Andy Townend is to swap his role at Digital UK for a new position as executive director of Digital Australia, a similar body being established by the federal government to hasten the switchover to digital television.
“His background in broadcasting and experience as a leader of the digital switchover process in the United Kingdom will be invaluable to Australia’s achievement of digital switchover,” said a statement from federal Communications Minister Helen Coonan.
The former BBC man has been chief operating officer of Digital UK since 2005.
Australia introduced first introduced digital broadcasts in 2001, but the original date for analogue switch off in 2008 was postponed because of the lack of progress. In May the Australian Communications and Media Authority reported digital penetration of 30%.
