—Cisco’s Scheinman to Head Media Group: Cisco Systems tapped Dan Scheinman, SVP of corporate development, to run its newly formed Media Solutions Group, which will develop and market networking products to digital-content owners. Scheinman, a 14-year Cisco veteran, will be senior VP and general manager of the new group, reporting directly to CEO John Chambers.
—Gemstar-TV Guide Appoints Chief Content Officer: Gemstar-TV Guide International has promoted Ian Birch to the newly-created position of executiveVP and chief content officer. Birch will retain his role as editor-in-chief, TV Guide magazine.
In this new role, Birch will “work closely with the editorial and programming teams at each of the company’s businesses to identify, develop and expand upon cross-platform content initiatives. He will have responsibility for overseeing the integration of these content opportunities across the company’s platforms including TV Guide magazine, TV Guide Online and the TV Guide Channel.”
—SBS taps Becks For Digital Ventures: Luxembourg-based, pan-European broadcaster SBS Broadcasting has appointed Bart Becks as SVP of new media across the group. Becks will be responsible for development of digital media services and revenue streams. Becks joins SBS from Belgian digital media company Belgacom Skynet, where he was CEO.