ATVOD appoints board members

Gidon Freeman of NBC Universal, Sophie Jones of Channel 4 and Chris Ratcliff of Portland TV are joining the board of UK VOD regulator ATVOD.

Freeman is director of regulatory and government affairs at NBC Universal International. He joined in 2010 and currently works on regulation and government affairs issues across NBC Universal’s various businesses internationally.

Jones is head of corporate relations at UK broadcaster Channel 4 and has held senior public affairs and corporate communications roles at ITV and ITN. She is responsible for public policy, regulatory affairs and stakeholder communications.

Ratcliff is programming director for adult TV broadcaster Portland TV. He was previously managing director of adult distribution company Hot Rod Production. He manages Portland’s adult broadcasting output including its on-demand services.

The three appointments will join the board at the end of March, replacing Virgin Media’s Simon Hunt, BT’s Simon Milner and Chris Loweth from Channel 5.

ATVOD chair Ruth Evans said: “We are delighted that Gidon, Sophie and Chris have agreed to join the Board. Between them they offer a wealth of experience in a variety of areas and will help to ensure that ATVOD understands the perspectives of the wide range of service providers who fall within ATVOD’s remit as we work to ensure that consumers enjoy the regulatory protection provided for in law.”