Ten digital boss Rebekah Horne departs for role as chief digital officer of the NRL
Network Ten’s chief digital officer Rebekah Horne is leaving the broadcaster after three years to take a role a chief digital officer at the NRL.
Horne, who has held senior digital roles with Nova and Myspace and who was also the founding CEO at Google-backed venture TopFloor, will be replaced by Liz Baldwin, who takes the role of general manager of digital.
“Rebekah and her team have done a great job over the past three years, launching Tenplay in September 2013 and building it into one of the leading online entertainment services in Australia,” said Paul Anderson CEO of Network Ten.
“From a standing start less than three years ago, Tenplay now covers more distribution platforms than any other online television service. Last year, tenplay generated an average of 25 million page views and 13.5 million video views a month,” he said.
Baldwin was previously Network Ten’s digital executive producer. In her new role, she will be responsible for the company’s digital media business – including the online catch-up and streaming service, tenplay – and will report to Anderson and chief programming officer Beverley McGarvey.
The move comes the same day as Network Ten prepares to expand its live streaming offering with a block of weekday programming from 4:30pm to 7:30pm on tenplay from today onwards, while I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here will also to be streamed when it launches on February 1.
ARL Commission Chairman, John Grant said digital and social media were key crucial to the game’s future.
“We expect our fans to increasingly engage with Rugby League content – including accessing live games, highlights, tipping, ticket purchases and much more – through our digital platforms,” said Grant.
“More than nine million fans now follow the NRL through the NRL Telstra digital network and social media so we are determined to be at the leading edge in providing digital content on our platforms anywhere and any time.”
Horne will take up the role on February 29.
Nic Christensen
Congratulations to Liz on the appointment, she’s such an amazing leader. The growth of NLM’s digital stable under Liz’s stewardship was stellar and a joy to be a part of. The team at Ten are lucky to have her for the role, great news for Ten Digital.
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I guess the NRL plan on just issuing press releases re their digital staggery rather than actually do anything.
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The only time I watch the NRL is when the players or clubs are in court for various off-field indiscretions.
If the digital strategy is to make the NRL the blooper reel of sports, I’ll be hooked.
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Congrats on the appointment Liz Baldwin. Very well deserved!
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Congrats to both Liz and Rebekah – both will add plenty of value in their respective roles.
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Congrats to both.
I would hardly say the NRL is any worse than the AFL. Especially this last off season NRHell.
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Why would any sane person stream FTA TV between 4 and 7?
I could stream my dog sleeping on the couch. It would be more engaging
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@NRHell, very smart move by both the NRL and Rebekah considering they had the 3 most watched programs last year. Can’t wait to see what comes from it
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No doubt rebekah has many ideas bubbling up to the surface
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press releases in the biz!
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