Ex-ITV Digital director takes over at Freeview

The company which operates free digital terrestrial TV service Freeview has appointed NTL TV product marketing director Matthew Seaman to be its general manager.

Seaman will report to the board of DTV Services, the company run by the BBC, Crown Castle International and BSkyB to provide consumer and retailer support for Freeview.

DTV directors include BBC director of marketing and communications Andy Duncan, Crown Castle president and managing director Peter Abery and BSkyB director of product planning Nick Gregory.

Seaman will be responsible for maintaining relationships with retailers and manufacturers of digital terrestrial adapters, overseeing the Freeview information line, and managing DTV Services’ budget.

Before joining NTL last year, Seaman worked at ITV Digital, where he was director of interactivity. He has also had stints at BSkyB and Dixons.

Continental Research has found that awareness of Freeview has grown from 39 per cent of UK adults in July last year to 58 per cent in January 2003. Freeview offers up to 30 digital channels and 12 radio networks.