Convention Programme
RTS Cambridge Convention 2023 - Programme
Too Much To Watch
Wednesday 20 September
09:00 Accommodation Registration opens King’s College
09:00 Delegate registration opens Concert Hall
10:15 Convention Opens Concert Hall
Welcome by Jane Turton RTS Chair and CEO, All3Media
And Alex Mahon RTS Convention Chair and CEO, Channel 4
10.20 Session 1: Too Much To Watch
With a maelstrom of content choices flooding through everyone’s minds and fingertips, Alex Mahon and guests dive boldly into the content habits of the UK public. Using cutting edge research, they explore the motives behind our viewing preferences, whilst deciphering the seismic implications for our industry's future.
Chair
Alex Mahon, CEO, Channel 4
Speakers
Ronan Harris, President EMEA, Snap
Angela Jain, Director of Unscripted UK, ITV Studios
Lea Karam, Consulting Director, Behave, Total Media
Pedro Pina, Vice President, YouTube EMEA
11.25 Session 2: UK Keynote: Tim Davie
In conversation with Kate Bulkley, Tim Davie, the BBC Director-General, expands on the corporation’s digital future and its Value for All strategy as well as its approach to AI.
Chair
Kate Bulkley, Business Journalist
Speaker
Tim Davie CBE, Director-General, BBC
11.50 Break
12.10 Session 3: The Future Of The Media Universe – Is Scale The Only Way?
Media Cartographer Evan Shapiro shares his latest mapping of the Media Universe, revealing which platforms are performing best, interrogating the products consumers choose on their screens, and then joins our panel to discuss which business models will win out.
Chair
Kamal Ahmed, Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The News Movement
Speakers
Claire Enders, Founder, Enders Analysis
Maria Kyriacou, President, Broadcast & Studios, International Markets, Paramount Global
Simon Pitts, CEO, STV Group
Evan Shapiro, Media Cartographer
12.55 Session 4: International Keynote: Dana Strong
In conversation with FT Head of Digital Matthew Garrahan, Dana Strong, Group CEO of Sky, will discuss her strategy for Sky as well as the reasoning behind their shift away from satellite to IP delivery.
Chair
Matthew Garrahan, Head of Digital, Financial Times
Speaker
Dana Strong, Group CEO, Sky
13.20 Pinewood TV Studios Welcome Lunch King's College
14.50 Session 5: Kicking and Streaming: The Ever-Changing Sports Media Landscape and What Comes Next
Is it only about rights, or are there other ways to stand out in a landscape where there is so much competition for eyeballs?
Chair
Ade Adepitan MBE, TV Presenter, Paralympic Medallist and Journalist
Speakers
Dawn Airey, Chair, FA Women's Super League & Women's Championship Football, The Football Association
Andrew Georgiou, President & MD, Warner Bros. Discovery UK & Ireland and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe
Stephen van Rooyen, CEO, Sky UK & Ireland and Group Chief Commercial Officer
Shay Segev, CEO, DAZN
15.35 Session 6: International Keynote: Mike Fries
Mike Fries takes a world view on our industry, addressing how the UK market is so important for Liberty Global and why, as aggregators, their broadcast strategy revolves around content, connectivity, capability, and customer experience.
Chair
Katie Prescott, Technology Business Editor, The Times
Speaker
Mike Fries, CEO and Vice Chairman, Liberty Global
16.00 Break
16.20 Session 7: The Future of Advertising
Exploring how advertisers want to reach audiences in an ever-changing media ecosystem, this session will ask how we can harness consumer insights and powerful partnerships. How can we provide most bang for brands’ buck?
Chair
Rita Clifton CBE, Global Branding Expert
Speakers
Veriça Djurdjevic, Chief Revenue Officer, Channel 4
Richard Huntington, Chief Strategy Officer, Saatchi & Saatchi
Rak Patel, Head of Sales EMEA, Spotify
16.50 Session 8: Secretary of State Keynote
Secretary of State Lucy Frazer addresses the future of TV against a backdrop of changing technologies and viewing habits.
Chair
Alex Mahon, CEO, Channel 4
Speaker
The Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
17.20 End of Day One
19.15 All3Media Drinks Reception King’s College
20.00 Accenture Dinner King’s College
After Dinner Speaker – Katherine Ryan
22.00 Roku Nightcap King’s College
Thursday 21 September
09.00 Opening Concert Hall
09.10 Session 9: UK Keynote: Carolyn McCall
In conversation with BBC Chief Economics Correspondent Dharshini David, ITV Chief Executive Carolyn McCall, gives a progress report on ITVX, and talks about the company’s upcoming business challenges.
Chair
Dharshini David, Broadcaster, Economist and Author
Speaker
Carolyn McCall, CEO, ITV
09.35 Session 10: Tonight We Celebrate, Tomorrow We Go Again: A Disability Access Journey
Disability consultant and Gogglebox’s Simon Minty and writer and actor Steph Lacey ponder how far the industry has come in its inclusion of disabled people, and consider what more we can do.
Speakers
Steph Lacey, Writer and Actor
Simon Minty, Disability and Diversity Consultant and Director, Sminty Ltd
09.55 Session 11(a): Impartiality – What’s The Point? The News Presenters
Impartiality has been a bedrock of the UK’s broadcast news landscape for a century. But for many, it feels like the tide is turning. The lines between the personal and professional, between news and opinion, and between journalists, commentators, politicians and ordinary people are blurring. Live on air, news presenters have to make split second decisions.
Chair
Barbara Serra, Journalist, Presenter, Documentary-Maker and Author
Speakers
Chris Banatvala, Director, Bear Consultancy
Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Main Anchor from the Channel 4 News Studio in London
Piers Morgan, Broadcaster, Journalist and Presenter, TalkTV
10.25 Session 11(b): Impartiality – What’s The Point? The Decision Makers
Talk TV and GB News are offering a shaken-up version of traditional news media – for some representing an exciting new wave of audience-focused, edgier broadcasting, with others wondering where the so-called ‘Americanisation’ of broadcasting will lead us. Join a panel of decision makers as they ask whether impartiality rules are still fit for purpose, and if the idea of due impartiality is still as important to audiences as it used to be.
Chair
Barbara Serra, Journalist, Presenter, Documentary-Maker and Author
Speakers
Chris Banatvala, Director, Bear Consultancy
Angelos Frangopoulos, CEO, GB News
Deborah Turness, CEO, BBC News and Current Affairs
Jonathan Levy, Managing Director and Executive Editor, Sky News UK
10.55 Break
11.15 Session 12: How To Launch New
Do you need a massive marketing budget to get your content seen or are there other ways of growing audiences? Influencers, content creators and marketers discuss how to launch new and capture attention in a crowded market.
Chair
Ash Atalla, CEO, Roughcut TV
Speakers
Ajaz Ahmed, Founder and CEO, AKQA
Grace Keeling AKA GK Barry, Comedian, Digital Creator and Presenter
Rajiv Nathwani, Senior Director, Marketing, Netflix UK/IE/IL
Jordan Schwarzenberger, Co-Founder, Arcade Media, The Sidemen
11.55 Session 13: Bryan Lourd in Conversation with Emma Thompson
Agent-extraordinaire Bryan Lourd and actor and screenwriter Emma Thompson take the temperature of the industry on both sides of the Atlantic and mull over the future of talent and creativity.
Speakers
Bryan Lourd, Co-Chairman, Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
Emma Thompson, Actor and Screenwriter
12.25 Lunch Concert Hall
13.10 Session 14: Crisis = Danger + Opportunity
In the broadcast industry we’re never short of bumps in the road, but how you handle them is key. Three experienced crisis managers give us the benefit of their experience in an evolving scenario which will test their skills.
Chair
John Gapper, Business Columnist, Financial Times
Speakers
Andy Coulson, Founder, Coulson Partners and Host, Crisis What Crisis? podcast
Greg Dyke, Former CEO, LWT and Former Director-General, BBC
Caroline Kean, Consultant Partner, Wiggin LLP
13.55 Session 15: AI: Friend or Foe?
AI has arrived but how does the broadcast industry work out what is game-changing and what is a threat to the creativity which defines us? How afraid should we be?
Chair
Nick Kwek, Technology Journalist, Filmmaker and BBC Presenter
Speakers
Grace Boswood, Technology Director, Channel 4
Tom Graham, CEO and Co-Founder, Metaphysic
Verity Harding, Director, AI & Geopolitics Project, Cambridge University's Bennett Institute for Public Policy and Founder, Formation Advisory
Herman Narula, Co-Founder and CEO, Improbable
14.40 Session 16: James Corden in Conversation with Boyd Hilton
After eight years in America hosting The Late Late Show, James Corden is back in the UK. In his first industry interview since his return, Heat Entertainment Director Boyd Hilton examines his illustrious BAFTA, Tony and Emmy winning career and asks what’s next? As a Writer/Producer/Performer on both sides of the Atlantic, James will give his unique perspective on our industry and discuss its future.
Chair
Boyd Hilton, Entertainment Director, Heat
Speaker
James Corden OBE, Writer, Host, Actor and Producer
15.10 Convention Closes
Alex Mahon, RTS Convention Chair and CEO, Channel 4
Theresa Wise, Chief Executive, RTS
The Society thanks its sponsors:
Accenture – Dinner and Convention app
All3Media – Drinks Reception
Everyone TV – Tea and Coffee Breaks
Pinewood TV Studios – Welcome Lunch
Roku – Nightcap
Virgin Media O2 – Convention WiFi