News

Ten confirms Horne as chief digital officer

Rebekah Horne

Horne: Coming to Ten?

Network Ten has confirmed Mumbrella’s story of last night that Rebekah Horne is to join the organisation.

In a statement this morning, Ten said that Horne was to be chief digital officer, a role previously held by Nick Spooner who left nearly two years ago.

Horne – the former CEO of MySpace in Australia – will report to Ten’s CEO James Warburton.

In the statement Warburton said: “We are delighted to welcome someone with Rebekah’s experience and skills to Network Ten. We have made significant progress with our digital media business over the past 12 months and Rebekah will play a key role in accelerating our growth in that area.”

Most recently Horne was in the US leading the launch of Google-backed social commerce site TopFloor.com.

“The television industry has been faced with enormous changes that have had significant implications for all players in the value chain,” Horn said in the announcement. “This challenge provides the opportunity for the industry to overhaul its traditional model and ways of creating, distributing and monetising its content. I look forward to immersing myself in this interesting and exciting opportunity, and working with James and the team at Ten.”

Horne’s arrival would come at a key time for Ten. The network has the youngest audience and while this risks the speediest fragmentation to other media, it also offers opportunities to grow the broadcaster’s slice of the catch-up TV pie. There also remains a conversation to be had amongst Australia’s broadcasters over a unified catch-up offering similar to those offered in the US and UK.

Companion viewing apps are also likely to be a key battleground for the networks in the coming months.

Before leaving Australia, Horne worked for radio network dmgAustralia. When she left she indicated that her intention was to consult for the organisation again on her return. This morning a spokeswoman for dmgAustralia told Mumbrella: “Yes Rebekah has returned to Sydney and continues to consult to dmg radio.” dmgRadio is owned by Lachlan Murdoch who is also chairman of Ten.

 

ADVERTISEMENT

Get the latest media and marketing industry news (and views) direct to your inbox.

Sign up to the free Mumbrella newsletter now.

 

SUBSCRIBE

Sign up to our free daily update to get the latest in media and marketing.