SPT hires Bazalgette for chairman role

Sony Pictures Television (SPT) has appointed former Endemol chief creative officer Peter Bazalgette to the position of non-executive chairman for its UK production business.

The role will see Bazalgette (left) advising the newly combined production businesses of SPT and 2waytraffic in the UK, helping further grow UK production operations and helping to identify, and hire senior executive talent.

SPT’s president of international production Kees Abrahams said the appointment “is a key first step towards building a creative powerhouse in the UK that will be driven by a talented and ambitious new team.”

Bazalgette, who is also an advisor to Sony Music’s TV division, is a media consultant specialising in TV and digital entertainment. From 2004 to 2007, he was chief creative officer of Endemol and devised several internationally successful TV formats such as Ready Steady Cook and Changing Rooms. He also helped bring Big Brother to the UK.

He will work closely with Abrahams and with the recently arrived Mike Morley, who is SPT’s executive VP and chief creative officer for international production.

In related news, SPT has announced the launch of its second high-definition (HD) channel in Europe. AXN HD will launch in Portugal on April 6, enabling subscribers of MEO and ZON TVCabo to enjoy the recently launched Leverage and soon-to-premiere Raising the Bar and The Mentalist in HD.