CNN hires Owen Wyatt to develop content sales and out of home business
8th May 2014, London: CNN International has hired Owen Wyatt as Distribution Director of Product, Content and Out of Home from YouTube Multi Channel Network Base79.
In this newly-created international role, Wyatt will refine and refresh CNN International’s product offerings for affiliates and out of home platforms across broadcast and digital. A major focus will be on growing CNN’s international affiliate network of over 1,100 existing partners and developing the extensive consultancy, training and support services that CNN offers.
In addition, Wyatt will develop CNN‘s content sales business across traditional broadcast platforms as well as with new digital and out of home distribution clients and partners worldwide.
Before heading up news and sports content at Base79, the largest YouTube Multi Channel Network outside of North America, Wyatt was Head of Video Product at Reuters. He also brings a wealth of editorial experience to the role, as a former Global Editor for Reuters Video Sports and producer at Sky Sports.
Wyatt will report to Greg Beitchman, CNN International’s VP Content Sales and Partnerships.
“Owen is a rare combination of an experienced TV executive with deep first-hand knowledge of content strategies in a new media landscape,” said Greg Beitchman. “In this new role, Owen will take advantage of his substantial experience in digital at Base79 combined with hands-on experience running video at Reuters to craft new and valuable propositions for our partners and affiliates. With Owen on-board CNN’s partners can expect even more innovation and enterprising commercial opportunities.”
“CNN International is uniquely placed to assist and empower affiliates and partners worldwide in adapting to the disruptive changes taking place in the way audiences interact with news content,” said Owen Wyatt. “As the leading global player in news, CNN also has a huge opportunity to grow our distribution with out of home partners in mutually beneficial relationships that takes CNN content to an even greater audience on new and innovative platforms.”
CNN’s international affiliate network has grown in recent years, with an increasing number of partners extending their relationship with CNN beyond content to utilise training and consultancy expertise. Partners can also leverage the CNN brand, such as the recent launch of 24-hour news channel CNN Indonesia in partnership with PT Trans Media Corpora.
Wyatt joins Beitchman’s team as CNN continues to cement its leadership position in all key independent viewing surveys. His appointment is another step in Rani Raad’s restructuring of CNN’s international commercial business units since he was made Chief Commercial Officer in February 2013. Raad assumed the position when parent company Turner International made the decision to align all of CNN’s international commercial activity into a single operation.
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About Owen Wyatt
Wyatt joins CNN from Base79, where he was Head of News, Sports and Programming. In this role, he developed Base79’s news and sport business, as well as building an in-house team of content producers focused solely on YouTube, launching six original channels.
Prior to Base79, Owen was Head of Video at Reuters, where he retained and developed commercial partnerships with global news broadcasters, negotiated rights, launched new products and defined content strategy for all multimedia products across news, sport and entertainment.
He was also Global Editor for Sports Video at Reuters, working with over 700 broadcast, online and mobile clients worldwide. Before Reuters, Wyatt worked in production for Sky Sports, delivering over 500 live broadcasts to UK audiences across a range of sports.
About CNN International
CNN’s portfolio of news and information services is available in five different languages across all major TV, internet and mobile platforms reaching more than 375 million households around the globe. CNN International, awarded “News Channel of the Year” by the Royal Television Society in 2013 and 2014, is the number one international TV news channel according to all major media surveys across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific region and Latin America. The CNN digital network is consistently one of the top news and current affairs destination on the web. CNN has 44 editorial offices and more than 1,100 affiliates worldwide through CNN Newsource. CNN International is part of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company.