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Amazon adds Instant Video MD

Alex Green has spent three-and-a-half years at BT

Alex Green has spent three-and-a-half years at BT

Amazon is bringing in the director of BT’s subscription IPTV service to oversee its content in Europe, which now includes a series from the former Top Gear presenting team.

Alex Green will depart the UK telecoms giant today to join Amazon, which made headlines around the world yesterday with its deal to bring former Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May to its streaming service.

Green, who has spent the past three-and-a-half years overseeing BT’s subscription IPTV service, becomes MD of Instant Video in Europe.

His role will see him grow the company’s video business in Europe, where it has already commissioned two new seasons of the BBC period drama Ripper Street.

The former executive director of commercial, TV and online at pay TV operator Virgin Media will report to Jay Marine, VP of Amazon Prime Video EU.

News of the hire was first reported by New York-based digital media and marketing website digiday.com. The report states that Green’s duties at BT will be taken over by its MD of TV, Delia Bushell.

Amazon was not available for comment as this story was published.

From left: James May, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond

From left: James May, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond

Netflix, along with ITV and Sky, was hotly tipped to become the home of a new motoring show from the Top Gear hosts following their acrimonious split from the BBC earlier this year.

However, it was Amazon that secured their signatures and the deal has been widely viewed as the e-commerce giant joining the major players in the broadcast industry.

Amazon Prime Instant Video currently charges £79 a year for a subscription and has put up a “significant investment” to initially fund three seasons of the new show.

For more analysis of Amazon’s original content strategy, see C21’s recent Digital Buyers Report on the company.

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