Digital Switchover Strategies '09

Aljo van Dijken,
Senior Advisor, Netherlands Radiocommunication Agency

Aljo van Dijken is senior advisor on spectrum affairs at the Netherlands Radiocommunication Agency. Previously he was head of the frequency planning department and responsible for far-reaching projects such as the Netherlands replanning of the FM-band and the European/ITU-region 1 revision of the Stockholm agreement. Since November 2006 he is the chairman of CEPT/ECC study group TG4 on Digital Dividend.

Anders Appelqvist,
MD, Swedish Electronic Bussiness Association

Anders Appelqvist is since 2001 Managing Director of the the Swedish Electronic Bussiness Association (Elektronikbranschen) where all major suppliers and retailers are members. He has previously been MD of Boxer, the terrestrial operator, in its start up and before that MD for Sony Sweden and Nokia Consumer Electronics.

Andrés Armas,
General Manager. Impulsa TDT

Andrés Armas is General Manager of Impulsa TDT since February 2007.
Mr. Armas has a huge professional CV with experience in management and a wide knowledge of the audiovisual sector.

He has a Graduate in Physics and MBA in the Enterprise Institute. Mr. Armas comes from IKUSI, where he was Managing Director and in the past has held many posts involving a great deal of responsibility in companies as Arthur Andersen, Bankinter and Ferrovial.

Beth Thoren,
Director of Communications, DIGITAL UK

Secured the funding for, set up and led the communications and customer support programme from the company’s inception through to delivery of the first switchover from analogue to digital television in the UK. Seconded from the BBC.

- Secured the funding for the £176.5 million communications budget. This involved both building the 7 year budget from the bottom up and then justifying it, via benchmarking, risk analysis, strategic rationale and research to Government, the Central Office of Information and the BBC, as well as the National Audit Office.

- Developed the successful and well liked "Digit Al" campaign national and regional communications campaign to drive national awareness to 83% in 1.5 years as well the detailed understanding necessary for the successful switchover of the first area in the UK. This included TV, press, radio, posters, door drops, DM and online.

- Put in place a customer support programme that included setting up a call centre, building a website and developing a retailer training/communications programme.

- Initiated the customer segmentation programme and plan for the more vulnerable audiences including the elderly, disabled and minority ethnic audiences.

Dan Brooke,
MD, Discovery UK

Dan Brooke is responsible for the management of Discovery’s UK business. He oversees all aspects of DNUK’s 11 PayTV channel brands, including Discovery Channel, Discovery Real Time and Discovery HD, which between them reach 103 million cumulative subscribers in the UK and Ireland. He has led a complete modernisation and development of the UK portfolio of channels, operations and team. He has also launched DNUK’s first entertainment channel, DMAX, which within six months has become DNUK’s second highest rating channel. Dan led the negotiations for DNUK’s DTT capacity.

He joined Discovery in 2005 from Channel 4, where he served in various capacities over seven years, including Managing Director of Digital Channels. In this role, Brooke built a portfolio of profitable, high quality digital channel brands: E4, FilmFour and More4. Under Brooke's leadership, E4 grew to become the #2-rated digital channel amongst the 16-34 audience, with the highest ABC1 profile of any channel in the UK.

Prior to that, Dan was marketing director for Paramount Comedy Channel and also held several posts with Chiat/Day Advertising in London, including Account Director.

Dan Brooke was voted a Broadcast “Hotshot” in 1998, was cited as one of Media Week's "Media Bosses of the Future" in 2001 and voted "New Marketer of the Year" by the UK Marketing Society for the development and launch of E4 in 2001.

Daniel Sauvet-Goichon,
Chairman, Digitag

Daniel Sauvet-Goichon spent most of his career in TDF, the main French broadcasting and telecommunications network operator. His two last positions in TDF were “Director, Frequency spectrum and Standardisation” and, before, R&D Director.

He has been Chairman of the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) Technical Committee from 1998 to 2006.

He is a member of the French National Frequency Agency (ANFR) Board.

He is Vice-Chairman of the DVB Technical Module and Chairman of DigiTAG (Digital Terrestrial Action Group).

He is graduated of the "École Polytechnique", in Paris, 1967 and of the French national telecommunications high school, 1970.

Dumisa Ngwenya,
General Manager: Engineering and Technology, Independent Communications Authority of South Africa

Dumisa Ngwenya is the General Manager: Engineering and Technology at the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, responsible for radio frequency spectrum planning and management, technical standards and equipment type approval. He has more than 10 years experience in industry and academia covering. His area of experience in ICT covers communication applications and physical layers and layers in between, both in term of research and implementation.

Els Hendrix,
Head of European Affairs, ProSiebenSat.1

Legal advice of the board of directors in EU media policy and regulatory affairs including questions of licensing and supervision by the national supervisory authorities. Representation of the company’s interests in the debate on the implementation and evolution of existing and the formation of new legislation in all fields relevant for the broadcasting sector. Lobbying at national and European level through regular contacts with representatives of both national and European institutions, such as the national regulatory authorities for broadcasting, the State Chancelleries of the German “Länder”, German ministries at Federal and State Level, the EU Commission, the European Parliament and the European Council. Intensive cooperation with broadcasters of other member states within the framework of the relevant European Associations

Enzo Savarese,
Committee for Infrastructure and Networks, AGCOM (Italy)

Giuseppe Flores d'Arcais,
CEO, Nextudio, Barcelona, Founder & President, , Adecq Digital, Barcelona and also Founder and President, Bestv Labs, Casablanca

Giuseppe Flores d’Arcais with Master in Science (Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam) and Business Administration (Bocconi University, Milan) started his career at AT Kearney Management Consultants in Milan. In 1996 he joined Philips Electronics where amongst others he was responsible for Professional AV solutions for Latin America, Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa and India and Global Marketing Manager out of Atlanta, USA. In 2001 he left Philips to found the broadcast media consulting firm Nextudio. Nextudio supports governments, media authorities and broadcasters define media- and broadcast strategies, legislation, technology migration strategies and digital switchover plans. Amongst others, Giuseppe Flores has supported the Spanish Industry Ministry to define the DVB-T switchover plan that was approved in Parliament last September and is currently member of the National DTT Switchover Project Office. He is a frequent speaker at conferences and has been involved in numerous legislative and standardization initiatives. Giuseppe has taught Management and Media Management courses at IED and ESERP University in Spain as well as the University of Siena.

Graham Plumb,
Head of Distribution Technology, BBC Operations Group

Graham is the Head of Distribution Technology. First in Engineering from Clare College, Cambridge (MA Cantab) Joined BBC in 1986. I initially worked in BBC R&D on the technical development of the systems for digital radio and digital television (including managing the BBC project to develop the frequency plan for the current digital terrestrial television network). While at BBC R&D, I was also involved in early research work into High Definition TV, the development of early digital audio editors and improvements to studio acoustics. Within BBC Strategy, I have worked towards the launch of Freeview and more recently have been involved with developing the BBC's distribution strategy for HDTV.

Jonathan Collegio,
Vice President, Digital Television Transition, National Association of Broadcasters

Lara Kantor,
General Manager of Digital Policy, SABC

Lara Kantor studied Drama and Film at Wits University and since then has worked in various senior positions in the broadcasting industry. She headed up broadcasting policy at the Independent Broadcasting Authority and was Executive Director of the National Association of Broadcasters. She is presently General Manager of Digital Policy at the SABC, the country’s national public broadcaster and was in 2007 appointed by the Minister of Communications to chair the country’s Digital Migration Office, known as the Digital Dzonga.

Laurence Harrison,

Laurence is responsible for developing and promoting Intellect's programme of activities for our work in Digital Communications and Energy & Environment. This includes representing Intellect's consumer electronics members on the Board of Digital UK and working closely with the DTI, DCMS, Ofcom, consumer groups, retailers and broadcasters to ensure a successful Digital TV switchover process. He is involved in working with Ofcom and the broadcasters on the development of High Definition on DTT and on the development of next generation broadband infrastructure in the UK. Laurence is also responsible for the work Intellect does on the environmental disposal and re-use of products, energy efficiency, energy labelling and identifying how technology will help the UK achieve its carbon reduction targets.

Laurence has extensive experience of working within trade associations and providing services and representation for member companies. Prior to joining Intellect Laurence worked for the Confederation of British Industry where he had responsibility for representing SME and trade association members.

Lieven Vermaele,

Lieven Vermaele was nominated Technical Director of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) by the Administrative Council of the EBU on 24 May 2007. He took up his position on 1 September 2007.

Mr Vermaele began his career at VRT, the Belgian, Flemish, broadcaster, where he worked on the broadcaster's digital roadmap with a focus on transmission, ICT, digital radio and television and new media projects. In particular, he played a key role in developing and planning the digital future of VRT.

After six years with VRT, he moved to Alcatel-Lucent where he was responsible for the strategy, marketing and portfolio management of the converged applications and business ventures of the group. He joined the EBU from this last position.

Lieven Vermaele was born in Gent (Belgium) in 1975. He obtained his "Master of Science in Engineering" from the University of Gent, and pursued several post-graduate studies. He is married and has one child.

Matthew Conway,
Director of Operations, Spectrum Policy Group, Ofcom

Matthew Conway is the Director of Operations in Ofcom’s Spectrum Policy Group. He is responsible for the award of the digital dividend—the spectrum freed up by digital switchover—and for meeting the Government guarantees on spectrum for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. He also heads the Group’s corporate functions as well as projects to improve information about, and innovation in, spectrum use.

Previously, Matthew was the Director of Trade Operations in the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). There he was responsible for promoting and seeking international compliance with global trade rules, for pursuing access to overseas markets for UK business and for aspects of international corporate social responsibility. He also had cross-cutting trade-policy responsibility for China and the Departmental lead responsibility for bribery and corruption. Matthew has also been Projects Director for PE, School Sport, Club Links and Coaching in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Education and Skills, Head of European Communications Policy in the DTI, Head of the International Section in the Office of Telecommunications and Head of the Royal Mint Review in HM Treasury, where he held other posts after beginning his Civil Service career as a European fast-streamer in the Department of Transport.

Michael Moore,

Michael Moore MP was first elected in 1997, succeeding David Steel in the Parliamentary seat of Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale. Following boundary changes before the 2005 election, he now represents the seat of Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk. Michael is International Development spokesman for the Liberal Democrats and Deputy Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

In the constituency, Michael has taken an active role in digital television switchover, following the Government’s decision to start the process in the Border television region. He has been at the forefront of local efforts to ensure that the process runs smoothly in the Borders. He established the Borders Digital Forum, the first of its kind. In its eight meetings, it has had senior officials attending from Digital UK, ITV, the BBC and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to deal with issues such as rural choice, ITV news, overall awareness and help for vulnerable, elderly and isolated people.

Nick Markham,
Chief Executive, Top Up TV

Nick is currently Chief Executive of Top Up TV, the pay TV operator on Freeview that Nick helped launch in 2004. Before Top Up TV, Nick was Integration Director for ITV in the merger of Carlton and Granada. Previously Nick was Strategy Director for Carlton where he led the development and presentation of the Competition Commission case resulting in the merger clearance.

Prior to Carlton, Nick acted as CFO for Laura Ashley when it got into financial difficulties in the 1990’s. Nick lead the financial restructuring of the business involving an emergency rights issue, renegotiation of its banking lines and sale of its US business. While also at Laura Ashley, Nick set-up and managed over 200 franchise stores Worldwide across Japan, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Australia and South America.

Pearse O'Donohue,
Head of Unit for Spectrum Policy in DG Information Society & Media, European Commission

Peter Heslop,

Tanja Kersevan,
Head of Content Regulation, APEK

Tanja Kersevan Smokvina is Head of Content Regulation at APEK, the Slovenian NRA in the field of electronic communications, broadcasting and postal services. In her career she cumulated experience and skills in programme monitoring, broadcasting licensing, local public service radio/TV and transition to DTT. From 2001 till 2003 she was Secretary to the Slovenian Broadcasting Council. Previously she worked as a programme monitoring expert and as a daily newspaper journalist, specialised in Slovenian transition to market economy. She holds a M.Sc. in Communication Studies and B.A. in Journalism from the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana

Tauno äijälä,
Senior Adviser, DTT Helpdesk

Tauno äijälä is MA, social sciences, University of Turku. He has been working in Finnish Broadcasting Company as radio journalist 1960-1967 and in MTV3 ( national commercial tv-network) as programme Controller and Executive Vice president 1967-2003.

In 2006 (until May 2008) he was appointed to a post of Project Manager in the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Finland. The main duty was coordination between all players involved in digital switchover in Finland. The analogue transmitters were switched off 1.9.2007 at 4.00 am. Cable operators in Finland switched off all their remaining analogue channels 28.2.2008. Finnish television is now all digital. In the ministry Tauno äijälä was the chair of TV2007 Group. TV2007 was Citizen’s Support Network. In practise group was informing and assisting general public, organizing national help desk and installation services, organizing national campaigns and carrying out researches.
Tauno äijälä is still involved in switchover process. He is now working as senior adviser in international project group " DTT Helpdesk".

Tomoyuki Okamura,
Senior Director, Technology Research & Development Department Digital Technology Planning Office, Fuji Television Network

Tomoyuki joined Fuji Television Network, Inc. in 1979.

He is in charge Research & Planning, has a responsibility to standardization and development technology.

He is a member of Japanese Digital Terrestrial Television Project in Japan and proceeding to introduce Japanese DTT. He is also a member of 2011 Alliance to act toward Japanese switch over.

He is a member of Japanese Mobile multimedia broadcasting project that enables mobile devices to enjoy combination of real-time streaming and file casting contents.

He has many activities in standard bodies, such as ITU, TV-anytime forum, ARIB, Digital broadcasting promotion Association(DPA), ISDB-T Mobile Multimedia Forum is established in Japan, he is a chair of steering board.