RTS Cambridge Convention 2019 schedule

This year's RTS Cambridge Convention took place at King’s College in Cambridge on 18-20th of September 2019.

Click here to download the full programme*

Wednesday 18 September


12.30        Accommodation registration opens                     King's College

13.00        Delegate registration opens                                  Concert Hall

14.00        Convention Opens                                                    Concert Hall

                  Welcome by Tom MockridgeRTS Chair           


14.05        Session One: Content, Consumers and Everything In Between

Carolyn McCall, CEO ITV sets the scene for the Convention with a wide ranging look at the challenges and opportunities for the television industry in a fast-changing world. Hosted by Susanna Reid with contributions from Neil Mortensen, Kevin Lygo, and introducing the consumer panel in Leeds with Ranvir Singh.

        Chairs

                 Susanna ReidJournalist and Broadcaster 

                 Ranvir SinghJournalist and Broadcaster

        Speakers

                 Carolyn McCallCEO, ITV 

              With

                 Kevin LygoDirector of Television, ITV 

                 Neil MortensenDirector of Audiences, ITV


15.05        Interstitial – The Future of Talent 

                  Produced by Deloitte

                  Introduced by

                  Ed SheddNorth West Europe TMT Industry Leader, Deloitte


15.10        Session Two: A Far Off Place, Of Which We Know Nothing – Exploring Gen Z 

Take a curated cruise to the heart of Gen Z, where 10 million teens attend a live concert without leaving their bedroom. Watch on in comfort while they host global house parties with friends they’ve never met. Featuring top travel tips such as how to create must-see content for a tribe that's turned its backpack on traditional TV.

        Chair

                Rob ChapmanCEO & Partner, Founders Intelligence

        Speakers

                Amber GillLove Island Winner 2019 and Influencer

                Caspar Lee, Vlogger and Entrepreneur

                Timothy Armoo, CEO, Fanbytes

                Paul BojarskiCEO, Sceenic


15.50      Tea break


16.10      Session Three: Running On Empty

Has the ideas well finally run dry for Unscripted? The blockbuster formats which dominated the world market remain popular but where are the big new breakout formats that can drive ratings and sales for the UK production industry? Is it time to start fracking for new ideas in more remote places?

        Chair

                Tim DavieChief Executive, BBC Studios

        Speakers

                Tim HincksCo-CEO, Expectation

                Stephen Lambert, CEO, Studio Lambert

                Alex MahonCEO, Channel 4


16.55      Session Four: In Conversation – Sharon White with Julie Etchingham

At her final Cambridge, Ofcom’s outgoing CEO Sharon White talks to ITN’s Julie Etchingham about the challenges facing our industry.

        Chair

                Julie EtchinghamJournalist and Broadcaster 

        Speaker

                Sharon White, Chief Executive, Ofcom


17.30      Session Five: Secretary of State Keynote

        Chair

                Susanna ReidJournalist and Broadcaster

        Speaker

                The Rt Hon Nicky Morgan MPSecretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport


18.05       End of Day One

19.15       BBC Studios Drinks Reception                                 King's College

20.00      Discovery Dinner                                                        King's College

22.30      China Global Television Network Nightcap         King's College


Thursday 19 September


09.30      Opening                                                                      Concert Hall


09.35      Session Six: International Keynote – David Zaslav

David Zaslav in conversation with Kate Silverton discusses Discovery’s move to direct to consumer, its ambitions to serve global audiences through verticals across sport, lifestyle and factual, and the subjects which inspire him personally to push the company’s business forward.

        Chair

                Kate SilvertonJournalist and Broadcaster

        Speaker

                David ZaslavPresident & CEO, Discovery


10.05      Session Seven: The Rights Stuff

The revolution in consumer behaviour has major implications for producers too. Who will control rights in the new world order? A panel of industry leaders debate what the rise of the SVODs will mean for UK broadcasters and producers in the greatest shake up of the TV landscape since the Communications Act of 2003 gave the indies the rights to the programmes they produce.

        Chair

                Kirsty WarkJournalist, Broadcaster and Writer

        Speakers

                Julian BellamyManaging Director, ITV Studios

                Howard DavineFormer ABC Studios Executive Vice President, Business Operations

                Dan McGolpinController, Programming and iPlayer, BBC

                Jane TurtonCEO, All3Media​


10.55      Coffee Break


11.15      Session Eight: Keynote – Jeremy Darroch​​

Jeremy Darroch, in conversation with Graham Ruddick, discusses the need to disrupt yourself and partner with competitors in order to succeed in an increasingly competitive world.

        Chair

                Graham Ruddick, Deputy Business Editor, The Times

        Speaker

                Jeremy Darroch, Group Chief Executive, Sky


11.45      Session Nine: Who You Gonna Trust?

Exactly when did trust shift from being a fundamental duty to a valuable USP? Just how commercially critical is the trust between supplier and consumer these days? And who can we best trust to monetise trust?

        Presentations

                Martin LewisFounder and Chair, MoneySavingExpert.com

                Ed WilliamsCEO UK and EMEA Vice Chairman, Edelman

        Chair

                Aasmah MirRadio and Television Broadcaster

        Speakers

                Vikki CookDirector, Content Media Policy, Ofcom 

                Ben McOwen WilsonManaging Director, YouTube UK 

                Deborah TurnessPresident, NBC News International


12.45      Lunch


14.15      Session Ten: Piers Morgan Q&A: The World’s Gone Nuts!

Should James Bond be a woman? Should we stop calling kids naughty? Fresh from the frontline of battling vegans, snowflakes and virtue-signalling Millennials, Piers Morgan will make his case against a woke world he believes has finally lost the plot. Ask him anything in this no-holds-barred Q&A – no safe space necessary.

        Chair

                Christine Lampard, Broadcaster

        Speaker

                Piers MorganJournalist and Broadcaster


14.45      Session Eleven: Keynote – Alex Mahon

At a time of increasing global competition, Alex Mahon will explore the important role and relevance of Channel 4 in the broadcasting landscape.

        Chair

                John HardieFormer ITN CEO and Editor-In-Chief 

        Speaker

                Alex MahonCEO, Channel 4


15.15      Tea break


15.35      Session Twelve: Mad Men v Math Men – Will Data Kill Advertising?

In the advertising world, where the fight is for eyeballs and brand loyalty, who are the winners and losers in the traditional versus digital eco system? Do marketers rely too heavily on data or is there still a role for creative advertising which tells stories?

        Keynote

                Linda YaccarinoChairman, Advertising and Partnerships, NBCUniversal 

                To kick off the Advertising session, Linda Yaccarino will share NBCUniversal’s global vision which puts consumers at the heart of the business, and reveals the responsibilities of delivering that strategy.

        Chair

                John GapperChief Business Columnist and Associate Editor, Financial Times

        Speakers

                Philippa BrownChief Executive, PHD

                Rupert Ellwood, Partner and Head of Marketing Communications, Waitrose

                Nils LeonardFounder, Uncommon

                Linda YaccarinoChairman, Advertising and Partnerships, NBCUniversal


16.40      Session Thirteen: Keynote – Tony Hall 

Tony Hall will set out why, at a time of change and uncertainty, public service broadcasting is more important than ever. He will demonstrate how the BBC will continue to rise to new challenges in the market and play an even more important role for Britain at home and abroad.

        Chair

                Beth RigbyPolitical Editor, Sky News 

      Speaker

                Tony HallDirector-General, BBC 


17.10       End of Day Two

19.15       Freeview Reception                                                  King's College

20.00      Accenture Dinner                                                      King's College

22.30      Spencer Stuart Nightcap                                         King's College

                Entertainment provided by Benny Blanco


Friday 20 September


09.30       Opening                                                                                Concert Hall


09.35      Session Fourteen: International Keynote – Reed Hastings

Reed Hastings in conversation with Kirsty Wark outlines the investment in storytelling, production and talent which helps Netflix keep its crown as Queen of the SVoDs.

        Chair

                Kirsty WarkJournalist, Broadcaster and Writer 

      Speaker

                Reed HastingsCEO, Netflix


10.05     Session Fifteen: You Gotta Have A Stream

Is SVoD now the only game in town or are there other ways to create and build a business of scale? Reemah Sakaan and David Lynn discuss the future of streaming and the bridges that could be built to help us all cross to the other side.

        Chair

                Wayne GarviePresident, International Production, Sony Pictures Television

       Speakers

                David LynnPresident and CEO, Viacom International Media Networks 

                Reemah Sakaan, Group Launch Director, Britbox


10.45      Coffee


11.05      Session Sixteen: Blow the Bloody Doors Off

Lorraine Kelly has championed the underdog all her working life. With the help of group of very opinionated new entrants, she turns her focus onto the critical lack of social mobility in our industry. How do we attract and retain truly diverse talent? What works and what doesn't? Time for some answers.

        Chair

                Lorraine Kelly, Broadcaster

      Speakers

                Vikki CookDirector, Content Media Policy, Ofcom 

                Alan Clements


11.35      Session Seventeen: Better Television or Better Diversity?

It’s been 10 years since Sir Lenny Henry first gave an impassioned call to arms at the RTS for the TV industry to increase diversity. There have been some victories, such as "diversity" being written into the BBC charter for the first time. But in the words of Greg Dyke television behind the camera remains "hideously white". Lenny takes a long hard look at what now needs to be done to step change diversity in our industry. And asks the question nobody wants to ask: Do we have choose between better television or better diversity? 

        Speakers

                Karen Blackett OBE, UK Country Manager, WPP UK and Chairwoman, MediaCom, UK & Ireland

                Sir Lenny HenryActor, Comedian and Diversity Campaigner


12.20       Convention Closes

                Carolyn McCall, CEO, ITV and Chair, RTS Cambridge Convention 2019

                Sir Peter BazalgetteChair, ITV 

                Theresa WiseChief Executive, RTS


12.30       Lunch                                                                                       King’s College


*subject to amendments

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, David Zaslav, Tony Hall, Karen Blackett...
Cambridge
Wed, 18/09/2019 to Fri, 20/09/2019