Motorsport TV Taps Kevin Annison As President

Former Fox Sports/Speed Channel television network and digital media executive Kevin Annison will join Motorsport Network to spearhead the group’s planned expansion in traditional and internet television as its president.

The appointment of Annison comes one week after former NASCAR Digital Media VP Colin Smith joined Motorsport Network as CEO.

Motorsport Network acquired European cable network Motors TV last year and Annison will lead the team as the newly renamed Motorsport.tv expands from its European cable and satellite roots, to a global internet television network reaching large and small screens of race fans around the world.

Motorsport.tv already reaches 31 million homes in 42 different countries throughout Europe via cable and satellite and showcases more than 125 different motor racing championships.

Annison not only played a major role in the acquisition, relaunch and relocation of Speed Channel from 2001 through 2004, he also served as VP-GM of the digital media division and oversaw the launch of Speed2.com — the internet television OTT network dedicated to motorsports.

He also managed the network’s expansion into live and multi-camera streaming; multiplatform rights renewals with NASCAR, Formula One and MotoGP; the launch of mobile apps; the creation of video and video-on-demand channels on cable television, Apple TV, Hulu and YouTube and is also a renowned expert in digital and social media business models.

Smith welcomed the appointment of Annison who he believes will play an important role in the network’s future growth. “We’re thrilled to welcome Kevin to the team. Having somebody with his experience and knowledge of motorsport, television and the rapidly changing digital marketplace will be a huge help in our future expansion,” Smith said.