Shaun Brown

Shaun Brown is a managing director of Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) in Australia. He was appointed to the position on 14 February 2006 for four years.

Career

Brown began his broadcasting career with the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) in Perth in 1970. [ [http://www20.sbs.com.au/sbscorporate/index.php?id=1200 Shaun Brown - Managing Director, SBS Board] - SBS] He later worked as a reporter, presenter and producer with Television New Zealand (TVNZ}, as well as a current affairs producer and presenter at the BBC.
In 1994, TVNZ appointed him Managing Editor, News and Current Affairs. He was made Head of TV One in 1997. In 2001, he was appointed Head of Television on an annual salary reported to be $340,000, [ [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10459067 Newsreader trouble follows former TVNZ head across Tasman] - The New Zealand Herald] , responsible for running both TVNZ channels. Brown held this TVNZ position for nine months before the position was eliminated by chief executive Ian Fraser. [ [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10459067 Newsreader trouble follows former TVNZ head across Tasman] - The New Zealand Herald] He joined SBS as Head of Television in January 2003. [ [http://www20.sbs.com.au/sbscorporate/index.php?id=1200 Shaun Brown - Managing Director, SBS Board] - SBS]

Controversies

In New Zealand

Brown was accused by New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark of being shamelessly ratings driven. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/mary-kostakidis-walks-out-on-sbs/2007/08/21/1187462225475.htmlMary Kostakidis walks out on SBS] - The Sydney Morning Herald]

His position as Head of Television at TVNZ ended in 2002. This was viewed by some senior staff as retribution for his part in the Hawkesby affair. Hawkesby was hired from TV3 by TVNZ to read the news, replacing Richard Long but was sacked when ratings fell. Hawkesby was subsequently awarded a record-breaking $6 million by an arbitrator. The affair cost TVNZ NZ$6 million. [ [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10459067 Newsreader trouble follows former TVNZ head across Tasman] - The New Zealand Herald]

In Australia

Brown was responsible for putting advertising into the middle of SBS TV program content, rather than between programs (usually at the top or bottom of each hour) as it had been. This has resulted in a large number of complaints to SBS from viewers. For example:

Hubertus:Dear SBS You are obviously not interested in what your viewers feel about ads in programs. Iron Chef just has been rendered unwatchable by your stupid ad breaks, as a result my family has switched off. You live off ~1-2 % of Australians, who are not watching SBS by accident or chance. To us SBS means no ads within programs. You make your choice now. Is it Bye-bye? Hubertus [ [http://www.sbs.com.au/hotline/index.html?id=522" Guestbook Comments, 21 October, 2006 / Accessed 8 November, 2006] - SBS] [ [http://www20.sbs.com.au/sbscorporate/index.php?id=1214 The official position on SBS in-program advertising] - SBS]

In March 2007, he claimed that SBS ratings had increased since the advertising change. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2007/1870096.htm The future direction of the SBS, The Media Report] - Australian Broadcasting Corporation]

On 21 August, 2007, it was reported that veteran SBS TV newsreader Mary Kostakidis, angry at the way the 18:30 World News Australia program has been altered and the direction SBS is heading, has walked out on the network after nearly 20 years at the helm as a news presenter. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/mary-kostakidis-walks-out-on-sbs/2007/08/21/1187462225475.htmlMary Kostakidis walks out on SBS.] - The Sydney Morning Herald]

References