TV executive turnover reaches 25-year high

TV executive turnover reaches 25-year high
Digital TV growth is fuelling staff turnover in broadcast sector
 
A major new research study from Informa Telecoms & Media shows that staff turnover in the global TV industry reached new heights in 2007, with almost a third (31.3%) of the sector’s staff changing their job during the year. This compares to 29.8% in 2006 and is higher than the previous record year of 1997, when 31.1% staff turnover was recorded.
 
 
The research found some significant differences between job categories and industry sub-sectors. The ‘elite’ category for the industry’s most senior executives had the lowest turnover rate – but at 21.3% it remained at a significant level. The ‘intermediate’ category, which includes administration staff and junior executives, recorded the highest rate of turnover – at 38%.
 
 
Amongst the business sectors, the ‘Networks & Channels’ category experienced the highest level of turnover, with 35.1% of staff leaving their position in 2007. The industry’s ‘Technology Providers’ reported the slowest rate of change – at 19.8%.
 
 
Adam Thomas, Media Research Manager at Informa, said: “As always, there have been a wide variety of reasons for people changing jobs. The headhunting of rising stars has continued as normal, although we have also seen some more unusual examples, including those of Peter Fincham and Stephen Lambert, who were high profile casualties of the Crowngate affair, while Dawn Airey was tripped up by the Iostar debacle.”
 
 
Thomas added: “But more generally the changes seem to have been prompted by the increasing rise of digital TV. Some 60 million homes worldwide changed from analogue to digital during 2007. This unprecedented level of transformation leaves the broadcast industry desperate for expertise across the business; whether it be technical skills for technology providers, or creative brilliance to help fill the increasing number of digital channels that need compelling content to outshine their competitors.”
 
 
Staff turnover rates by job type (2007)
  Elite Senior Executive Executive Business Heads Managerial Intermediate Total
Producers 16.0% 28.5% 27.9% 23.4% 24.5% 32.2% 26.3%
Distributors 24.0% 36.6% 31.7% 31.9% 31.4% 41.4% 33.8%
Technology Providers 13.1% 17.6% 19.8% 17.6% 18.9% 25.9% 19.8%
Networks & Channels 24.9% 31.1% 31.8% 35.1% 36.7% 41.5% 35.1%
Pay TV Platforms 19.2% 31.0% 27.6% 33.3% 30.8% 38.6% 31.5%
Others 17.7% 25.7% 27.2% 24.2% 31.0% 37.9% 29.0%
Total 21.3% 28.8% 28.8% 30.7% 31.8% 38.0% 31.3%
Note: Based upon movements amongst 11,960 TV executives worldwide
Source: Informa Telecoms & Media
 
 
The study also found some significant differences between regions. Specifically, the research shows that the most developed countries experienced higher turnover rates – with North America highest at 35.3%, followed by Western Europe at 34.3%. The least developed regions of Africa and the Middle East reported the lowest rates of turnover, at 21.2% and 23.5% respectively.
 
 
Staff turnover rates by location (2007)
  Africa Asia Pacific Eastern Europe Latin America Middle East North America Western Europe
Producers 13.2% 24.3% 27.3% 24.1% 23.7% 28.5% 33.5%
Distributors 22.5% 32.1% 38.2% 32.4% 19.3% 39.8% 38.2%
Technology Providers 13.9% 17.8% 19.8% 18.0% 19.8% 23.8% 21.9%
Networks & Channels 23.4% 38.2% 35.1% 35.1% 25.1% 39.2% 37.5%
Pay TV Platforms 25.2% 34.7% 23.6% 31.5% 15.8% 36.8% 33.9%
Others 22.8% 37.1% 22.0% 25.1% 21.8% 38.7% 36.3%
Total 21.2% 33.0% 29.1% 30.8% 23.5% 35.3% 34.3%
Note: Based upon movements amongst 11,960 TV executives worldwide
Source: Informa Telecoms & Media