9 January 2008

ITV plc today announced the appointment of Peter Iacono as President and Managing Director of ITV Worldwide, which includes ITV’s international exploitation and ventures divisions.

He joins from Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group where he served as Acting President, International Features. ITV Worldwide is part of ITV’s Global Content Division, led by Managing Director Dawn Airey.

Dawn Airey said: “We’re delighted to be appointing someone of Peter’s calibre to this role. ITV has a great track record in selling formats and programming into other territories, whether it’s Dancing on Ice in Russia, Saturday Night Takeaway in China or the hundreds of millions of people who have seen Prime Suspect worldwide.

“There is a real demand for UK content at the moment and this role will be critical in ensuring that we exploit maximum value in global markets from our programmes, formats, licences and merchandising.”

As President and MD of ITV Worldwide, Peter Iacono will be responsible for overseeing the growth of ITV Global Content’s worldwide sales, distribution, merchandising, publishing and licensing arm ITV Worldwide (Granada International and Granada Ventures). He will work closely with the respective heads of each business to seek ways to create full 360° value for ITV Productions content and to continue to maintain and build strong relationships with key broadcasters and producers around the world.

Peter’s appointment follows the announcement of Paul Buccieri as President and CEO of Granada America last month.

For press enquiries:

ITV Tel: 0844 881 8000
Jim Godfrey – Director of Corporate Affairs

Granada International Press Contact:
Debbie Lawrence
The Lippin Company Ltd
Tel: +44 203 008 5406
dlawrence@lippingroup.com

For ITV Investor enquiries:
ITV Tel: 0844 881 8000
Christy Swords – Director of Investor Relations
Pippa Strong – Head of Investor Relations

Peter Iacono CV
Peter Iacono is a senior media executive with over 15 years experience in worldwide management with P&L responsibility in distribution, production and international networks.

Prior to his current role with Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, Peter worked at Sony Pictures Television International for 13 years, rising to become Executive Vice President, Distribution, between 2000-2006. Prior to Sony he was a Manager in the Strategic Planning team at Warner Bros and a Senior Financial Analyst at The Walt Disney Company.

ITV Global Content
Led by Dawn Airey, ITV Global Content is ITV’s content division bringing together all of ITV’s UK and international production and content businesses.

ITV Worldwide is made up of Granada International and Granada Ventures. Granada International sells thousands of hours of programming from ITV Productions, and many other independent producers, to more than 200 countries worldwide. Granada Ventures is a major distributor of DVD entertainment in the UK and exploits merchandising and licensing in the UK and worldwide from both ITV Productions’ bank of television programmes and other independent rights owners.

ITV Productions is one of Europe’s leading commercial production companies producing more than 3,000 hours of original programming each year. It is responsible for some of the most popular brands on UK television including Coronation Street, Emmerdale, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, Dancing on Ice and Prime Suspect. It also produces highly-rated work for other channels such as The Street and The Royle Family for the BBC, Brainiac for Sky and Countdown and Longford for Channel 4. ITV Productions also made the successful, critically-acclaimed and Oscar winning feature film of 2006, The Queen. ITV also has major international production centres in America, Germany and Australia, producing hit shows such as First 48, Celebrity Fit Club and Hell’s Kitchen with Gordon Ramsay in the US, Das Perfekte Dinner (Come Dine With Me) in Germany, and Dancing with the Stars in Australia.

On 5th December 2007 ITV announced the acquisition of 12 Yard, a leading UK producer of entertainment quiz formats for both the UK and international market. ITV also owns a 25% equity holding in independent producer Mammoth and exclusive distribution and development rights. Through Granada America ITV owns a controlling 51% stake in US production company Jaffe/Braunstein Entertainment LLC.