Espen Thorsby is to step down as head of Norwegian DTT pay platform RiksTV. In a message to staff Thorsby described the job as very interesting and informative, but at the same time demanding. While the search for a successor is made his place will be taken by Christian Birkeland has worked in RiksTV from its inception and is now COO.
Thorsby, who joined Riks TV at its inception in 2005, has already left his desk, but is being retained as a consultant. He will be available to the company during the summer.
Subscriber numbers continue to fall short of expectations – 500,000 was the last available figure – but the platform has now secured rights to the three-channel TV2 Premier League bouquet.
Last September owners NRK, TV2 and Telenor took RiksTV off the market after failing to find a buyer willing to meet their asking price. Heavy losses are believed to be in excess of NOK 800 million.
