David Elstein has spent over 40 years in the TV production and broadcasting industries, serving as Chief Executive of Channel 5, Director of Programmes at Thames TV, Head of Programming at BSkyB, Managing Director at Brook Productions and Primetime Productions, and Chairman of Sparrowhawk Media, DCD Media plc, Screen Digest, the Broadcasting Policy Group, the British Screen Advisory Council and the National Film and Television School. He spent five years on the board of Virgin Media, and was one of the earliest suppliers of programmes to Channel 4 as an independent producer. He is Chairman of open Democracy, and writes regularly for that website and for various national newspapers on media issues.