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Television industry rocked by double loss

The international television industry was this week dealt a double body-blow with the loss of two pioneers of the global format industry: David Lyle and Annie Wegelius.

David Lyle

Australian reality TV veteran and former FremantleMedia, Fox and Frapa executive Lyle died last Thursday at his home in LA following a long struggle with cancer, as C21 reported here.

Lyle ended his 30-year career in television as president emeritus of NPact, the US trade body that came from the merger of Pact US, where Lyle was president, and the Nonfiction Producers Association. Tributes immediately poured in from all quarters of the TV industry, reflecting the respect in which Lyle was held by the industry.

“He was a dear friend, confidante, raconteur and legend. He shall be missed here, there and everywhere – especially at the bar at the Carlton Hotel with a dram in his hand, a smile on his face and a story in his heart. Frapa and the entire industry have lost one of the greats,” said close friend and formats industry veteran Phil Gurin, president of unscripted and alternative at IM Global TV.

“David Lyle was a rare breed, in our industry and in the world. A true bon vivant, he brought light and life into every room, along with a passion for the creatives of this business,” added John Ford, general manager at NPact.

“We will all miss David’s maverick mettle, along with his vitality, brilliant insights and humour, and offer our deepest condolences to his wife Janne, his children Sam, Polly and Joanna, and his many friends and colleagues.”

But before the industry had got over that loss, news broke this morning of the passing of Annie Wegelius, former programme director at Swedish public broadcaster SVT and pioneer of reality TV formats, again from cancer.

Annie Wegelius

Wegelius, who had a career in television spanning four decades, was programme director at SVT from 2007 to 2013 and before that was the first programme director of TV3. She also launched her own prodco, Wegelius TV, and had a long list of globe-trotting formats among her credits, such as Big Class Reunion and Friends Forever.

SVT’s current MD, Hanna Stjärne, said: “SVT is in mourning today. Annie Wegelius brought colour, power and warmth to everyone she met. The sense of loss of a friend is felt deeply, at SVT, in the Swedish TV industry and among colleagues around the world.”

Markus Sterky, the pubcaster’s content strategist, added: “Annie was not your usual public service person, and that is perhaps why she was so good at it. Her natural entrepreneurial talent combined with curiosity meant you never knew what would happen next, but her energy and passion helped you believe, and made you want to help her achieve the goal.”

“Annie was a true Nordic TV ambassador. With her big public service heart and strong commercial instinct, she was instrumental in making the Nordics the creative hot spot it still is. The Nordic TV industry owes her a lot and we have lost an amazing personality and a warm-hearted TV professional. My thoughts and condolences go out to her family and friends,” added Frapa exec and Missing Link CEO Jan Salling.

“Annie’s energy and enthusiasm made everyone around her bolder and more creative, making her the perfect television maestro,” said Stephen Mowbray, head of acquisitions at SVT.

“Annie was so exceptional. I was a huge admirer of her, she was a role model to me. Such a rare combination of creativity and acute business sense. She was smart, stylish and elegant. A true power-woman with incredible charisma and a rare ability for presence and focus on the moment, ignoring all the clutter and noise that often surrounds us. I am so saddened by Annie’s passing. Her fight was awe-inspiring – I will always think of her as a winner,” added Anette Rømer, head of acquisitions and formats at TV2 in Denmark.

C21 also extends its condolences to the friends and families of both David and Annie and mourns the loss of two of the TV industry’s greats. They will be greatly missed.

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