BSkyB marketing chief tipped for top BIB role

BSkyB marketing director for digital television Chris Townsend is tipped to become the commercial and marketing director for British Interactive Broadcasting (BIB), the new interactive digital venture.

One of his first tasks will be to start an advertising review for an account worth between 10m and 15m. The campaign will cover press, posters, and probably TV. However, it is undecided whether the campaign will be product- or corporate-led.

BIB is a digital interactive service, which will provide everything from films, banking and shopping via a 200 set-top box on a standard TV.

The company consists of a consortium of BT, BSkyB, Midland Bank, and Matsushita Electric. It has pledged 265m for the technology over the next five years.

The consortium has placed orders for 1 million set-top boxes with four manufacturers: Amstrad, Grundig, Matsushita, and Pace.

Townsend will still be based at BSkyB’s London offices in Isleworth, but will start work at the new company as early as this week.

Media Analysis, page 16