The Stage

BBC’s Thompson tops list of most influential UK media people

Published Monday 17 July 2006 at 16:30 by Michael Alexander

BBC director general Mark Thompson has taken the top spot in a list of the 100 most influential people in UK media compiled by The Guardian.

The MediaGuardian 100 showed a shift towards ‘new media’, particularly the internet. Apple CEO Steve Jobs took the number two spot, while Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page have been placed fourth.

Thompson himself has noticeably increased the BBC’s involvement with interactive and internet services - the BBCiPlayer was the kind of innovation that clinched the number one position for him, according to the report.

Other TV figures involved with expansion into digital entertainment services also fared well. News Corporation CEO Rupert Murdoch, who is also owner of MySpace.com, came in at number three, while Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan, at number five, has overseen the launch of FourDocs - a documentary channel available through broadband internet - and live webcasting of Channel 4, 24 hours a day.

Also featured were ITV chief executive Charles Allen, BBC chairman Michael Grade and BBC director of television Jana Bennett, at numbers six, seven and eight respectively.

The highest ranked performer was Jonathan Ross at 19th, while Ricky Gervais came 33rd. Meanwhile, Russell T Davies, writer and executive producer of the new Doctor Who series, was placed at number 28.