Roly Keating is the BBC’s Director of Archive Content. This new role is responsible for the development and implementation of a strategy to radically increase public access to the BBC’s massive archives, whether by publicly-funded or commercial means. Roly acts as overall editorial leader for all current archive-based services based on the BBC’s core television output.
From 2004 to 2008 Roly was Controller of BBC TWO, overseeing a range of memorable programmes including Andrew Marr’s History of Modern Britain, The Choir, Extras, Rain In My Heart, Dragons’ Den, Coast, Tribe and Springwatch. BBC TWO was named as Broadcast Channel of the Year in 2007. From October 2007 to May 2008 he took on additional responsibility as Acting Controller, BBC ONE.
After joining the BBC as a General Trainee in 1983 Roly made documentaries for Omnibus, Bookmark and Arena and was Editor of The Late Show and Bookmark.
Roly moved to become Head of Programming for UKTV on its launch in 1997, and in 1999 he was made BBC Controller of Digital Channels. He then became Controller of BBC FOUR, leading the channel’s launch in March 2002.
In 2003 he was seconded for six months to act as joint leader of the BBC’s Charter Review project