The agenda-setting programme, titled Too Much to Watch, will see James Corden OBE give his first industry interview since returning to the UK, and Bryan Lourd, Co-Chairman of Creative Artists Agency in conversation with multi-Academy Award® winner Emma Thompson.

The two-day event, on Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st September at King’s College, Cambridge, will bring industry players together to discuss the future of media, the impact of AI, and the role of opinion in news. Channel 4 will also unveil newly commissioned research exploring how much video people consume every day, and how we navigate an infinite supply of information and entertainment. 

The convention will include conversations with industry leaders such as Mike Fries, Chief Executive and Vice Chairman, Liberty Global; Shay Segev, CEO, DAZN; Dana Strong, CEO, Sky; The Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport; in addition to the BBC’s Director-General Tim Davie and ITV’s CEO Carolyn McCall. The programme can be found here.

Newly announced speakers joining the existing line-up are:  

• Ade Adepitan, TV Presenter, Paralympic Medallist and Journalist
• Kamal Ahmed, Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief, The News Movement
• Ash Atalla, CEO, Roughcut TV
• Chris Banatvala, Independent Media Consultant
• James Corden OBE, Writer, Actor, Host, Producer
• Andy Coulson, Coulson Partners Founder and Host of podcast Crisis What Crisis?
• Rita Clifton CBE, Global Branding Expert
• Dharshini David, Broadcaster, Economist and Author
• Greg Dyke, Former CEO of LWT and Director-General of the BBC
• Matthew Garrahan, Head of Digital, Financial Times
• Tom Graham, CEO and Co-Founder, Metaphysic
• Verity Harding, Director, AI & Geopolitics Project at Cambridge University’s Bennett Institute for Public Policy and Founder, Formation Advisory Ltd
• Boyd Hilton, Entertainment Director, Heat
• Angela Jain, Director of Unscripted UK, ITV Studios
• Lea Karam, Consulting Director, Behave
• Caroline Kean, Consultant Partner, Wiggin LLP
• Grace Keeling AKA GKBarry, Comedian, Digital Creator and Presenter
• Nick Kwek, Technology Journalist, Filmmaker and BBC Presenter
• Steph Lacey, Actor/Writer
• Simon Minty, Director, Sminty Ltd
• Herman Narula, Founder and CEO, Improbable
• Pedro Pina, Vice President, YouTube EMEA
• Katie Prescott, Technology Business Editor, The Times
• Barbara Serra, Journalist, Presenter, Documentary-Maker and Author
• Emma Thompson, Actor, Screenwriter

Alex Mahon, CEO of Channel 4 and Convention Chair, said: “I’m thrilled to confirm an outstanding cast for this year’s convention, including some of the biggest names and most provocative figures in TV, globally esteemed and savvy CEOs, and a fresh contingent of visionary media innovators. What unites them all is a passion for brilliant entertainment and an interest and appeal across all age groups, so I couldn’t think of a better cohort to explore this year’s theme: Too Much to Watch.”

“With audiences overwhelmed by infinite choice and endless scrolling, we’ll attempt to unpick changes in viewing habits and how advancements like AI might improve people’s entertainment experience. I’m also excited to share with the convention some new Channel 4 research which will lift the lid on the modern video day to better understand today’s consumer and how we can provide people with what they want and where they want it.”

Theresa Wise, CEO of the Royal Television Society, said: “As the convention fast approaches, we are delighted to announce our programme of sessions across the two days, where we are set to hear from the global leaders in our industry across an incredible range of important topics shaping the ever-changing television landscape. We look forward to welcoming everyone to Cambridge in a few weeks’ time as we come together for an open and valuable discussion around both the challenges and potential which emerge as game-changing developments, economic realities and creative ingenuity continue to shape the business of TV.”

Previously announced speakers include:

• Dawn Airey, Chair, FA Women's Super League & Women's Championship Football at The Football Association
• Ajaz Ahmed, CEO, AKQA
• Grace Boswood, Technology Director, Channel 4
• Tim Davie, Director-General, BBC
• Verica Djurdjevic, Chief Revenue Officer, Channel 4
• Claire Enders, CEO, Enders Analysis
• Angelos Frangopoulos, CEO, GB News
• The Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
• Mike Fries, CEO and Vice Chairman, Liberty Global
• Andrew Georgiou, President & MD, Warner Bros. Discovery UK & Ireland and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe
• Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Main Anchor from the Channel 4 News Studio in London
• Ronan Harris, President EMEA, Snap
• Maria Kyriacou, President, Broadcast & Studios, International Markets, Paramount Global
• Bryan Lourd, Co-Chairman, Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
• Carolyn McCall, CEO, ITV
• Piers Morgan, Broadcaster, Journalist, and Presenter, TalkTV
• Rajiv Nathwani, Senior Director, Marketing, Netflix UK/IE/IL
• Simon Pitts, CEO, STV Group
• Jordan Schwarzenberger, Co-Founder, Arcade Media, The Sidemen
• Shay Segev, CEO, DAZN
• Evan Shapiro, Media Cartographer
• Dana Strong, Group CEO, Sky
• Stephen Van Rooyen, CEO, Sky UK & Ireland and Chief Commercial Officer, Sky Group

Channel 4 is the Principal Sponsor for the RTS Cambridge Convention 2023, with Alex Mahon, CEO, Channel 4, serving as the Chair of the event.

Other confirmed convention sponsors include Accenture, All3Media, Everyone TV, Pinewood Studios, Roku and Virgin Media O2.

Tickets for the RTS Cambridge Convention 2023 are £2,000 excluding VAT.

For more information or to book your place visit: https://rts.org.uk/event/rts-cambridge-convention-2023