Foxtel takes former MTV Australia general manager to lead music channels and digital
Batties
Foxtel has hired former MTV Australia and New Zealand general manager Rebecca Batties to lead music channels and digital.
The appointment comes as the pay-TV company restructures, shedding two of its senior staff in early March, with Rebecca Heap and Kym Niblock both taking redundancies.
Batties joined MTV in Australia 2008 but finished up late last year as the company winds down its presence in the local market.
She will helm Foxtel’s music channels, Channel V, V Hits, MAX, smooth and CMC, together with Foxtel Tunes, and will be responsible for the management of all digital operations for the suite of Foxtel Networks channels, across the music, movies, lifestyle, factual and general entertainment portfolios.
In a statement she said: “I am absolutely thrilled to join Foxtel. The brief I have been given is all about growth and my focus will be consolidating the impressive success of Foxtel’s music portfolio and maintaining a distinctive Australian voice.
“There is also an enormous opportunity to continue to expand Foxtel’s digital destinations to enhance subscribers’ entertainment experience and complement Foxtel’s quality content.”
Previous roles include creative director; brand and marketing for Discovery Channels’ ten international brands based in Washington; MTV International – head of content and creative for markets including Europe, Russia and Japan; and executive vice president – programming and marketing for UGO Networks.
Foxtel executive director of television Brian Walsh said: “I am delighted to welcome Rebecca to Foxtel and this pivotal role in our channels group.
“Rebecca is an award-winning international media executive with an extensive background in media and content across all platforms. In particular, her experience in cable and subscription television, both here and globally, distinguished her for this appointment.”
Batties will join the company next Monday.
Miranda Ward worked for Mumbrella from 2013 to 2017, eventually becoming deputy editor. Miranda joined Mumbrella in September 2013 from Sky News.
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