In Conversation with Jeff Foulser, Executive Chairman, Sunset and Vine
Jeff Foulser is a highly respected television executive with a long and distinguished track record in UK and international television production. He’s built Sunset+Vine into one of the most creative and successful independent sports production companies in the world. His career began as a tea boy at LWT in the 1970’s and after various roles in ITV Sport, in 1976 he became the youngest programme editor on the network, producing the iconic Big Match football show. He went on to be Executive Producer on most of ITV’s major events including World Cup football, European Championships, the Olympic Games and many World Championships.
In 1996 he became Managing Director of Sunset+Vine, turning the company from a little known business into one of the most highly regarded production companies in the UK and internationally, winning many awards on the way.
In 2001 he moved as CEO to The Television Corporation plc which had a full listing on the LSE and turned the company from debt to surplus in 3 years. At that time TV Corp invested in and helped develop the Hawk-Eye ball tracking technology system which is now used in cricket, tennis and football worldwide.
Since 2005 Jeff has been Chairman and CEO of Sunset+Vine Productions, part of the Tinopolis Group and the company has become one of the major sports producers in the world, delivering high quality sports events to broadcasters and sports federations. This has included being Host Broadcaster of the last two Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and Gold Coast, the 2017 World Athletics Championships and all ICC cricket worldwide since 2016. In the UK Sunset and Vine are the primary production partner for BT Sport delivering Premier League, Europa League and Scottish football plus Premiership and European rugby.
In conversation with Tim Marshall, Jeff talks about his life in sports TV which has seen so much change, both in terms of technology and business over the past decade.