John Whitney (broadcaster)

John Norton Braithwaite Whitney, CBE (20 December 1930 – 4 November 2023) was a British writer and producer who was involved in the introduction and development of commercial radio and television in the UK during the 1970s and 1980s.

The BBC turned him down, so instead he started Ross Radio Productions Ltd[2]: 107  with Monty Bailey-Watson (an ex-BBC producer) and Joseph Sturge with whom he went to school.

Whilst still at Capital Radio he started Sagitta Productions with John Hawkesworth, producing such television series as Upstairs Downstairs, Danger UXB[4] and The Planemakers, as well as a number of single dramas.

During this time the IBA was involved in a dispute with the UK Government over the documentary Death on the Rock[6]: 72  and faced the consequences of the Peacock Committee[6]: 326, 343  which initiated the system of auctioning franchises for ITV companies.

[7] Upon leaving the IBA Whitney became Managing Director of the Really Useful Group Ltd, a company set up in 1977 by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and eventually became Chairman.