Roly Keating
Encyclopedia
Roland "Roly" Keating is the current Director of Archive Content for the BBC
.
, an independent school
for boys in London, followed by Balliol College at the University of Oxford
, where he read Classics.
, 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
. 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 a position he held until 2008. He was appointed temporary controller of BBC One
following Peter Fincham
's resignation on 5 October 2007.
Whilst Controller, he said that he wanted to see BBC Two be the first mainstream British TV channel to be available on broadband. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4466556.stm
His decision to screen the Jerry Springer Opera
on 8 January 2005 forced him to remain in hiding and was given security protection. http://comment.independent.co.uk/leading_articles/article14242.ece
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
Education
Keating was educated at Westminster SchoolWestminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
, an independent school
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
for boys in London, followed by Balliol College at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, where he read Classics.
Life and career
Keating joined the BBC in 1983. He was a producer and director for the Arts and Music department, making programmes for OmnibusOmnibus (TV series)
Omnibus was an arts-based BBC television documentary series, broadcast on BBC1 in the United Kingdom. It ran from 1967 until 2003, usually being transmitted on Sunday evenings....
, Bookmark (1992-7) and Arena
Arena (TV series)
Arena is a British television documentary series, made and broadcast by the BBC. It has run since 1 October 1975, and over five hundred episodes have been made. Arena covers all manner of subjects, from profiles of notable people such as Bob Dylan to the Ford Cortina car...
. He was a producer and later became editor of The Late Show. In 1997, he became head of programming for UKTV
UKTV
UKTV is a digital cable and satellite television network, formed through a joint venture between BBC Worldwide, a commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation, and Scripps Networks Interactive, spun off from The E.W Scripps Company in 2008...
. 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
Digital television
Digital television is the transmission of audio and video by digital signals, in contrast to the analog signals used by analog TV...
station BBC Four
BBC Four
BBC Four is a British television network operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation and available to digital television viewers on Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable....
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
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
in June 2004 a position he held until 2008. He was appointed temporary controller of BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
following Peter Fincham
Peter Fincham
Peter Fincham is a British television producer and executive, currently the Director of Television for the ITV network. He was also formerly the Controller of BBC One, the primary television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation, until his resignation on 5 October 2007, following...
's resignation on 5 October 2007.
Whilst Controller, he said that he wanted to see BBC Two be the first mainstream British TV channel to be available on broadband. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4466556.stm
His decision to screen the Jerry Springer Opera
Jerry Springer: The Opera
Jerry Springer: The Opera is a British musical written by Richard Thomas and Stewart Lee, based on the television show The Jerry Springer Show. The musical is notable for its profanity, its irreverent treatment of Judeo-Christian themes, and surreal images such as a troupe of tap-dancing Ku Klux...
on 8 January 2005 forced him to remain in hiding and was given security protection. http://comment.independent.co.uk/leading_articles/article14242.ece