London-based Sir Gerry Robinson, an experienced television executive, has agreed to join the board of the OneVision consortium, which is bidding for the right to operate three digital terrestrial television multiplexes in Ireland.
News of Mr Robinson's recruitment emerged yesterday at the public hearing in Dublin on the three DTT bids submitted recently to the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland. Born in Donegal, Mr Robinson has carved out a successful career in Britain over the past 40 years.
He is a former chief executive of Granada, which is now part of ITV, and was a senior executive with food and drinks giant Grand Metropolitan. He was knighted in 2004 and early last year made a television programme for the BBC called Can Gerry Robinson Fix the NHS?
It is understood that Mr Robinson will have an equity interest in the OneVision business if the BCI awards it the 12-year DTT licences in July.
OneVision is backed by broadcasters TV3 and Setanta Sports; telecoms group Eircom and UK TV network specialist Arqiva. It is chaired by Fintan Drury, who heads the Platinum One sports sponsorship and events management company.
