RTS London

RTS London learns how AI could shape broadcasting

Very broadly, AI is teaching computers to “learn” from data without being programmed (rather as humans do) –  so-called “machine learning”. 
 
Ian Whitfield, founder of Virtual AI and ex­ ITV director of technology, explained how his company’s systems enhance the automation of back-office processes that are fundamental to broadcast TV: “In channel scheduling, many of the repetitive and time­consuming tasks can be done by robots.” 
 

Building a Buzz: What makes a good PR campaign?

Chaired by Trevor Morris, Professor of Public Relations at Richmond University and former CEO of Chime Public Relations, the event showcased the work of three PR experts.

They included Taylor Herring managing partner James Herring, who admitted that public relations cannot work miracles in television: “The product needs to be great – if you’ve got a terrible TV show, you can have the best PR campaign in the world and no one will be there for the second episode.”

Will archives survive digitisation?

ARCHIVE MONTAGE

At a joint event put on by RTS London and the Federation of Commercial, Audiovisual Libraries (FOCAL) in late February, the experts said that – although it is a huge task – they would be able to digitise the best of telly’s vast archive of tape programmes. 

Steve Daly, head of technology at BBC Archives described his job as “looking after everything the BBC would like to keep forever”. This includes paper records, radio archives, sheet music, social media archive and music libraries, as well as telly programmes.