Cambridge 2015

Session Seven: The Single Voice and the Showrunner

​Is the UK’s renowned belief in the ‘authored voice’ enough to enable us to lead or even survive in a US dominated international market? Do we need to acquire more expertise in Show Runner-led environments or should we be protecting our best writers from the writers’ room? And how do new writers get started and build a career in an industry led by A-listers?

Chair: Jane Tranter

Speakers

Hugo Blick, Writer, Director and Executive Producer, Eight Rooks

Session Six: Josh Sapan, AMC

Chair: Tim Davie, Chief Executive, BBC Worldwide

Speaker: Josh Sapan, President and Chief Executive Officer, AMC Networks

We explore whether this process leads to new investment and a greater role in the global media market, or growing homogenisation of programmes and a squeezing of creativity.

Session Four: Working for the Yankee Dollar? Consolidation and Creativity 

Session Three: Secretary of State Keynote

Chair: Tony Hall, RTS Convention Chair and Director-General, BBC

Speaker: The Rt Hon John Whittingdale OBE MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

Session Two: International Keynote – Philippe Dauman, Viacom

Chair: Kamal Ahmed, Business Editor, BBC News

Speaker: Philippe Dauman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Viacom

Thanks to Studio Lambert, the session will also have contributions from the most insightful TV critics of the modern era - the cast of Channel 4’s GoggleBox - all designed to challenge the conventions and shibboleths of both the ‘old’ and ‘new’ sides of our industry. Audience contributions will be welcomed throughout.

Chair: James Purnell, Director, Strategy and Digital, BBC

Speakers

Emily Bell, Professor of Professional Practice and Director of Tow Center for Digital Journalism, Columbia University Journalism School