01/16/2004


Nigel Baker named managing director of APTN

LONDON – The Associated Press has named news executive Nigel Baker as managing director of Associated Press Television News, AP's global video service.
Ian Ritchie, vice president-Global Business and managing director of AP International, said that in his new role, Baker will report directly to him.

Ritchie previously held the top position at APTN and now runs the AP division charged with expanding content development and revenue opportunities outside the United States.
Baker was one of the founding members of APTN's predecessor, APTV, joining in 1994 as associate editor. He subsequently became APTN Head of News in 1995 and APTN Director of Content in 2001. Before joining AP, Baker held senior editorial positions at British broadcasters Sky News and ITN, as well as Reuters. Earlier, he worked for Britain's Press Association.

APTN is the international television arm of AP, the world's oldest and largest newsgathering organization. APTN has over 80 bureaus in 67 countries linked by a network of global satellites. APTN supplies video news, entertainment, and sports content to more than 500 broadcast newsrooms, portals, Internet, broadband and mobile products worldwide.
The Associated Press, founded in 1848, has more than 240 bureaus in the U.S. and abroad, providing news content in text, audio, video, graphics and photos to more than 15,000 news outlets with a daily reach of 1 billion people worldwide. AP's multimedia services are distributed by satellite and the Internet to more than 120 nations.

contact: Jack Stokes
212-621-1720