London 2018 Conference Programme
08.00 Registration opens
08.55 Opening
Welcome by David Lynn, RTS Conference Co-Chair and President & CEO, VIMN
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, President & CEO, Viacom
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 and Inclusion, Barclays
Anne Nguyen, Partner & Managing Director, London, BCG
11.20 Coffee
11.45 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
Grace Boswood, Chief Operating Officer, BBC Design & Engineering
Richard Halton, CEO, YouView
Ben Page, Chief Executive, Ipsos MORI
Contributors
Nicky Birch, Executive Producer, BBC R&D
Jose Soleto, Co-Founder, Lyrebird
12.35 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 Zeinab Badawi
Chair
Zeinab Badawi, Presenter, BBC News
Speaker
Tony Hall, Director-General, BBC
13.05 Lunch
14.00 Session Six: Carolyn McCall, Chief Executive, ITV
Carolyn McCall, ITV’s Chief Executive, in conversation with Tim Hincks
Chair
Tim Hincks, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Expectation
Speakers
Carolyn McCall, Chief Executive, ITV
14.25 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 Programmes, Sky Entertainment UK and Ireland
Georgia Brown, Director of European Originals, Amazon Studios
Ian Katz, Director of Programmes, Channel 4
15.20 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, Chief Executive, Channel 4
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, Deputy Political Editor, Sky News
Speakers
Tess Alps, Chair, Thinkbox
Rachel Coldicutt, CEO, Doteveryone
Damian Collins MP, Chair, Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee
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: The RT Hon Jeremy Wright MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Chair
David Lynn, RTS Conference Co-Chair and President & CEO, VIMN
Speaker
The RT Hon Jeremy Wright MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
18.15 Convention Closes
James Currell, RTS Conference Co-Chair and President, VIMN UK Northern and Eastern Europe
Theresa Wise, Chief Executive, Royal Television Society
18.20 Drinks Reception sponsored by Spencer Stuart
(Battlebridge Room)