BT lures Disney new media exec for interactive TV arm

BT has poached a senior Disney new media executive, Antony Carbonari, to fill the newly created role of director of interactive and commercial media for its Television Services business.

He will be responsible for revenue from advertising and sponsorship as well as the use of interactive TV for retail, gaming and community services.

Carbonari was previously director of broadband services for the Walt Disney Internet Group, handling distribution strategy for Disney’s broadband services and also working on content services for Disney’s IPTV (TV over the internet) platform. He joined Disney in 2000 from ft.com, where he was global head of new media sales.

At BT Television Services, he will report to chief executive Dan Marks.

BT Television Services is part of BT’s Entertainment division, which includes BT Rich Media and its digital media services division. It was set up early last year. It will be offering on-demand programming of shows such as The Sopranos and sporting events.

In June last year, it appointed Lib Charlesworth, former Freeview general manager, as director of sales and marketing, and Karen Saunders as director of programming and acquisitions.

Both had previously held senior positions at BSkyB, where Charlesworth was involved in the launch and marketing of Sky Plus and TiVo, and Saunders was head of pay-per- view at Sky Networks.