RTS London Conference Schedule

09.05   Session One: A full set of FAANGs

The FAANGs have yet to take too big a bite out of TV’s share of viewing. But with Facebook, Apple and Google now promising to join Netflix and Amazon in investing billions in video streaming, major entertainment companies, notably Disney and Fox, are rushing to consolidate. This strategy session explores the consumer, creative and commercial impact of the new entrants and the ongoing shift from scheduled to on-demand viewing. Are mergers and acquisitions the only way forward for broadcasters and producers? When it comes to doing battle or business with the Tech Giants, is bigger better?

Chair

Kate Bulkley, Media Commentator & Journalist

 

Speakers

            David Abraham, Founder, Wonderhood Studios

            Tom Mockridge, Chief Executive Officer, Virgin Media

            Darren Throop, President & CEO, Entertainment One

            Jane Turton, Chief Executive Officer, All3Media

           

10.00   Session Two: International Keynote – Bob Bakish

Bob Bakish, President & CEO of Viacom in conversation with Sian Williams.

Chair

Sian Williams, Presenter, Channel 5 News

     

Speaker

Bob Bakish, President & CEO, Viacom

 

10.30   Session Three: Diversity and Inclusion: Lessons From Outside TV

Diversity and inclusion are top of the list for responsible media organisations. But tackling inequalities across gender, race, disability and social mobility is a challenge, so how can we learn what works and define best practice? Can we learn from other sectors? Deborah Williams (CEO of CDN) gives an update on the current state of play in the broadcasting industry followed by a discussion with Mark McLane (Barclays) Anne Nguyen (BCG) and Karen Blackett (WPP) with examples of good practice elsewhere.

 

Chair

Trevor Phillips OBE, Founder, Webber Phillips

 

Presentation

Deborah Williams, Executive Director, Creative Diversity Network

 

Speakers

Karen Blackett OBE, Country Manager, WPP

Mark McLane, Global Head of Diversity, Barclays

Anne Nguyen, Partner & Managing Director, London, BCG

 

11.10   Coffee

 

11.35   Session Four: Rise of the Machines – Voice, AI and Beyond - How will broadcasting embrace the challenge?

From mobile Virtual Assistants to Artificially Intelligent TVs to Smart Speakers, Voice is now impacting the broadcasting industry in exciting and explorative ways.  

Targeted Advertising, Personalised Discovery, Fake News? What opportunities does this audio-based medium hold and what issues does it bring along with it? 

How will advancements in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Biometrics drive the platform forward and really get to the heart of the consumer?

 

Chair

Kate Russell, Technology Reporter, BBC Click

 

Speakers

Matthew Postgate, Chief Technology & Product Officer, BBC

Babak Hodjat, Co-Founder & CEO, Sentient Technologies

Further speakers tbc

 

12.20   Session Five: Tomorrow’s BBC: Meeting The Challenges of the Future

An address by Tony Hall, Director-General of the BBC, followed by Q&A with Zainab Badawi

 

Chair

Zainab Badawi, Presenter, BBC News

 

Speaker

Tony Hall, Director-General, BBC

 

12.50   Lunch

 

13.50   Session Six: Carolyn McCall

Carolyn McCall, ITV’s Chief Executive, in conversation with Tim Hincks

 

Chair

Tim Hincks, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Expectation Entertainment

 

Speakers

Carolyn McCall, Chief Executive, ITV

 

14.15   Session Seven: Commission Accomplished

We all know the market is changing shape.  But what of the shows within it?  What does it mean to commission linear television in an increasingly SVOD world?  Meanwhile, what are the new entrants really looking for?  And are these platform distinctions as cut and dried as they seem?  Amazon’s Georgia Brown, Channel 4’s Ian Katz and Sky’s Zai Bennett discuss content in a shifting world with Kirsty Wark. 

 

Chair

Kirsty Wark, Writer and Broadcaster

 

Speakers

Zai Bennett, Director of Programme, Sky Entertainment UK and Ireland

Georgia Brown, Director, European Originals, Amazon Studios

Ian Katz, Director of Programmes, Channel 4

 

15.10   Session Eight: Making It On The Global Stage

The death of co-pro, peak drama, the globalisation of content… myths or reality?  NBCU’s Jeff Wachtel and Endemol Shine’s Peter Salmon share their thoughts on major market trends in production and distribution, and ask what the UK industry can learn from the rest of the world.  Chaired by Kirsty Wark.

 

Chair

Kirsty Wark, Writer and Broadcaster

 

Speakers

Peter Salmon, Chief Creative Officer, Endemol Shine Group

Jeff Wachtel, President, NBCUniversal International Studios

 

15.50   Tea

 

16.15   Session Nine: Alex Mahon

Alex Mahon, Chief Executive of Channel 4, in conversation with Tim Hincks.

 

Chair

Tim Hincks, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Expectation Entertainment

 

Speaker

Alex Mahon, Chief Executive, Channel 4

 

16.40   Session Ten: How To Regulate The Internet - Audience Protection In A Digital Age

Even Mark Zuckerberg agrees that regulation of online platforms is inevitable. The question now is “how do you do it”?  With a white paper on internet regulation expected in the Autumn, this session will examine what steps the Government must take to ensure a level playing field between broadcasters and technology companies. Has the time come for an internet regulator? And do successful broadcasting rules – like the watershed, advertising rules and impartiality – have a place in an online regime?

 

Chair

Beth Rigby, Political Correspondent, Sky News

 

Speakers

Tess Alps, Chair, Thinkbox​

Damian Collins MP

Rachel Coldicutt, CEO, Dot Everyone

 

 

17.20   Session Eleven: Sharon White, Chief Executive, Ofcom

The Ofcom CEO contributes to the debate about issues and challenges in on line regulation from the perspective of the UK’s broadcast regulator.

 

Chair

Kirsty Wark, Writer and Broadcaster

 

Speaker

Sharon White, Chief Executive, Ofcom

 

17.45   Session Twelve: RT Hon Jeremy Wright MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport

 

Speaker

RT Hon Jeremy Wright MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Media, Culture, and Sport

 

18.15   Convention Closes

James Currell, RTS Convention Chair and President, VIMN UK Northern and Eastern Europe

 

18.20   Drinks Reception sponsored by Spencer Stuart

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