Colom ankles Via

Exec's departure coincides with reorganization

By JOHN HOPEWELL

MADRID -- Veteran TV exec Ramon Colom has ankled as director of contents and programming at Spanish satcaster Via Digital, a post which made him its effective head of acquisitions.

Since joining Spanish digital platform Via in early 2000, Colom, a former director of Spanish pubcaster RTVE and passionate film buff, has converted Via into a major financing source for the Spanish film industry and foreign indie pics, acquired from local distribbers. Via ploughed $21.6 million into Spanish films in 2001.

Colom's departure coincides with a reorganization of acquisitions at Via which will see its premium pic channel Gran Via bought by controlling shareholder Admira, the film and TV subsid of Spanish telco Telefonica.