MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide has announced that John Smith has decided to step down after eight years as CEO during which period the BBC‘s commercial arm posted record growth.

Tim Davie, who is currently BBC Audio and Music director, has been announced as Smith‘s successor Under Smith‘s leadership, BBC Worldwide grew into a major global media company, doubling its revenue, growing profits four-fold, almost tripling margins and returning more than ?1.3 billion to the BBC.

Smith, who has helped turn Doctor Who, Top Gear and Dancing With The Stars into global franchises and recently unveiled profits of ?155 million in the last financial year, told staff he is leaving the BBC to pursue new opportunities in the commercial sector.

Prior to this, Smith was the BBC COO and finance director and is responsible for the transformation of the BBC‘s property estate, including New Broadcasting House in W1.

BBC DG George Entwistle said, "I want to thank John for his enormous contribution to the success of BBC Worldwide in recent years. He has turned the company into a truly global phenomenon delivering a fantastic financial injection into the BBC every year. He leaves the company ideally set up for the future challenges it faces in a digital world."

On the appointment of Tim Davie, Entwistle added, "Tim has done an excellent job leading the BBC Audio and Music division and has a fantastic vision for the opportunities that lie ahead for BBC Worldwide. Building on John‘s success Tim will now take the BBC‘s commercial arm into the next chapter of its development. I am delighted he will be joining the team at this crucial time."

Smith said, "It has been a huge privilege to lead this powerful business, owned by the BBC that does so much to supplement the licence fee income and takes the BBC brand to audiences around the world. I am extremely proud of what we have achieved over the last eight years but I am excited to be moving on to new opportunities in the commercial world as our revenue and profits reach record highs."

Davie said, "BBC Worldwide is an outstanding business that plays a unique role in building the BBC‘s global reputation and it is an honour to be asked to lead it. John‘s legacy is a company with a strong performance record, leadership in digital and rising international creative exports. I look forward to leading BBC Worldwide through its next phase of growth, delivering further dividends to the BBC and championing great British content around the world."

MUMBAI: At the recently concluded television trade event Mipcom in Cannes, France music producer Audio Network is delighted to announce an international deal with Endemol. The music publisher has designed and developed a bespoke content management system where Endemol producers worldwide can select and use Endemol music in their productions.

Endemol Worldwide Brands CEO Olivier Gers said, "Our challenge was the efficient sharing of our own Music IP across the Group. We have worked with Audio Network for a number of years and turned to them to create a bespoke systemthat allows our global users to search, download and use music in all our productions. We are delighted that we now have online access to all our music via one comprehensive system allowing us to keep the music side of our brands consistent across all territories."

Audio Network MD Juliette Squair said, "This is a great partnership for us. Our flexible business model allows us to interpret Endemol?s business needs and develop this innovative management system for them. We?re delighted to share our music expertise and further our already close relationship with Endemol.It providesthe perfect music solution for them, and now enables them to rollout their own library in addition to the Audio Network repertoire to its global producers and to maximise their IP on a global scale."

Audio Network?s core business model is the offering of a quality music catalogue of up to 53,000 tracks across all genres - all of which are pre-cleared for multiple formats, for the world, forever.

With a catalogue of over 53,000 tracks, Audio Network offers a complete music solution by cutting through the traditionally complex and costly processes of licensing music. All high-quality tracks are pre-cleared for multiple formats, for the world, forever.

This approach allows producers to make content for international distribution, emerging platforms and new media without the need to go through the complicated and expensive process of clearing individual tracks or re-versioning productions.

The company supplies music to media clients, including BBC, HBO, MSN, MTV Networks, National Geographic Ogilvy, and Endemol.

MUMBAI: The UK pubcaster the BBC‘s children‘s channel CBeebies is bringing old friends and a new feel to its early evening schedule for the Autumn, with the return of ‘The Adventures Of Abney & Teal‘, ‘64 Zoo Lane‘ and ‘Waybuloo‘. And for the first time, the new-look Bedtime Hour will see different schedules on weekday evenings (Sunday-Thursday) and weekend evenings (Fridays and Saturdays).

From 28 October, new episodes of ‘The Adventures of Abney and Teal‘ will be seen at 6 pm, taking young viewers off to the island in the middle of the lake where Abney & Teal live, for some animated adventures with their friends. Then at 6.10pm, it‘s time to join Lucy in ‘64 Zoo Lane‘ as she goes on some magical night-time exploits with the animals living at the zoo near her house. The regular bedtime programming of ‘In The Night Garden‘ and ‘The Bedtime Story‘ will remain in their slots to draw the early evening schedule to a close.

Then, as the weekend approaches, the popular Piplings return to the Bedtime Hour on 2 November. This series of shorter episodes of ‘Waybuloo‘ will be seen every Friday and Saturday after ‘The Adventures of Abney and Teal‘ at 6.10 pm, taking children on a journey into the world of Nara where the Piplings practice their unique Yogo moves, helping little ones wind down.

CBeebies controller Kay Benbow said, "The Bedtime Hour is a particularly important part of CBeebies programming and we are always looking at ways to refresh the schedule and keep it interesting and engaging.

"We recognise that families‘ routines often vary on weekdays and weekends so we wanted to try something a little different with our schedules to reflect this. It also allows us to include more programmes in The Bedtime Hour so that all of our young viewers have the chance to watch their favourite shows as they settle down for bedtime."

Fans of current bedtime shows ‘Charlie and Lola‘ will still be able to catch up with the popular show every day from 29 October.

And, as ever, parents and children can catch up with their favourite programmes at any time through the CBeebies iPlayer at www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/cbeebies

MUMBAI: UK pubcaster the BBC has signed a new contract for audience analysis and reporting with Television Research Partnership Ltd (TRP Ltd) after a nine-month procurement process.

The contract covers the bulk of the BBC‘s audience analysis and reporting needs across television, radio and online. This includes a wide range of television overnight reports based on BARB (Broadcasters‘ Audience Research Board) data, extensive quarterly RAJAR (Radio Joint Audience Research) reporting and analysis of BBC online usage using the BBC‘s own iStats system, and reporting on the BBC‘s own tracking studies and panels.

The new contract will commence in January 2013 and initially last for two years, with the provision to extend up to a further two years.

In addition to the main contract with TRP Ltd, BBC Audiences has also entered into a framework agreement with five data analysis agencies that will be able to compete for significant ad hoc data analysis requirements that fall outside the main contract. The agencies in the framework are TRP Ltd, Terrington and Company, GfK NOP, Attentional Ltd and Digital-i Ltd.

BBC head of audiences James Holden said, "This contract and framework is hugely important for BBC Audiences. Having accurate, timely and insightful reporting and data analysis is the bedrock of keeping in touch with how our audiences are behaving in an increasingly complex world.

"Through the procurement process TRP demonstrated the skill, experience and commitment that we need to carry forward this important task and we very much look forward to continuing to work with them in future. We also welcome the opportunity to work with the other agencies in the framework."

MUMBAI: BBC has announced that Sam Taylor is to lead its news channel.

The editorial and creative leader of the BBC‘s move into a new HD ready digital newsroom was appointed BBC News Channel, BBC News at One controller.

The BBC News Channel is a 24-hour rolling news service available on Freeview, Freesat, Sky, Virgin Media and online via the BBC News website, mobile services and on tablets. It was first launched in November 1997 as BBC News 24.

The BBC News Channel is the BBC‘s flagship continuous news channel, reporting on breaking news and the main stories of the day. It shows the main BBC One bulletins at 1 pm, 6 pm and 10 pm, as well as BBC Breakfast. There are headlines on the hour as well as UK and foreign news, sport, business news and weather.

Taylor joined the BBC as a news trainee in 1997, and has worked as a producer and editor on the BBC News Channel, before becoming editor of BBC News at One and editor of BBC Newswire, the Corporation‘s multimedia internal news service.

As an output editor on BBC One bulletins, he helped shape the BBC‘s coverage of some of the biggest stories of recent years - 7/7, the London Olympic Bid, the 2005 election and the death of Dr David Kelly. Most recently he has been responsible for the design and delivery of the BBC‘s plan to move its newsrooms from Television Centre and Bush House into one building at New Broadcasting House (NBH), and has led the development of BBC News output on social media.

The BBC adds that his track record in television news combined with a deep expertise in digital news media mean he is very well placed to lead the News Channel, and take forward its role at the heart of the BBC‘s live and breaking news services on all platforms.

BBC Newsroom head Mary Hockaday said, "This was a competition with high quality candidates. Sam won out because he has great news judgement in line with BBC News editorial values and a real sense of the channel‘s strengths and how to build on them. He takes a creative approach to leadership combined with great integrity. A real track record in covering hard news takes nerves of steel. Having clear strategic vision and knowledge of the new media landscape takes intellect and editorial flair. Sam combines all these qualities. He is a creative leader with his feet on the ground.‘‘

BBC News Group director Helen Boaden said, "The channel is vital to the success and credibility of BBC News; Sam‘s creative flair, digital savvy and editorial experience make him the ideal Controller at a time of great change" Taylor said, "I am delighted to take on this role. The BBC News Channel has been part of my life since its launch 15 years ago. I‘m taking over a channel that in the past few years has become the clear market leader, and is more respected and widely available than ever before. I‘m looking forward to taking the channel and its very strong team into New Broadcasting House where not only will we have a fantastic new studio, we will also be able to work even more closely with colleagues across the BBC - and ensure that our audience gets the very best live, breaking and developing journalism, wherever and whenever they want it."

He will take up his role later in the month.

MUMBAI: Anshuman Misra has quit Turner International Asia Pacific as SVP and MD of Networks and Content Distribution to embark on his next career move, the company announced.

Hong Kong-based Misra, who had spent almost 14 years with Turner in Asia, has resigned from his position with effect from 12 October .

Commenting on Misra?s resignation, Turner International Asia Pacific President and MD Steve Marcopoto said, "On behalf of everyone at Turner in Asia, I?d like to thank Anshuman for his significant contribution to the company?s success since 1998. He has been a first class colleague and trusted business partner throughout and we wish him every success in the next stage of his career."

Misra commented, "After working without a real break for more than two decades, I look forward to taking a few months off before I start the next chapter of my work life. I hope it?s as exciting as the time I?ve had with Turner. I want to thank everyone at Turner for all the support and camaraderie. I walk out of the company very satisfied but also sad to leave such a great bunch of people."

Prior to joining Turner, Misra was General Manager, BBC World (India) where he managed the distribution and sales of the news & current affairs channel.

Before joining BBC, Misra was with Turner Broadcasting System in Atlanta in the licensing and merchandising division, Turner Home Entertainment (THE) and in 1994 he moved to New Delhi to establish Turner Home Entertainment in India.