Freesat appoints Emma Scott as MD

Freesat project director Emma Scott has been confirmed as the venture’s first managing director. Announcing the appointment, BBC marketing director Tim Davie, also chairman of the BBC and ITV-owned joint venture, said Scott brought “a wealth of experience and energy to the role and has been instrumental in Freesat’s journey from the start”.

Scott was appointed project director of the Freesat initiative in 2006. She joined the BBC in 1997 as an adviser in corporate strategy, and in 1999 was appointed to work for former director general Greg Dyke as head of projects. She led the BBC’s bid for a digital terrestrial television (DTT) licence and was subsequently launch director for Freeview, the UK’s first free to air digital television service.

“The company is very lucky to have someone of Emma’s calibre to launch the venture and I know that she will be a great success,” added Davie.
Freesat will offer 200 channels plus interactive services for a one-off payment, targeting both the 27% of the UK population who are currently out of DTT coverage and all those with HD-enabled TV sets wanting HD for free.