It's almost one year since David Abraham arrived at Channel 4 and set about reinventing it once again. Having slimmed down the senior management team, done away with silos and appointed Jay Hunt as Channel 4's first ever Chief Creative Officer, David will use this speech to set out his vision for Channel 4's purpose in a rapidly converging media landscape. The 'Fourth Channel' has played a unique role in the UK's media ecology since its launch in 1982 but in a fragmenting universe marked out by boundless choice and global-scale digital innovation how can it remain relevant and true to its founding principles?
David Abraham became Channel 4’s sixth Chief Executive when he took up his post in May 2010.
In the few months since his arrival he has restructured the broadcaster, combining all its commissioning and creative activities into a single cross platform content division for the first time, and reached an agreement for Channel 4 to become the exclusive advertising sales representative for UKTV.
David joined Channel 4 from UKTV, where he was appointed Chief Executive in April 2007. During his first year he masterminded the relaunch of the G2 channel as Dave, attracting 8 million new viewers and laying the foundation for rebranding the entire UKTV network.
Prior to this David worked at Discovery Networks USA, where, as President and General Manager for TLC from 2005, he was responsible for overseeing all content investment and strategy for the leading US cable network. Before heading to the US David was General Manager of Discovery Networks UK for four years from 2001.
David began his career in 1984 as a graduate trainee at advertising agency Benton and Bowles, after taking a degree in Modern History from Oxford University. He was a founding partner and Chief Operating Officer at leading independent advertising agency St Luke’s, which became internationally renowned for its explosive creative campaigns and for its innovative working practices.
The Society will present the following Fellowships:
- John Cresswell, Arqiva
- Andy Harries, Left Bank Pictures
Speakers
David Abraham, Chief Executive, Channel 4
Booking Instructions
Priority Booking - Full RTS members/patrons will be given priority booking until the morning of 26 April 2011
NB: Dinners are selling out before the priority cut off date and we very much regret that we are often unable to meet member/patron requests for places. Major, International and Principal Patrons have priority booking. Patrons are able to book tables of 12. Members have priority booking for themselves and one guest. Places can only be confirmed when payment is received.
If you would like to attend the RTS Dinner on Monday 23 May 2011 please complete the booking form and return it as soon as possible – telephone/email bookings are not acceptable unless confirmed by a credit/debit card – together with your payment method to cover the cost of your own ticket and those of your guests. The dinner will be held at Bafta, 195 Piccadilly, London, W1 at 7.00pm for 7.30pm. Dress Code – Business.
Please click here for the booking form and return to Jo Mitchell, Royal Television Society, Kildare House, 3 Dorset Rise, London, EC4Y 8EN.
The cost is £98.00 + £19.60 VAT per person, inclusive of table wine.
