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Seven seeks out digital supremo to lead delivery of HBBTV

sevenSeven West Media is on the hunt for a ‘digital supremo’ to lead delivery of online content and HBBTV and has approached several international candidates over the role, Mumbrella has learned.

The role, understood to be along the lines of a chief digital officer or head of new media, will be tasked with leading delivery of content across HBBTV and digital, as well as aligning content with the Seven West Media Group’s digital publishing arm Yahoo!7.

It is understood to be a key hire in Seven’s new management and business structure as the network brings new forms of content delivery to the forefront of its 2014 agenda, ahead of the launch of HBBTV which is expected to be rolled out by the free-to-air networks in the second quarter of this year.

Seven has confirmed there have been discussions with a “number of different people” with a focus on digital, and executives from the BBC and TV NZ are believed to have been in the frame.

Although Seven would not confirm the nature of the role, it is understood to be similar to that of Rebekah Horne who is the chief digital officer at Channel Ten.

Horne is credited with launching Ten’s catch-up TV service Tenplay and has recently taken on the responsibility for the network’s online businesses Oasis, Our Deal and The Roar, as well as identifying new investment opportunities.

The free-to-air networks are gearing up for the launch of  HBBTV, Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV, by Freeview in the first half of 2014. HBBTV boxes will then be available to buy and viewers will be able to access both the main channels and online only digital channels through the device, as well as catch-up services like PlusSeven.

Kurt Burnette, chief revenue officer at Seven West Media, said HBBTV will be a “game changer” for content  at the 2014 upfronts in October and Seven launched online health channel Healthy Me TV in partnership with Brand New Media last month.

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