The Royal Television Society (RTS) has unveiled the line-up for its biennial RTS Cambridge Convention 2017: A World of Opportunity (13 – 15 September).
In the opening session, A World of Opportunity, Sky’s Group Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Griffith and Managing Director, Content, Gary Davey, will chair a scene-setter for the convention, discussing the future of the UK television industry post Brexit.
Nancy Dubuc, President and CEO of A&E Networks will then offer a global perspective on operating a media company in her international keynote, which will be chaired by Jay Hunt, Chief Creative Officer of Channel 4.
Andy Harries, CEO of Left Bank Pictures and Andy Wilman, Executive Producer of The Grand Tour are then in conversation with Peter Fincham, Co-CEO of Expectation in Show Me The Money! Here they will discuss the opportunities and pitfalls of making mega-budget shows such as The Crown and The Grand Tour and what it is like creating content for the new platforms.
Wednesday closes with a keynote address from Sir David Clementi. Chaired by media analyst, Lorna Tilbian, this will be the first public speech Clementi has given since he was appointed as Chairman of the BBC in February 2017.
Day two of the convention will see keynote addresses from 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch and Ofcom chief excutive Sharon White.
The convention will also un-pick some of the topics that have dominated industry discussion this year. Broadcaster, Barbara Serra, will explore how, in a climate of fake news, internet propaganda, unmediated user generated content and rolling news, the news feeds stack-up in Whose News is it Anyway? Panellists include independent media consultant, Chris Banatvala; James Harding, Director, News and Current Affairs, BBC; Julie Hulme, Director of Newsgathering, ITV News; Jonathan Levy, Director of Newsgathering and Operations, Sky and Stuart Millar, Head of News, BuzzFeed.
Ben McOwen Wilson, Director YouTube EMEA; Alexi Mostrous, Head of Investigations, The Times and Kelly Williams, Commercial Director, ITV will debate the the future of advertising in the digital age.
Later in the day, The Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport will deliver a keynote address.
Sophie Turner Laing, CEO of Endemol Shine Group, will ask executives including Cécile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia Group; Michelle Guthrie, Managing Director, ABC and David Lynn, President and CEO, Viacom International Media; where the greatest opportunities lie for the UK production industry.
The final session of the day will take a look at the future of entertainment and how to maximise lucrative formats in a fast-changing world. Richard Osman will front a panel including Philip Edgar-Jones, Director, Sky Arts; Siobhan Greene, Head of Entertainment, ITV and Kate Phillips, Controller, Entertainment Commissioning, BBC; as they discuss the next big trends.
The opening session of day three, A World of Opportunity – For All? will discuss the prospects for creating a more diverse workforce which truly reflects society. Greg Dyke, former BBC director general; Anne Mensah; Head of Drama, Sky; Fraser Nelson, Editor of The Spectator and James Purnell, Director, Radio and Education, BBC, will provide their views in this session chaired by Tim Hincks, Co-CEO of Expectations.
The penultimate session will focus on Talent – How to Find It, Nurture It, Pay for It and Keep It and at the end of three days of debate the conference will close with senior figures, including Susanna Dinnage, President and MD, Discovery Networks UK and Ireland and Chief Content Officer, International; Mai Fyfield, Chief Strategy Officer, Sky and the BBC’s Director-General, Tony Hall, as they consider what we have learned and ask the question – does the future indeed offer A World of Opportunity?
For more details of the programme and how to register for the event visit: https://www.rts.org.uk/event/rts-cambridge-convention-2017.
Staff Reporter
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