Roly Keating

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Roly Keating, Chief Executive of the British Library.

Roland "Roly" Francis Kester Keating (born 5 August 1961) is Chief Executive of the British Library. He took up his post in September 2012. He was previously Director of Archive Content for the BBC.[1][2] He was announced as chief executive designate of the British Library in May 2012, to succeed Lynne Brindley DBE.[3]

Life and career

Keating was educated at Westminster School, an independent school for boys in London, and then read Classics at Balliol College, Oxford.

He joined the BBC in 1983. He was a producer and director for the Arts and Music department, making programmes for Omnibus, Bookmark (1992-7) and Arena. He was a producer and later became editor of The Late Show. In 1997, he became head of programming for UKTV, partly owned by the BBC. In 1999, he became the BBC Controller of Digital Channels. In 2000, he also took on the responsibility of Controller of Arts Commissioning. He became the Controller of digital television station BBC Four in December 2001, masterminding its launch on 2 March 2002. In 2003, he was also joint leader of the BBC's Charter Review project for six months. He became the channel controller for BBC Two in June 2004[4] a position he held until 2008. He was appointed temporary controller of BBC One following Peter Fincham's resignation[5] on 5 October 2007.

While Controller, he said that he wanted to see BBC Two be the first mainstream British TV channel to be available on broadband.[6] His decision to screen the Jerry Springer Opera on 8 January 2005 forced him to remain in hiding and was given security protection.[7]

References

  1. ↑ BBC Press Office: Roly Keating appointed as Director of Archive Content
  2. ↑ A & C Black (2012). "KEATING, Roland Francis Kester, (Roly)". Who's Who 2012, online edition. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2012-05-11. 
  3. ↑ John Plunkett "BBC archive director to move to British Library", The Guardian, 11 May 2012
  4. ↑ BBC Press Office: Roly Keating named new Controller of BBC TWO
  5. ↑ BBC Press Office: Peter Fincham resigns as Controller, BBC One
  6. ↑
  7. ↑

External links

Media offices
New creation Controller of BBC Four
2002–2004 		Succeeded by
Janice Hadlow
Preceded by
Jane Root		 Controller of BBC Two
2004–2008
Preceded by
Peter Fincham		 Acting controller of BBC One
2007–2008 		Succeeded by
Jay Hunt
New title Director of Archive Content, BBC
2008-2012 		Incumbent
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