After working for over 40 years in the broadcast sector, Richard Russell arguably qualifies for the tag of ‘industry veteran'. Richard is particularly well known in television circles for his worldwide knowledge of the broadcast sector and for Sports Television: The Ever Changing Face, the publication he started in 1997 and which quickly became regarded as ‘the bible' of the television industry prior to its sale to the SportBusiness Group in 2000.
Having started work in July 1964 and spent the first 10 years working with Independent Television News (ITN), Rediffusion and Thames Television, Richard joined London Weekend Television; the major provider of sports programming for the ITV network. Subsequently, Richard held the roles of Deputy Editor: World of Sport; Executive Producer of Athletics and Co-ordinating Producer and Editor of ITV's Olympic Games coverage.
Following the Seoul Olympics in 1988, Richard joined Rupert Murdoch's just prior to the 5th February 1989 launch of Sky Television (now BSkyB) as Director of Production.
In 1991, Richard accepted the invitation of Bernie Ecclestone to handle the broadcast rights of Formula One, the World Rally Championships and the World Motorcycle Championships.
In 1993 Richard moved into the world of consultancy where, as Richard Russell Associates, he provided services ranging from rights acquisition to rights evaluation in contractual disputes. Additional contracts included re-programming the sports content of NBC Super Channel and NBC Asia; Executive Producer of the World Cup of Golf in 1995 (China) and 1996 (South Africa) and Executive Producer of the South African PGA Golf Tour in 1996.
Maintaining his love of production, Richard was the Stadium Director for televised athletics in the UK from 1999 until the end of 2007 during which period he carried out the same role internationally at the 2001 World Championships (Edmonton), the 2002 Commonwealth Games and the 2003 World Indoor Championships.
As FT's Director of Television, Richard was responsible to the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games Organising Committee for the sale of their international broadcast rights which set new records and holds the same role for the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games.
