribers will be able to pay for the option of downloading Sky One, Sky Box Office, Sky Movies and Sky Sports content to their set-top box to watch at any time.