Michael Green (television magnate)

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Micahel Green
Born	December 2, 1947 (1947-12-02) (age 60) England
Occupation	Businessman, Chairman of Tangent Industries, Former Chairman of Carlton Communications

Michael Philip Green (born 2 December 1947)^[1] is a British businessman.

He attended Haberdashers' Aske's School in Elstree, Hertfordshire on a scholarship and left, aged 17, with only four O-Levels.^[2].

After a period working in public relations, he went into business with his brother, founding the printing and direct mail firm Tangent Industries, making him a millionaire by the time he was 21.^[1]

He created Carlton Communications with his elder brother, David, and they floated the company on the London stock market in 1983. Five years later, Carlton bought the US firm Technicolor.^[2] Following the Broadcasting Act 1990 which had changed the criteria for ITV franchise assignment from quality to commercial,^[1] Carlton Television, in 1993, successfully bid £43m to secure the London weekday ITV franchise previously held by Thames Television^[2] It has been suggested^[1] that Green had strongly influenced the Thatcher government in their 1990 decision to change the criteria through his relationship by marriage with government Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Lord Young.^[2]

The Times wrote that Green gained "praise for his buccaneering style, charisma and ability to get a deal done".^[2]

Carlton expanded, acquiring other, smaller ITV franchisees until in 2003 it merged with Granada TV to form ITV plc. As a result of the merger, Green left the company, as he was blamed by some shareholders for the £1 billion failure of ITV Digital. ^[3]

He remains with Tangent Industries.

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Life and times of Michael Green. BBC News (20 October 2003). Retrieved on 2007-05-29.
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} The Times, London, 19th October 2003. Retrieved on 2007-10-18.
3. ^ Why Michael Green had to go. BBC News (21 October 2003). Retrieved on 2007-05-29.