The head of RTÉ television has jumped ship to spearhead Eir's TV coverage
Glen Killane is going to head up Eir’s very ambitious TV business.
THE FORMER RTÉ managing director of television has moved to rival broadcaster Eir where he will head up the company’s TV business.
As well as being responsible for Eir’s television coverage, including eir Sport, Glen Killane will also handle all sports-related sponsorships.
The announcement comes hot on the heels of the news earlier this week that Eir is rebranding Setanta Sports as Eir Sport.
The station is looking to provide some serious competition to RTÉ and has secured the broadcasting rights to the 2019 Rugby World Cup, including Ireland’s matches which will be free to air.
Killane, who most recently served as managing director of television for RTÉ, is likely to add to the rebranded station’s sports coverage.
Sports experience
A presence at the state broadcaster since 1996, he was one of the names mentioned in the race for the post of RTÉ director-general earlier this year, which was ultimately won by former managing director of Discovery Networks Northern Europe Dee Forbes.
He worked in RTÉ Sport as series editor of the Sunday Game, Rugby World Cup, Champions League and international soccer.
He was Group Head of RTÉ Sport from 2004 to 2010, where he was responsible for all sports rights negotiations and concluded several agreements with a range of bodies including the GAA, IRFU, FAI, UEFA and FIFA.
Eir TV managing director Glen Killane
Ambition
He also oversaw a restructuring of the broadcaster’s sports coverage in 2009, linking up its radio, television and online offerings.
Killane has been a member of the RTÉ Executive Board since 2010 and was responsible for its centenary project ‘RTÉ 1916′ and helped introduce key dramas such as Love Hate, Charlie and Rebellion.
Managing director of Eir’s consumer division Jon Florsheim said that Killane is a “very strong addition” to the company’s TV unit, adding: “We have significant plans for both our Eir Sport brand and our wider Eir TV proposition.
Florsheim said that Killane will “drive the development and implementation of our ambitious strategy”, and added that the appointment points towards the fact that Eir is a “changed company” and is “serious about (its) mission”.
