Ex-Blockbuster director takes digital TV position

Roger Hall, former UK marketing director of Blockbuster Video, has joined pay-TV movie channel the Digital Broadcasting Company (DBC) as director of marketing.

DBC is likely to use the Astra satellite employed by BSkyB. It is expected to show premium movies in a head-to-head battle with Sky film channels Sky Movies, The Movie Channel, Sky Movies Gold and pay-per-view channel Sky Box Office.

The project is funded by the media-orientated venture capital group St James’s Investment Partnership.

DBC lured former BSkyB finance director Richard Brooke to the post of managing director in November.

Richard Dunn, former executive director of News International Television, had already joined DBC as chairman in July. Dunn had previously spent ten years at Thames TV, but resigned as chief executive after being beaten by Greg Dyke to the post of chief executive of parent company Pearson TV.

Hall left Blockbuster, which has more than 800 UK outlets, in January (MW January 15).

He was promoted from Blockbuster advertising manager to UK head of marketing in 1996. Hall was replaced by marketing manager Siobhan Chatburn.