James Corden and Emma Thompson will speak at the biennial Royal Television Society Convention, on Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st September at King’s College, Cambridge.
The agenda-setting programme, titled Too Much to Watch, will see James Corden give his first industry interview since returning to the UK, and Bryan Lourd, Co-Chairman of Creative Artists Agency in conversation with Emma Thompson.
The two-day event will bring industry players together to discuss the future of media, the impact of AI, and the role of opinion in news. Channel 4 will also unveil newly commissioned research exploring how much video people consume every day, and how we navigate an infinite supply of information and entertainment.
The convention will include conversations with industry leaders such as Mike Fries, Chief Executive and Vice Chairman, Liberty Global; Shay Segev, CEO, DAZN; Dana Strong, CEO, Sky; The Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport; in addition to the BBC’s Director-General Tim Davie and ITV’s CEO Carolyn McCall.
Newly announced speakers joining the existing line-up are:
Ade Adepitan, TV Presenter, Paralympic Medallist and Journalist
Kamal Ahmed, Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief, The News Movement
Ash Atalla, CEO, Roughcut TV
Chris Banatvala, Independent Media Consultant
James Corden OBE, Writer, Actor, Host, Producer
Andy Coulson, Coulson Partners Founder and Host of podcast Crisis What Crisis?
Rita Clifton CBE, Global Branding Expert
Dharshini David, Broadcaster, Economist and Author
Greg Dyke, Former CEO of LWT and Director-General of the BBC
Matthew Garrahan, Head of Digital, Financial Times
Tom Graham, CEO and Co-Founder, Metaphysic
Verity Harding, Director, AI & Geopolitics Project at Cambridge University’s Bennett Institute for Public Policy and Founder, Formation Advisory Ltd
Boyd Hilton, Entertainment Director, Heat
Angela Jain, Director of Unscripted UK, ITV Studios
Lea Karam, Consulting Director, Behave
Caroline Kean, Consultant Partner, Wiggin LLP
Grace Keeling AKA GKBarry, Comedian, Digital Creator and Presenter
Nick Kwek, Technology Journalist, Filmmaker and BBC Presenter
Steph Lacey, Actor/Writer
Simon Minty, Director, Sminty Ltd
Herman Narula, Founder and CEO, Improbable
Pedro Pina, Vice President, YouTube EMEA
Katie Prescott, Technology Business Editor, The Times
Barbara Serra, Journalist, Presenter, Documentary-Maker and Author
Emma Thompson, Actor, Screenwriter
Alex Mahon, CEO of Channel 4 and Convention Chair, said: “I’m thrilled to confirm an outstanding cast for this year’s convention, including some of the biggest names and most provocative figures in TV, globally esteemed and savvy CEOs, and a fresh contingent of visionary media innovators. What unites them all is a passion for brilliant entertainment and an interest and appeal across all age groups, so I couldn’t think of a better cohort to explore this year’s theme: Too Much to Watch.”
“With audiences overwhelmed by infinite choice and endless scrolling, we’ll attempt to unpick changes in viewing habits and how advancements like AI might improve people’s entertainment experience. I’m also excited to share with the convention some new Channel 4 research which will lift the lid on the modern video day to better understand today’s consumer and how we can provide people with what they want and where they want it.”
Theresa Wise, CEO of the Royal Television Society, said: “As the convention fast approaches, we are delighted to announce our programme of sessions across the two days, where we are set to hear from the global leaders in our industry across an incredible range of important topics shaping the ever-changing television landscape. We look forward to welcoming everyone to Cambridge in a few weeks’ time as we come together for an open and valuable discussion around both the challenges and potential which emerge as game-changing developments, economic realities and creative ingenuity continue to shape the business of TV.”
Previously announced speakers include:
Dawn Airey, Chair, FA Women’s Super League & Women’s Championship Football at The Football Association
Ajaz Ahmed, CEO, AKQA
Grace Boswood, Technology Director, Channel 4
Tim Davie, Director-General, BBC
Verica Djurdjevic, Chief Revenue Officer, Channel 4
Claire Enders, CEO, Enders Analysis
Angelos Frangopoulos, CEO, GB News
The Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Mike Fries, CEO and Vice Chairman, Liberty Global
Andrew Georgiou, President & MD, Warner Bros. Discovery UK & Ireland and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe
Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Main Anchor from the Channel 4 News Studio in London
Ronan Harris, President EMEA, Snap
Maria Kyriacou, President, Broadcast & Studios, International Markets, Paramount Global
Bryan Lourd, Co-Chairman, Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
Carolyn McCall, CEO, ITV
Piers Morgan, Broadcaster, Journalist, and Presenter, TalkTV
Rajiv Nathwani, Senior Director, Marketing, Netflix UK/IE/IL
Simon Pitts, CEO, STV Group
Jordan Schwarzenberger, Co-Founder, Arcade Media, The Sidemen
Shay Segev, CEO, DAZN
Evan Shapiro, Media Cartographer
Dana Strong, Group CEO, Sky
Stephen Van Rooyen, CEO, Sky UK & Ireland and Chief Commercial Officer, Sky Group
Channel 4 is the Principal Sponsor for the RTS Cambridge Convention 2023, with Alex Mahon, CEO, Channel 4, serving as the Chair of the event.
Other confirmed convention sponsors include Accenture, All3Media, Everyone TV, Pinewood Studios, Roku and Virgin Media O2.
Pippa Considine
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