RTÉ has announced that Glen Killane will be the new Managing Director of Television, taking up the post on Tuesday, June 1st. Glen has been Group Head of RTÉ Sport since 2006 and Head of RTÉ TV Sport from 2004. He sits on the Television Division Board and the Television Programmes Strategy Group.
In announcing the appointment of Glen Killane, RTÉ’s Director General Cathal Goan commented: “Glen Killane takes up this important RTÉ leadership position at a time of continuing challenge and competitive pressure, leading a division which has great strengths in its people, its programming schedule and its tradition of strong public service television programming.
“Glen’s background in Sport programming is a significant asset, bringing as it does wide experience in major event programming which draws the national audience together. Television Sport output is a key part of the public service delivery of a national broadcaster, combining production elements both live and recorded; out in the community and based in studio; and at the leading edge of developments in production technologies and evolving rights issues. Sport is central to RTÉ’s offering to the Irish public. “
In 2009 Glen Killane led the integration of all RTÉ’s Sport services across Television, Radio, Online and News – a key exercise in driving efficiency and effectiveness within RTÉ. Cathal Goan added: “As an innovator in multi-platform delivery, Glen has demonstrated a capacity to use all of RTÉ’s resources to telling effect. This will be a significant asset to him and to the organisation as he marshals all of Television’s efforts across the genres of Drama, Factual, Young Peoples, Lifestyle and Daytime, Irish Language, Regional and Entertainment – in addition to the wider divisional responsibilities including Production Facilities, Broadcast and Commercial Sales. We look forward to Glen leading the Television Division to renewed success in its commitment to excellence on behalf of the Irish viewing public.”
Glen was born in Dublin and attended CUS and Trinity College before taking a Masters in Journalism at DCU. He trained as a TV producer / director with the BBC and later helped establish the Live Football production arm of ITV Digital in London as Editor of Live Football.
At RTÉ he has been Series Editor of The Sunday Game and has led production of the Rugby World Cup (1999), of Champions League (2000) and of Six Nations (1998-2000). He also produced RTÉ’s coverage of the Special Olympics in Ireland in 2003 and in 2005 reintroduced live professional boxing to Irish terrestrial television, culminating in the first live World Title bout on Irish television in 25 years when Bernard Dunne beat Ricardo Cordoba.
As Editor of Rugby at RTÉ from 1998 he put together the Hook, Pope and McGurk presentation team and has since introduced presenter and panel contributor talent including Ger Loughnane, Joe Brolly and Darragh Ó Sé, Graeme Souness, Ronnie Whelan and Conor O’Shea. As Head of TV Sport Glen Killane has been central to major rights contracts for GAA, Champions League, FAI, Six Nations, Magners League and UEFA negotiations. He has helped establish key agreements both for RTÉ and for the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) on a multi-platform basis.
Following the announcement of his new position Glen Killane said: “I’m delighted to be taking up the position of MD of Television at such a critical time for RTÉ. The challenges are significant. However I’m very much looking forward to building on the achievements of Noel Curran and the TV Board and taking Television into its next phase.”
Internal and external interviews were held in April of this year to replace Noel Curran as Managing Director of Television. Noel left RTÉ on Friday, May 26th to pursue other interests but will continue to work in an advisory capacity with RTÉ in the future. As part of his new position Glen will now also join the RTÉ Executive Board, reporting to the Director General.
