BBC

In pictures: RTS Cambridge Convention 2015

The RTS Cambridge Convention 2015 took place from Wednesday 16 to Friday 18 September, seeing senior leaders from the television industry on both sides of the Atlantic converge on the city. 

The topics covered over the three days ranged from the importance of the BBC worldwide, to a debate about the lessons learnt from the General Election 2015, to the continued challenge that the television industry faces with the rise of video content emerging on digital platforms. 

No laughing matter: how does comedy fight back?

Key industry players provide an insight into the evolution of sitcoms and discuss whether the genre has become more risk averse because of the pressure to land a hit, or simply evolved to meet the changing taste of viewers. We also examine if money is being redirected into genres that are cheaper and easier to make, how BBC Three moving online might affect the development and growth of new comedies, and who is putting their head above the parapet and trying to put scripted comedy back at the heart of TV viewing.

Panel:

Culture Secretary launches review into BBC Governance at RTS Cambridge 2015

Former Deputy of the Bank of England, Sir David Clementi, will conduct the review. 

Introducing Whittingdale to an audience of senior television figures, BBC Director-General Tony Hall remarked, “John Whittingdale is one of those rare politicians who actually watched TV”.

In turn Whittingdale said he was ‘surprised’ that the Charter Renewal Green Paper was seen as a demise of the BBC:

This Week’s Top TV: 14-20 September

Monday

Girls Can Code

BBC Three

9pm

Television and radio presenter Alice Levine finds girls who complete computer coding in a male dominant industry. She takes Ellie, Daisy, Neelam, Tolani and Arooj to meet the UK’s most powerful women in technology. The girls are given a five-day task to invent a start up piece of technology. 

Tuesday

Battle of Britain: Return of the Spitfires

Channel 4

8pm

This week’s top TV: 7-13

Monday

The Queen’s Longest Reign: Elizabeth & Victoria

BBC Two

9pm

Longest-serving queen Victoria is set to be usurped by her great-great-granddaughter this week. Queen Elizabeth II will seize the accolade of longest-serving monarch in UK history on 9 September. To mark this major milestone, Sophie Raworth’s documentary pays tribute to the extraordinary lives of the two monarchs.   

 

The Campbell Swinton Lecture 2013 - Ken MacQuarrie - Director, BBC Scotland - ‘The BBC in a Connected World’

BBC lines up live streams from 17 locations to bring audiences quality coverage of Commonwealth Games

BBC audiences throughout Scotland and the UK will be kept in the picture with live streams from the Commonwealth Games venues.

BBC Scotland Director Ken MacQuarrie, speaking at an industry event last night, pledged that programming of, and around, the Games will be second to none.

This week's top TV: 1 - 6 September

Tuesday

India: Nature’s Wonderland

BBC Two

9pm

BBC’s India season continues tonight in this two-part series exploring the Far East’s exotic range of wildlife. In tonight’s episode, wildlife expert Liz Bonnin travels to the Gir Forest, home to the world’s largest Asiatic Lions.

Alongside Bonnin, Slumdog Millionaire actress Freida Pinto and mountaineer athlete Jon Gupta climb the Himalayas and roam India’s natural wonders. Look out for roaming lions, dancing tigers and even singing gibbons… 

Apprenticeships: why on-the-job training makes sense

When Tony Hall was appointed BBC Director-General, he pledged to widen the corporation’s recruitment net by ensuring that 1% of its public-service workforce were apprentices by 2016.

He reached the target two years ahead of schedule. By the end of 2014, 177 apprentices were employed across the UK in departments ranging from local radio to business management.

BBC apprenticeships last between 12 months and three years. Participants on the production scheme undertake placements on programmes in addition to training with the BBC Academy.

BBC set to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s reign in new documentary

The BBC will be paying tribute to the Queen as the longest-reigning monarch in British history in a new documentary.

The Queen’s Longest Reign: Elizabeth & Victoria will air on 9 September to mark the milestone.

Queen Elizabeth II has surpassed her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria who reigned for 63 years and seven months.