Convention Programme

 

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