Pearson appoints Lambie-Nairn

Lambie-Nairn has been appointed to rebrand Pearson Television to reflect its split last year from former parent Pearson. The company is now part of pan-European commercial TV and radio company RTL.

The rebrand will focus on a name change, but a Pearson Television spokeswoman says it will not illicit a change in strategy or direction for the production company, which is responsible for some of the best known programmes on television, including The Bill and Neighbours.

RTL was formed in April 2000 from the merger of Pearson Television and CLT-UFA, though Pearson Television was not rebranded following the deal.

Media group Pearson, owner of the Financial Times, has a 22 per cent shareholding in RTL.

An RTL spokesman says the name is unlikely to be changed to RTL TV but he says the naming process is underway.

“The relationship of Pearson Television with Pearson has changed and the name needs to reflect that. I can’t say Pearson Television will not take the RTL name, but there are good reasons not to use a broadcasting brand in a production market. What is obvious is that the name has to change – the Pearson Television brand belongs to another galaxy,” he says. “We have a project team at Pearson Television working with Lambie-Nairn to review a shortlist of name suggestions put forward by RTL employees.”

Lambie-Nairn declined to comment on the appointment as Design Week went to press.