September 2017

Sequels: TING RA O B U E R L E Live long and C prosper

Journal of The September 2017 l Volume 54/8

From the CEO Our flagship RTS series. Don’t miss this hugely percep- O’Donnell, who is based in that other Cambridge Convention tive piece. great East Anglian hub city, Norwich. is fast approaching. The RTS celebrates its 90th anni- am delighted that, in addition to With the help of our versary this month. How time flies! Cambridge, the RTS is preparing a Principal Patron Sky, Steve Clarke looks back at what the packed autumn events calendar. Peter and our esteemed Society has achieved since the pio- Kosminsky will be in conversation Cambridge Advisory neering days of John Logie Baird to with News presenter Fatima Committee, we have assembled the present, digital era. Manji on 30 August. He will be dis- a stellar line-up of speakers and It’s been a challenging time for cussing his new Channel 4 drama, contributors. Londoners and Mancunians. The The State. The emphasis will be on how the fallout from the tragedy of Grenfell Other treats in store are the inaugu- UK can forge new, wider relationships Tower and the terrorist attacks earlier ral Steve Hewlett Memorial Lecture, in the post-Brexit world, both at home this year are still with us. Stewart given by Nick Robinson, an evening and overseas. Global television leaders Purvis examines how broadcasters with Lord Puttnam and our latest Joint will also consider the ways in which have responded to these events. He Public Lecture with the IET. Thrillingly, policy-makers can help create the asks if television news hasn’t some- our speaker is astronaut Tim Peake. best policy environment to facilitate times been too ready to put emotion the kind of creative endeavour for before objective journalism. which we are world renowned. It’s fitting that, as we get ready Talking of which, this month’s cover for the Cambridge Convention, this story sees Mark Lawson analysing the month’s Our Friend column is by ingredients for a successful sequel the editor of BBC Look East, Nikki Theresa Wise Contents Daisy Goodwin’s TV Diary The return of the native Christmas comes early for Daisy Goodwin as she discovers Deborah Turness is back in after her ­­ 5 that writing TV drama is anything but straightforward 22 achieve­ments running NBC News in New York. She tells Tara Conlan what’s next First among sequels As the producers of Game of Thrones develop spin-off Soap’s power to fight prejudice 6 shows, Mark Lawson assesses what makes a hit sequel Matthew Bell hears how shows such as Coronation 24 Street and EastEnders are leading the way in depicting Standing start for Sky’s action man LGBTQ characters Andrew Billen discovers that Sky COO Andrew Griffith 9 boosts his energy levels at work by avoiding sitting down Our Friend in the East Norwich may look idyllic, but it must work harder to A hug too far? 27 retain its young media talent, says Nikki O’Donnell Is TV’s emotional reporting of events such as the Grenfell 12 Tower fire undermining journalistic detachment, asks Out of step with public opinion Stewart Purvis Stewart Purvis combs through an ambitious attempt 28 to work out why the media keeps getting it wrong The rise and rise of the RTS Steve Clarke salutes the Royal Television Society on the All eyes on the next breakthrough 15 eve of its 90th birthday As IBC celebrates its 50th anniversary, Raymond Snoddy 30 asks what is likely to be TV’s next big disruptor From the Pennines to PyeongChang Owen Gibson interviews Peter Hutton, the head 19 of Eurosport, whose Olympic-style ambitions are disrupting sports television Cover: Gordon Jamieson

Editor Production, design, advertising Royal Television Society Subscription rates Printing Legal notice Steve Clarke Gordon Jamieson 3 Dorset Rise UK £115 ISSN 0308-454X © Royal Television Society 2017. [email protected] [email protected] London EC4Y 8EN Overseas (surface) £146.11 Printer: FE Burman The views expressed in Television Writer Sub-editor T: 020 7822 2810 Overseas (airmail) £172.22 20 Crimscott Street are not necessarily those of the RTS. Matthew Bell Sarah Bancroft E: [email protected] Enquiries: [email protected] London SE1 5TP Registered Charity 313 728 [email protected] [email protected] W: www.rts.org.uk

Television www.rts.org.uk September 2017 3 Your guide to upcoming events. Book online at RTS NEWS www.rts.org.uk

RTS EARLY EVENING EVENT and the University of the West of NORTHERN IRELAND National events Tuesday 10 October England to celebrate 60 years of Thursday 16 November The great history debate news in the West of England Programme Awards 2017 RTS EARLY EVENING EVENT Speakers: Leanne Klein, CEO, Venue: TBC 6:00pm Wednesday 30 August Wall to Wall; Suzannah Lipscomb, Thursday 9 November Venue: The MAC, 10 Exchange In conversation with Peter historian and presenter; Tom Bristol RTS Futures Festival Street West, Belfast BT1 2NJ Kosminsky McDonald, head of specialist Advice about production in the ■ John Mitchell Director Peter Kosminsky will be factual commissioning, BBC TV; region and entering the industry ■ mitch.mvbroadcast@ in conversation with Channel 4 and David Olusoga, historian and Venue: Watershed, 1 Canon’s btinternet.com News presenter Fatima Manji, presenter. Chair: Tony Robinson Road, Bristol BS1 5TX talking about his new drama, Venue: Central London, TBC ■ Belinda Biggam REPUBLIC OF IRELAND The State. 6:30pm for 6:45pm ■ [email protected] ■ Charles Byrne (353) 87251 3092 Venue: Vue West End, 3 Cran- RTS/IET JOINT PUBLIC LECTURE ■ [email protected] bourn Street, Leicester Square, Wednesday 25 October DEVON & CORNWALL London WC2H 7AL Tim Peake, ESA astronaut ■ Jane Hudson SCOTLAND Venue: IET London, 2 Savoy ■ RTSDevonandCornwall@rts. ■ Jane Muirhead RTS CONFERENCE Place, London WC2R 0BL org.uk ■ [email protected] 13-15 September RTS Cambridge Convention RTS MASTERCLASSES EAST SOUTHERN 2017: ‘A world of opportunity’ Tuesday 14 November ■ Nikki O’Donnell Wednesday 4 October Please see the back page RTS Student Programme ■ nikki.odonnell@.co.uk IBC review for the full list of confirmed Masterclasses­ Panel discussion. Joint Thames speakers. The convention is Venue: IET London, 2 Savoy LONDON Valley and Southern centres co-chaired by Andrew Griffith, Place, London WC2R 0BL ■ Daniel Cherowbrier event. 7:00pm for 7:30pm Group Chief Operating Officer, Wednesday 15 November ■ [email protected] Venue: Central Studio, Queen Sky, and Gary Davey, Managing RTS Student Craft Skills Mary’s College, Cliddesden Road, Director, Content, Sky Masterclasses­ MIDLANDS Basingstoke RG21 3HF Venue: West Road Concert Hall, Venue: IET London, 2 Savoy Thursday 30 November ■ Stephanie Farmer Cambridge CB3 9DP and King’s Place, London WC2R 0BL Gala Dinner and Awards 2017 ■ [email protected] College, Cambridge CB2 1ST Venue: National Motorcycle RTS AWARDS Museum, Solihull B92 0EJ THAMES VALLEY RTS FUTURES Monday 27 November ■ Jayne Greene 07792 776585 Wednesday 4 October Tuesday 26 September RTS Craft & Design Awards 2017 ■ [email protected] IBC review Breaking into broadcasting Venue: London Hilton on Park Venue: Central Studio, Queen 6:45pm for 7:00pm start Lane, London W1K 1BE NORTH EAST & THE BORDER Marys College, Cliddesden Road, Venue: Channel 4, 124 Horseferry Friday 8 September Basingstoke RG21 3HF Road, London SW1P 2TX Awards launch and social Friday 17 November Local events Venue: TBC Annual Dinner Dance JOINT EVENT Thursday 12 October 7:00pm Thursday 28 September BRISTOL An audience with Fiona Venue: De Vere Wokefield Estate, First annual Steve Hewlett Monday 11 September Armstrong Mortimer RG7 3AE Memorial Lecture given by The making of Three Girls Venue: Cumbria, TBC ■ Tony Orme Nick Robinson With director Philippa Lowthorpe, ■ Jill Graham ■ [email protected] Jointly organised by the RTS and writer Nicole Taylor, executive ■ [email protected] the Media Society. Free to full RTS producer Susan Hogg, editor members with advance booking. Úna Ní Dhonghaíle, and director NORTH WEST ■ Hywel Wiliam 07980 007841 6:30pm for 7:00pm of photography Matt Gray Thursday 28 September ■ [email protected] Venue: University of Westminster, Venue: Cinema 3, Watershed, Awards launch party 4-12 Little Titchfield Street, 1 Canon’s Rd, Bristol BS1 5TX 6:30pm launch event; 8:30pm YORKSHIRE London W1W 7BY Tuesday 26 September party at the Alchemist, MediaCity ■ Lisa Holdsworth 07790 145280 Meet the controller: Ben Frow, Venue: Compass Room, The ■ lisa@allonewordproductions. RTS EARLY EVENING EVENT Channel 5 Lowry, Salford Quays M50 3AZ co.uk Wednesday 4 October Venue: TBC Saturday 11 November Lord Puttnam in conversation Wednesday 25 October RTS North West Awards with Ed Vaizey MP ‘Have we got news for you?’ Venue: Hilton Deansgate, 303 6:30pm for 6:45pm BBC Points West debate on the Deansgate, M3 4LQ Venue: Channel 4, 124 Horseferry future of local news and com- ■ Rachel Pinkney 07966 230639 Road, London SW1P 2TX munity. Supported by RTS Bristol ■ [email protected]

4 TV diary

Christmas comes early for Daisy Goodwin as she discovers that writing TV drama is anything but straightforward

he country is bask- This call is about the production disappointed that I haven’t brought ing in a heatwave, implications of the Christmas Spe- a tiara. and I am at the lap- cial. Can we really achieve a frozen I pontificate for hours about my top trying to write lake in August? I am attempting, inspiration for Victoria (a mixture of the Victoria Christ- unsuccessfully, to hold a crow pose, her diaries, my teenage daughter and mas special. I put when we decide that it is possible a lifetime’s passion for queens) and on some carols for to erect a skating rink outside the then am accosted by an American atmosphere and wonder whether a aircraft hanger that we call Bucking- journalist who asks me if Victoria is minceT pie would help. ham Palace. the mother of Elizabeth II. It doesn’t. For inspiration, I look at There are times when I am in awe I worry sometimes that there are Victoria’s own watercolours of Christ- of the power of my words to cause no surprises in Victoria, that the plots mas at Windsor. Albert wanted to mayhem. But then, a Christmas spe- are all there in Wikipedia, so I find recreate the Christmases of his cial wouldn’t be special without a this rather cheering. Coburg childhood and he put up a skating rink, a parrot and nine hang- tree for each of their nine children, ing trees covered in authentic Victo- ■ Killing time at the airport, I have hanging them from the ceiling with rian gingerbread. a look at my new favourite Facebook tables, called altars, for presents page, “For the love of Vicbourne”, underneath. For all their cosy, domes- ■ When I tell my teenage daughter where viewers have created a par- tic image Victoria and Albert, weren’t about the show, she says: “It had bet- allel universe in which Victoria and afraid of a little bling. ter be good, Mum. There is nothing Lord Melbourne confound history worse than a duff Christmas special.” and consummate their relationship ■ An email from Mammoth, the My hairdresser sighs and says: in some very steamy fan fic. company that makes Victoria, sum- “I don’t envy you the responsibility.” There isn’t much sex in Victoria. moning me to a conference call. The producer asks hopefully: “Will I am a great believer in the erotic I have worked in factual TV for anybody die, as our cast budget is power of suggestion, but it is clear 30 years and can count the con- pretty much spent?” that my viewers have no trouble at all ference calls I have made on my I start looking at flights to places with in filling in what happens next. fingers. no broadband for the festive period. But since I joined the esoteric cult ■ My older daughter is my that is TV drama, I find that the con- ■ I am flying to Los Angeles for writing partner and, after a dinner ference call where one party is inevi- the Television Critics Association’s where we talk about the best way of tably on top of a mountain or is a biannual bash, where shows are dramatising the Charge of the Light really heavy breather has become presented to the American press. At Brigade with 10 extras and some iffy an almost daily occurrence. home, the writer just shows up, talks CGI, my husband groans: “Now I For the sake of my blood pressure, and then goes home on the Tube. know how Prince Charles feels. Isn’t I have learnt to put the calls on In LA, even the writer has their it time that Victoria abdicated?” speaker and to practise sun saluta- own make-up artist. Mine is a Native tions while others talk. American who loves Victoria; he is Daisy Goodwin is a writer and producer.

Television www.rts.org.uk September 2017 5 Content As the producers of First among Game of Thrones develop spin-off shows, Mark Lawson assesses sequels what makes a hit sequel

n the first episode of the sev- enth, and penultimate, season of Game of Thrones, a new char- acter, played by Jim Broadbent, consoles those who are gloomy about the terrible freezeI descending on Westeros: “Every winter that ever came has ended.” This moral may also contain a ­message for fans melancholy at the impending end of the fantasy war drama itself, as it seems increasingly likely that the final wintry will be followed by a creative spring. The show’s maker, HBO, has con- firmed that it has teams of writers working on four possible spin-offs from the franchise. These extension projects – at least two of which are expected to reach the screen – are reportedly either prequels or standalone­ narratives for featured characters. These, traditionally, have been the two most common ways of keeping alive a TV hit that has come to a natural end. Game of Thrones also easily fulfills the two most common criteria for trying to prolong shows that have left the schedules – demand from viewers and supply of finance to the producers. In any discussion of this subject, first among sequels is the stable started running by Star Trek (NBC, 1966-69), which has, so far, resulted in six spin- offs, the latest of which, Star Trek Dis- covery, premieres at the end of this month on CBS and . A new epi- sode will be released for streaming each week starting on 25 September, the day after the first episode airs on CBS. In the US, CBS All Access will stream the show; in the rest of the world, it will be available on Netflix. Four of the previous follow-up shows ran for longer than the original, includ- ing Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-94), the title of which has become useful shorthand for one means of stretching an idea: a time-jump. Patrick Stewart was exploring space a century after William Shatner had.

6 In the wake of the Starship Enter- And yet, as a terrible warning against prise, two series with a highly impres- drawing from the same well too often, sive record of reproduction are ITV hits The Tortellis (NBC, 1987), which filled out of different eras. The sitcom Man About the home life of minor relatives of a the House (Thames TV, 1973-76), in major character, Rhea Perlman’s Carla, which Richard O’Sullivan shared a flat received jeers rather than before with Paula Wilcox and Sally Thomsett, being cancelled after 13 episodes. lucratively expanded the situation twice. In retrospect, the poster advertising The original trio’s landlords, a bick- the series seems intriguingly defensive: ering couple played by the tagline, “not just another family and Brian Murphy, moved upmarket to comedy, not just another family”, sug- a modern house in George and Mildred gests a dawning realisation that the (1976-79), followed by the O’Sullivan relatively novel setting of a bar had character’s move into the restaurant been replaced by a much more routine business in Robin’s Nest (1977-81). domestic scene. Although none of the iterations is M*A*S*H (CBS, 1972-83), despite com- regarded as a classic, the franchise peting with Cheers in polls of top-10 – created and largely written by Brian comedies, spawned unwanted twins, Cooke and Johnnie Mortimer – stands AfterMASH (1983-85) and Trapper high in any spin-off batting average. John, MD (1979-86), which followed staff The shows provided ITV with 17 high-­ from the Korean War medical corps rating, peak-time series over eight years. into civilian existence in the US. That innings is eclipsed, though, by Tellingly, these series were literally the broadcasting performance of the asked to fill the gap, occupying the detective characters drawn from the mother show’s peak-time slot. But, novels of Colin Dexter. Inspector Morse although the latter managed a healthy (ITV, 1987-2000) spawned both a sequel run, the spin-off projects raised the – Lewis (2006-15), which promoted question that all continuations have to Kevin Whately, previously John Thaw’s tackle: how far should the sequel sidekick, to protagonist – and a pre- repeat the original situation? quel, Endeavour, that has been running What had been, through the Korean since 2012, with Shaun Evans playing conflict setting, an unusual doctors- Morse earlier in his career. and-nurses show became, when relo- Remarkably, this trilogy has so far cated to America, another standard provided 83 peak-time drama epi- example of the genre. sodes (of 90-120 minutes in length) A further problem for M*A*S*H was over a span of three decades. that the most marketable actor from In baseball terms, the Man About the the show, Alan Alda, had moved on to House and Morse sequences are batting movies. three for three. Two recent American Friends (NBC, 1994-2004) faced series, though still early in the game, ­similar difficulties: Jennifer Aniston are two for two: Breaking Bad/Better Call became a bona fide Hollywood super- Saul and The Good Wife/The Good Fight. star, following George Clooney in These examples become even more denting the perception that small- noteworthy when judged against the screen stars lacked transferrable many hits whose spin-offs have fallen cinematic­ talents. short. Television history is filled with As Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow and examples of the risks of trying to turn David Schwimmer also made signifi- a storytelling full-stop – whether for cant impacts in film, any Friends spin- economic or sentimental reasons – offs were limited to those performers into a semicolon. for whom TV continued to be an The bar-based sitcom Cheers (NBC, attractive option, such as Matt LeBlanc. 1982-93) instructively provides an His thick but libidinous character, example of both the best and the worst Joey Tribbiani, a struggling actor, was that can happen when expanding a given his own show, Joey, in which the programme. lovably dumb Italian-American pursued (NBC, 1993-2004) is a very movie fame in LA, a plot line that may rare American example of the second have been psychologically complex for generation matching the success of the LeBlanc, as he watched Aniston and Game of first, perhaps because it cleverly other Friends alumni making the tran- Thrones explored the backstory of a character, sition for real. the psychiatrist played by Kelsey Gram- Joey prospered enough in its pre- mer, whose past in Seattle had been a miere season to win a second, which

Sky tantalising aspect of the original. was then cancelled halfway through �

Television www.rts.org.uk September 2017 7 An expanding universe: the original Star Trek; Star Trek: The Next Generation; Star Trek: Deep Space Nine; Star Trek: Voyager; and Star Trek: Enterprise CBS

� when it came up against the ratings though their prospects and relation- juggernaut of American Idol. The show, FOUR OF [STAR ship had been changed by time. though, had an inbuilt design fault TREK’S SPIN-OFF] In contrast, even if it had not been that is the reason many extension hobbled by the sudden death of Ron- projects fail: what had been loved as SHOWS RAN FOR nie Barker’s co-star, Richard Beckin- an ensemble piece gave birth to a LONGER THAN sale, Going Straight (BBC, 1978) would single-character sitcom. surely never have repeated the appeal In TV fiction, as in sport, there are THE ORIGINAL of Porridge (1974-77), because the initial performers who continue to flourish prison setting was inherently more when transferred to another arena, compelling than the situation of old and those who are revealed to have One solution to actor drop-out is to lags on the outside. been carried by the original team. visit the figure when younger, an Game of Thrones has the advantage of So, what might the writers working approach that delivers continuity having always been a multi-location on the Game of Thrones carry-ons learn despite recasting, as Endeavour, Prime show, moving between the various from these past examples? Suspect 1973 and Rock & Chips (a prequel kingdoms and dynasties, which As Lewis/Endeavour, George and Mil- to ) proved, in makes it possible to pitch new shows dred/Robin’s Nest and Frasier show, it descending order of success. in gaps on the map or in family trees. seems crucial to choose characters John Sullivan’s Del Boy sitcom also But no continuation project can and actors who account for a major touted a second, slightly dodgy spin- solve the problem that what the audi- part of the audience’s original invest- off,The Green Green Grass, which fol- ence really wants is more of Game of ment in the show. lowed two minor characters from Thrones in its present form, which can But this is complicated, in the Game Peckham to Shropshire. only happen when the cast and more of Thrones continuations, by the fact The biggest lesson, though, is to Martin novels are available. that George RR Martin, author of the stay close to what made the first Most fans of any series have fanta- source novels, plans to publish another show work. sies about it somehow carrying on. two books in the series which, pre- Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? Personally, I’d like to know what hap- sumably, might one day become Game (BBC One, 1973-74) succeeded equally pened in the presidency of Matt San- of Thrones 2 for HBO. with viewers who knew the central tos (Jimmy Smits), who is elected at And, unless contract negotiations or cast from the 1964 series, The Likely the end of The West Wing (NBC, 1999- arrangements are already in place, the Lads, and a new audience that didn’t 2006), my single favourite TV show. battles-and-dragons franchise also even realise it was a sequel or But even a writer as talented as seems at risk of its core cast becom- spin-off. Aaron Sorkin probably can’t make ing unavailable or unaffordable: espe- Crucially, Rodney Bewes’s Bob and creative lightning strike twice in the cially Kit Harington, Emilia Clarke James Bolam’s Terry remained in the same place. Sometimes, it’s better for and Peter Dinklage. same north-eastern locations, even “The End” to mean what it says. n

8 Sky Sky Standing start for Sky’s action man

hen, each true purpose is networking. He says, morning at The Billen profile no, it provides a place to talk, and, 7.30am, right now, there is much to talk about. Andrew Grif- “The retinue of the industry itself is fith arrives at Andrew Billen changing, but the industry is also part his office at discovers that Sky of things like Brexit,” he says. “There’s Sky’sW impressive new central block in a lot of change in the world. It’s a Osterley – the one in the background COO Andrew Griffith once-in-two-years chance to take on – he does not slump in stock and talk about the opportuni- his chair. He does not have a chair. boosts his energy levels ties for our industry.” This is not a case of fanatical hot-­ at work by avoiding The Sky story is remarkable, and I desking, although he is one of the few speak as one of the first people to buy senior execs to have his own defined sitting down a dish in 1989 and one of the first to space in the new building. Sky’s upgrade to a digibox and then Sky+ 45-year-old chief operating and chief as the planned, £11.7bn takeover by and, most recently, . It began as financial officer prefers to stand: better Fox grinds on. There is nothing new a joke in panto and ended as one of energy levels, shorter conversations. to say, aside from “business as usual”. the gorillas in broadcasting’s jungle, For a suit (actually, he is in an expen- I move instead to the RTS Cambridge with 11.4 million Sky TV viewers in sive but open-neck blue shirt when we Convention, which Griffith and Gary Britain and Ireland. talk), he strikes me as a man of action. Davey, Sky’s managing director of Its investment in Britain has been On his left, by a 4K TV, lie a replica content, are jointly chairing and remarkable and innovative, not only revolver and a baseball bat. I am sure which will star his ultimate boss, technologically, but in programming, there is nothing to be alarmed about. James Murdoch, who is giving the particularly in sports and news, I ask about the atmosphere at Sky keynote address. I ask if Cambridge’s changing both for ever. �

Television www.rts.org.uk September 2017 9 Griffith’s reach for the Sky

Guerrilla Sky Sky

Andrew Griffith, group chief � is as essential to viewing life in my we’ve always been, I won’t say tech- ­operating officer and chief­ home as BBC Two. Increasingly, the nology agnostic, but we’ve embraced financial officer at Sky channel provides not merely must-see every form of new technology to American series via HBO but original deliver different services,” says Griffith. Married since 1997, to Barbara, British series of real quality and “So, we were one of the first to stream volunteer charity worker; one son, ambition. our channels live, and, obviously, the 15, one daughter, 13 Yet, it does cross my mind that, iPad or the tablet took that to new Lives , south-west London ­following a quarter of a century of audiences and expanded the market Born February 1972. Brought up in unstoppable growth, we may be reach- still further.” , south-east London ing, at least in the UK (it has expanded Last year, I traded up to the new Parents Father, John, IT salesman; now into Italy and Germany), peak Sky Q box. He is interested in the mother, Janet; two brothers Sky. Churn (the rate at which subscrib- teething problems I experienced – Education St Mary and St Joseph’s ers stop subscribing) remains higher including the first box’s replacement School, ; Nottingham Univer- than Sky would like, although a new – and we exchange condolences over sity (studied law) loyalty programme is expected to the agony and ecstasy of early adop- bring this down. There is a lot of talk tion. Customer satisfaction scores for 1992 Trainee chartered accountant, about Netflix­ and Amazon. Satellite Sky Q are “now off the charts”. Once Coopers & Lybrand Deloitte dishes are beginning to look old tech. customers get Q, they consume more 1996 Rothschild investment bank “No,” he says. “First of all, Sky is not content. 1999 Joins Sky just a UK business any more. Sky is one Yet, a friend of mine, fallen tempo- 2001 and 2005 stands as Tory par- of the, if not the leading, European rarily on hard times, has given back his liamentary candidate for Corby pay-TV businesses, and we added digibox in favour of Sky’s fifteen-quid 2008 Chief financial officer, Sky 700,000 new customers last year, Now TV box, with which he can pay for 2016 Chief operating officer, Sky ­taking us to 22.5 million. what he wants to see without taking “But, second, it’s a long, long time out a subscription. Watching House of Lies (comedy since Sky has been defined by the Griffith says that Sky does not break about self-loathing management dish.” out how many Now TV boxes – which, consultant); 8 out of 10 Cats Does Towards the end of this year, or the significantly, are marketed without the Countdown, beginning of the next, the full Sky Q Sky badge – are in homes right now. Hobbies Travel and his pet Labrador interface will be capable of delivery But he says the number is significant First satellite dish 1999 (when he purely over the web, rather than, as and that Sky’s growth will, in future, joined Sky) at present, as a net-dish combo. come from such “incremental custom- “One of the successes of Sky is that ers” as my friend and from existing

10 customers taking more products, such “We’re in the business of taking crea- Did he – does he – mix with the as Ultra-HD, mobile or buying movies. tive risks,” he says. “That is at the creatives? “I like to think that we’re all “We used the pretty simplistic anal- of the content business and so, you creative. We certainly don’t ghettoise ogy of the BMW brand family, within know, it’s good to fail sometimes. If we the idea of ‘you’re a creative/you’re not which you’ve got the Mini, you’ve got weren’t failing, I would be worried that a creative’. Our creative people are the core BMWs and you’ve got those we weren’t taking enough risk.” business savvy and our business peo- luxury ones. So, you’re going to have He grew up in south-east London, ple are creative savvy.” different products in a more mature the oldest of three brothers. His father, Did his city-slicker friends say, market. You’re going to have a more John, was a manager at an IT company. “What are you doing, Andrew?” segmented approach,” he explains. His late mother, Janet, stayed at home He smiles and says: “I’m sure many “The good news is that this grows the to look after the family. He went to a of them did. And Sky itself was much overall market.” comprehensive in Sidcup. less a proven winner in those days. Following a major rejig to the Sky We had just over 3 million customers. Sports offer last month, a Premier People were still debating whether Sky League fan can now add a channel IT’S GOOD would be a success,­ not debating to showing that sport alone to their Sky what extent it would be a success. package for just £18 a month. TO FAIL “But there was something about Should it be lowering prices on a SOMETIMES. Sky’s attitude that attracted me. It was premium product? “Well, premium is a challenger. It wasn’t an incumbent.” the function of the quality of the prod- IF WE WERE The question is whether Sky is still uct, not the price,” Griffith responds. NOT FAILING, the challenger, or has become the “We don’t take a fee and just quadruple incumbent, and one with a typically the price and expect it to be perceived I WOULD BE lavish corporate HQ. in any different way. As ever, as a busi- WORRIED THAT “But we’re still the disruptor,” Griffith ness, we’d like more customers. The insists. “We just find new ways to dis- value of lowering price is just to make WE WEREN’T rupt. So, you know, mobile [phones]. If it easier for new customers to find TAKING you talk to any of the big mobile oper- what they want and, ultimately, give ators in the UK and ask, ‘Who do you them more value.” ENOUGH RISK fear?’ Or, ‘Who’s disrupting your Last year, Sky paid an extra £629m for industry?’ someone like Sky would Premier League football rights, yet only come off their lips pretty quickly.” reported a drop in profit of £97m as “Growing up in the 1970s, I was still The more I talk to Griffith, the more revenues grew and costs were curtailed. in an era that remembered the test card. I can see why shareholders might wish (delivering a still not-to-be-sneezed-at TV was something that happened in the to pay the high salary he commands. £1.3bn). The paradox is, I say, that com- evening and was a deliberate activity.” He knows how to generate profit, petition between Sky and BT has made Did he have ambitions to work in TV? whether by (annoyingly) placing com- football more expensive for viewers. “I’m sure that, when I was very young, mercial breaks in Game of Thrones (HBO “To watch Premier League for just £18 train driver and pilot featured quite in the US doesn’t), or by targeting com- a month, with the high-quality produc- prominently among careers that I might mercials to each and every Sky TV tion values and the way we support the have considered. It’s certainly true to screen individually through a system game, is, I think, good value,” he replies. say that it was not my ambition to end called AdSmart (for which he is too The rights bidding process does not up as chief operating officer of Sky.” modest to take sole credit), or by add- – as I had always assumed – happen He went to Nottingham University to ing new customers. in an airless hotel room, but by email, study law because it was an “interesting What is life like outside work? after months of analysis. Does that part degree”, but he quickly realised that a “I work pretty long hours. I do attend of the job stress him? “There are a lot solicitor’s life would be very far from a lot of industry functions, but that’s of things that I feel stressed about.” the intellectual study of law. More because I love our industry. I love what He says that non-sports subscribers interested “in the general idea of busi- I do. It’s not about what I get paid.” do not subsidise the sports watchers ness”, he spent three years qualifying Do his two teenage children complain – “Why would we do that?” – and as a chartered accountant at Coopers they don’t see enough of him? “I think points out that the growth in Sky’s & Lybrand Deloitte. everyone would like to see more of customer base is no longer driven by From there, he worked for three their kids. That’s important. And mine sports but by new, drama-heavy ser- years at Rothschild investment bank, are growing up fast.” vices, such as Sky Atlantic and Box Sets. advising corporate clients in the media Back in 2001, and again four years He mentions Riviera as a home-grown and telecoms sector. He joined Sky in later, Griffith stood as a Conservative drama hit (downloaded 17 million times) 1999 on the same day as his flamboy- for Parliament. and is clearly an admirer of Guerrilla, but ant boss, Tony Ball, just as the switch He told the local press he would put I wonder if, overall, he thinks Sky drama to digital was happening. the needs of his constituents before a is quite there yet. “Oh, you’re never It was, he says, a big cultural change ministerial career. Both times, he lost there. I’ve been here for 17 years and, from the City to the “environs of Brent- to Labour. while it would be tempting to declare ford. It was not as nice as it is now. It One wonders what would have hap- victory, it never happens.” wasn’t quite the shed where we started, pened had he won. Let’s just say, Philip Of course, there will be disappoint- but it was much closer to that than we Hammond might have a serious rival ments, too, such as series 2 of Fortitude. are now.” for his job. n

Television www.rts.org.uk September 2017 11 A hug too far?

ritain suffered a late and uncertain how to respond. My spring and early summer TV news awkward body language seemed to tell of terrorist and other her: come on woman, don’t invade my man-made tragedies: the space, pull yourself together. Didn’t she attacks at Westminster Is TV’s emotional know she was breaking the grammar of Bridge, Manchester Arena, reporting of events television news, where the correspond- ­London Bridge and Finsbury Park, and ent – especially the BBC correspondent theB Grenfell Tower fire. There were – can never be seen to ‘cross the line’?” such as the Grenfell fire moments of very raw emotion amid the Brown wrote in in 2005. days of live TV coverage and even dur- undermining journalistic Back in December 2004, Facebook ing the later, more reflective, reporting. detachment, asks hadn’t reached its first birthday and An eye-witness told the BBC of a Twitter didn’t exist. Now, millions victim who had their throat cut by one Stewart Purvis across the world regularly use these of the London Bridge attackers. We platforms to express their feelings about watched live on ITV as an elderly man eyewitness Mahad Egal as he became dramatic news anywhere in the world. gazed helplessly out of his window in a distressed recalling residents jumping The hashtags #prayforparis and blazing tower block wondering if he from flats and trying to throw children #JeSuisCharlie were watershed would be burned alive. to safety. moments. Has this phenomenon For the first time I can remember on How very different from BBC reporter inspired a new populism in broadcast live television news, a presenter reached Ben Brown’s encounter with a tsunami reporting? Is TV now in an arms race out and hugged an interviewee. This survivor in Indonesia in December with social media to be seen to care? was not just a supportive shoulder or 2004, who started to sob on his And, if it is, what are the implications arm, but a full wraparound hug by ­shoulder: “In my Home Counties, for calm, considered reporting? Cer- Victoria Derbyshire for Grenfell Tower ­public-school sort of way, I was stiff tainly, the relationship between TV

12 SOME BROADCAST EDITORS FEEL THEY HAVE HAD TO RECALIBRATE THEIR REPORTING TO RESPOND TO THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA

news and social media has become than viewers were used to. My mem- here to Piers Morgan on ITV – about increasingly symbiotic. Social-media ory is of initially being uncomfortable the specifics of the fire precautions. users send in what are often the first about it. But, hesitating before I asked Then, when the local council leader, pictures of breaking news and send the studio team to tone it down, I the hapless Nicholas Paget-Brown, out video clips from news programmes. checked the feedback from viewers. failed to demonstrate the required Derbyshire’s producers posted her They were overwhelmingly positive, emotional literacy and his staff grammar-breaking clip on Facebook, singling out Nick for special praise. couldn’t cope with the enormity of the where it has now reached over 11 mil- He had caught the public mood task, the narrative in some of the lion people, a very large multiple of better and earlier than anybody else. broadcast media changed. those who saw it live on TV. The conclusion was clear, viewers It was now a story of how one local The online response was mostly wanted to move on from the tradi- community (the rich of the Royal Bor- positive. “How heartbreaking. Thank tional style of reporting major news ough of Kensington and Chelsea) had you for being so compassionate during events: they wanted to see their feel- failed another (the poor of North Kens- this interview. What a credit to the ings reflected more on screen. ington). Somehow, the authorities were BBC,” said one tweeter. “Nice to know Twenty years on, the events of 2017 deliberately falsifying the number of there are some compassionate journal- have taken us to a collective high tide people who had died. But the rationale ists out there,” said another. in the reporting of immediate popular for them doing this was never explained. Louisa Compton, editor of the Bafta-­ sentiment. Given how far we have come, Not long before, we had been united; winning Victoria Derbyshire show, says: how much further do we want to go? now we were apparently angry with “It’s important to point out that it was It is interesting to compare and anybody who represented privilege or Victoria who ended the interview ­contrast the reporting of the terrorist authority. For my own taste, there were when Mahad got upset. It was her who attacks with that of the Grenfell Tower moments when there was too much

BBC said: ‘You don’t need to carry on’. It may fire. On 4 June, the New York Times front emotion and not enough cool reporting. have felt exploitative to have carried on, page was headlined, “Terrorist attacks Social media provides limitless which is why we ended it there.” in the heart of London leave six dead capacity for strong and not necessarily But there were critics online: “If she in a nation still reeling”. considered views. There are no judge- hadn’t kept pushing him in the first Author Robert Harris tweeted in ments about proportionality, about the place, he wouldn’t have been sobbing response: “This sort of hyped-up need for facts as well as emotions. That on live TV,” was among the negative headline does the terrorists’ job for is what editors do. tweets. One tweeted that “there’s them. UK isn’t ‘reeling’”. #ThingsThat- There have been the first warning a very thin line between reporting a LeaveBritainReeling trended as tweet- signs – I put it no higher than this – that tragedy and intruding on it. Which side ers listed what really stirs the British. some broadcast editors feel they have of that line are you on?” My own favourite was: “That awkward had to recalibrate their reporting to As a co-author of the book When moment after you say goodbye to some- respond to the impact of social media. Reporters Cross the Line, I’m something of one and walk off in the same direction.” Now, we learn that the evil Royal a historian of line-crossing and, some The spirit of the hour was a unified Borough was just one of more than might argue, an early practitioner in the response with touches of the so-called 50 councils that used the same clad- black arts of using emotion in TV news. “Blitz spirit”. After the Manchester ding on their tower blocks. Eventually, Twenty years ago, the debate was bombing, the media was full of how I suspect that we will get a verdict not just about whether the old media local communities had come together. from the official inquiry that is less had intruded into a tragedy, but The Grenfell Tower reaction began about class war and heartless authori- whether it had whipped up bogus in that same spirit, with the reports of ties and more about local government sentimentality in response to it. donors providing vast quantities of food finance and the business culture sum- Conventional wisdom has it that and replacement household goods. marised in astronaut John Glenn’s the death of Diana, Princess of Wales On that first morning, rightly, there memory of lift-off: “I felt exactly how marked the moment when the UK were immediate questions – credit you would feel if you were getting loosened its collective stiff upper lip ready to launch and knew you were and the British started being comforta- sitting on top of 2 million parts – all ble about grieving in public. IS TV NOW IN built by the lowest bidder on a govern- On the first day of continuous live AN ARMS RACE ment contract.” n coverage after the Paris car crash, as the very first flowers were laid outside WITH SOCIAL Stewart Purvis is a former editor-in-chief Kensington Palace, ITN’s troyal corre- MEDIA TO BE of ITN and regulator. He is a non-­ spondent Nicholas Owen adopted a executive director of Channel 4 and writes more personal, more emotional style SEEN TO CARE? here in a personal capacity.

Television www.rts.org.uk September 2017 13 Join the

and play your part.

As a member of the Royal Television Society you become part of an exciting and creative community of more than 4,500 members, who share a common passion for the art and science of television. Membership opens up a world of networking, educational, and professional opportunities, as well as contributing towards bursaries and educational events for young people that want to study TV related subjects. Membership from just Our members can also enjoy: Networking events Lectures, masterclasses and workshops £per65 year Annual awards ceremonies Free subscription to the RTS magazine Television Access to private members’ clubs in London, Manchester and Bristol Impressive discounts for shopping, restaurants, hotels & business services

To join and for full details of all member benefits visit our website www.rts.org.uk

RTS_A4.indd 1 25/07/2017 11:16 TING RA O RTS public event ‘The Night B U E R L th E Manager: Anatomy of a hit’

C

Celebration The rise and rise of the RTS Steve Clarke salutes the Society on the eve of its 90th birthday

t was a perfect autumn day with senior British TV executives. How right the Prince was. Fifteen and the guests enjoyed the All listened as the Prince spoke in years later, as the RTS reaches its warm sunshine as they that familiar, lower-register, regal 90th birthday on 7 September, the walked across St James’s voice. He stressed the RTS’s Society remains firmly at the heart Park. Their destination was importance as “the leading forum of Britain’s dynamic TV sector. a celebration marking the for discussion and debate on all It may be approaching its tenth 75th anniversary of the Royal aspects of the television industry”. decade, but the Society, which is TelevisionI Society, hosted by His “The Television Society was, as an educational charity, exhibits Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, you all know, founded 75 years ago, none of the characteristics of a the Society’s Patron, and his wife, following a lecture at Leeds Univer- typical 90-year-old. (By the way, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall. sity by John Logie Baird,” he said. the Television Society became the Inside St James’s Palace, canapés “When the Society began, it was Royal Television Society in 1966, a were being nibbled and wine principally as a place for scientists time when the British people still sipped. Television luminaires, and engineers to exchange ideas watched TV in black and white.) including Sir David Attenborough about the exciting new medium. Rather than slowing down, the – no stranger to royal circles, hav- I am sure that the small group of RTS today is an energetic, vibrant ing filmed the Queen’s Christmas television enthusiasts who came meeting place for all sections of Day broadcast inside Buckingham together in 1927 could not have television and related sectors, such Palace – and Jon Snow, mixed imagined what was to come.” as online video. � Paul Hampartsoumian Paul

Television www.rts.org.uk September 2017 15 RTS Futures careers fair

� Membership is growing. Today the for anyone who wants to break into Society has more than 4,500 members THE SMALL GROUP television and the wider content arena. drawn from the creative, technology RTS Futures has established the UK’s and business communities that televi- OF TELEVISION premier entry-level training fair for the sion embraces. ENTHUSIASTS television sector – this year, the Ultimate As TV becomes portable and person- TV Careers Fair attracted a capacity alised, the Society’s regular debates and WHO CAME crowd of 900. discussions shed light on a fast-evolving­ TOGETHER IN 1927 The RTS’s bursary scheme, launched and complex globalised industry. at the end of 2013 by The Prince of The RTS could not exist without the COULD NOT HAVE Wales, offers financial help to under- generous support of its Principal graduate students from less well-off Patrons, the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and IMAGINED WHAT homes who intend to study on TV-­ Sky. It is telling, however, that others, WAS TO COME related university courses. To date, the including International Patrons Liberty RTS has given 100 bursaries to talented Global and YouTube, are drawn from youngsters and is welcoming addi- a wide of companies that bywords for excellence across genres tional funding and places for the operate across the world. and disciplines. These awards are scheme from All3Media. At the same time as some technology regarded as the gold-standard by TV The Society has also pushed outwards companies are evolving into content practitioners and media commentators. and created events, such as its hugely providers (did anyone mention Netflix Jury chairs for the RTS Programme successful “Anatomy of a hit” strand, and Amazon?), traditional broadcasters Awards have made a point of broaden- that are more accessible to the general are diversifying. Consider how Adam ing the range of jurors to include more public. ITV’s Broadchurch was the first Crozier’s ITV has bought into US pro- from ethnic-minority backgrounds. show to receive this treatment in 2013. duction, and BBC Studios is attempting The RTS Student Television Awards Sherlock, Doctor Who, Poldark, Humans, The to create commercial value for the showcases films that frequently give Night Manager and The Crown are among corporation. the professionals a run for their money other series discussed under the “Anat- Throughout the UK, the RTS plays by virtue of their sheer originality. omy of a hit” banner. These evenings host to a compelling and eclectic events In the past decade, the Society has often go viral on social media. programme that aims to reflect these put much more emphasis on encour- In 2014, the RTS and IET introduced and other important developments in aging young people to involve them- their Joint Public Lecture. Sir Paul Nurse TV and beyond. selves in Society activities. The was the most recent speaker. Chaired The Society’s many awards, both inspirational RTS Futures strand was by RTS Trustee and CEO of BBC World- national and regional, meanwhile, are launched in 2007. Its events are a must wide Tim Davie, the talks focus on

16 Sir Peter Bazalgette, Siân Phillips, Bet- RTS conference tany Hughes, Dawn Airey, Owen Jones speaker: Ofcom CEO and Michael Dobbs. Sharon White There are too many other memorable moments from attending RTS events to mention them all, but here are some personal standouts: n A rare public speech by Rupert Mur- doch, albeit beamed via satellite, given to Cambridge delegates n TV executives playing Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?, also at Cambridge, and overseen by the late, great Andrea Wonfor (who, sadly, died in 2004) n Dawn Airey’s “films, football and fucking” speech, given at an RTS Lon- don dinner n Viacom founder Sumner Redstone addressing the RTS n An intimate afternoon encounter with Sir David Attenborough at the House of Commons n The whoops of triumph from the Sky News table at the RTS Television Journalism Awards as the news pro- vider nails yet another win as News Channel of the Year n James Purnell and Jay Hunt boiling over as they discuss Channel 4’s snatch

All pictures: Hampartsoumian Paul of The Great British Bake Off at last year’s RTS London Conference those areas of scientific innovation that more attention than the debates – who n NBCU CEO Steve Burke’s cogent and have major social impact. Subjects have could forget Richard Desmond’s band informative keynote speech at the 2016 included artificial intelligence and the igniting the post-dinner crowd in 2013? conference role that technology played in the 2008 My own first taste of the platform n BBC DG Tony Hall and ex-RTS Pres- financial crash. These lectures reaffirm that the RTS provides to industry lead- ident Peter Bazalgette being VR guinea the importance the RTS places on tech- ers – and the headlines they generate pigs onstage at Cambridge 2015. nology, and explore the sweet spot – came in the early 1980s. HTV’s HQ in This is not to ignore the RTS’s cher- where science and creativity collide to Culverhouse Cross, Cardiff (since ished history or to underestimate the foster innovation. demolished), was the venue for a week- ingenuity of John Logie Baird (44th in a The RTS is one of the six sharehold- end RTS conference. 2002 BBC poll of the “100 Greatest Brit- ers in IBC (International Broadcasting One of the speakers was Michael ons”), or that of his colleagues. During Convention), which celebrates its 50th Grade, newly returned from running the interwar years, these brilliant engi- anniversary this year. Embassy Entertainment in the US and neers created the foundations for British The Society’s internationally a controversial choice as the new BBC television to become the world-class renowned conferences are a bench- One controller. Many regarded Grade programme provider that it is today. mark for quality. They consistently as an ITV man, who, they said, would In the late 1920s, in the early days attract speakers from the world’s top be too populist for the Beeb. The head of the Television Society, the medium media and entertainment companies. of BBC Television, Bill Cotton, had was popularly regarded as “seeing by The biennial Cambridge Convention, hired Grade to stem BBC One’s ratings wireless”, such was the level of aston- based at King’s College, is widely decline. Grade proceeded to launch ishment at Baird’s invention. Without regarded as the British television EastEnders – still a lynchpin of the BBC the pioneering work of the Baird Com- industry’s premier talking shop, and One schedule in the online era – and pany, it is hard to imagine TV as the has grown in stature since making its greenlit such signature shows as The 20th century’s defining technology, or debut in 1970. The secretary of state’s Singing Detective, which he famously this century’s moves into HD and 4K. address is a keenly anticipated Cam- commissioned in the loo. Audience Baird and the early members of the bridge RTS tradition: a valuable chance figures surged. Television Society lacked the opportu- for ministers to engage with the con- At the same conference, the great nity to binge-watch on a box set using cerns of media leaders. BBC broadcaster Huw Wheldon gave a a Sky Q box. But Baird would have rel- The three-day gathering combines stirring speech. After his death in 1986, ished many of the innovations tracked crystal-ball gazing and debate alongside the RTS initiated the Huw Wheldon by the Society over its nine-decade networking with media stars, policy-­ Memorial Lecture. Over the years, existence. And the RTS will continue makers and regulators. Occasionally, Wheldon lecturers have included Sue with this mission well into the future. the after-hours entertainment grabs Perkins, Lyse Doucet, Simon Schama, Happy 90th, RTS. n

Television www.rts.org.uk September 2017 17 The new Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro is the world’s fi rst digital fi lm camera with the features and controls of a high performance broadcast camera!

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cross-­platform propositions ahead of TV sport the PyeongChang Winter Olympics early next year. Hutton says the Olympics deal was Owen Gibson interviews Peter Hutton, the a transformative moment, both exter- head of Eurosport, whose Olympic-style nally and internally: “It was the amazement that dawned on people ambitions are disrupting sports television when they realised we weren’t just buying a highlights deal but we were buying the Olympics for the whole of Europe. “That took a while to sink in and was brilliant to see. People have seen a level of change that they didn’t believe was possible. The biggest value of the Olympics deal was the sense that everyone looked at it and realised we were a different company to the one they thought they knew.” Another priority for Hutton and Eurosport has been to invest in local production and talent to give the channel more personality. “Buying the Giro D’Italia exclusively for most of Europe was a great way to build on our cycling heritage. The same with Wimbledon. We were always known for a volume of tennis, but we now have Wimbledon in 36 markets, whereas we had none when Discov- ery took over,” he says. t’s a long way from Pennine When the US broadcasting giant In July, Eurosport announced that it Radio to Eurosport’s Paris HQ Discovery bought the well-regarded had extended its deal for the Tour de near the banks of the Seine. but sleepy pan-continental broad- France until 2023. In 38 markets it When Peter Hutton began his caster Eurosport, in a E491m deal at has exclusivity for the first time. career as a 16-year-old sports the beginning of 2015, it was little Eurosport is known for its Tour presenter in Bradford, the remarked upon. coverage but Hutton believes that explosion in rights fees and multi- But five months later, when it signed there is an opportunity to improve it channelI revolution that transformed a E1.3bn deal with the International and keep pace with its rival ITV4. the sports media landscape was still Olympic Committee for exclusive “For the first time, we pushed the to come. pan-European rights to the Olympic Tour organisers to televise every Further off still were the shifting Games between 2018 and 2024, the minute of the Tour. It used to be just sands of today’s global sports broad- world took notice. the last three hours [of each day] but casting industry, where the swirl of Since then, the rationale behind the there is a demand for the whole day,” new technology and changing view- complex deal has paid off. Despite he says. “You look at the time people ing habits mingle with the still potent uncertainty in the pay-TV and sports have spent with us on the Tour and pull of live sport. broadcasting markets, Eurosport has it’s gone up dramatically,” he adds. In his teenage years, Hutton could tied up a flurry of deals across the While the coverage of football, for scarcely have imagined that he would continent. Rights have been sub-­ example, has developed hugely over oversee one of the most ambitious licensed to other broadcasters. Mean- the past two decades, cycling coverage recent interventions in the European while, Eurosport has carved out other has, arguably, remained conservative. sports broadcasting landscape. rights for itself and developed new “Cycling production is at quite a �

Television www.rts.org.uk September 2017 19 Picture redacted

� frustrating level,” he says. “You watch gamble. The association with McEnroe, remains to be seen if this is a smart the sprint finishes, and you’re watching Cantona, Lindsey Vonn and the local response to a changing landscape or them head on. If you were a horse-­ stars in each market has paid off in whether it creates issues of its own. racing viewer, you wouldn’t watch a terms of changing the expectations of Meanwhile, the big bet on the Olym- race head on. It’s about putting a rail who we are. pics comes at a time when many feel camera alongside and following them “There’s a halo effect connected to they are increasingly tarnished. Suc- through – it would be much more being involved with the biggest sport- cessive summer Games in Paris and dramatic.” ing names, and that has helped change Los Angeles – almost certain to be It’s a simple but compelling example people’s perceptions. It takes time. The confirmed as the hosts for 2024 and of where he hopes investment in pro- research is positive and moving in the 2028, respectively – will help reinvig- duction and talent will shift percep- right direction, but we’ve also got a orate the brand. tions of what Eurosport stands for. long way to go.” But there is a risk that those who A similar thought process has driven Hutton is right not to get carried once saw the Olympics as the ultimate alliances with some of the most mer- away. The jury is still out on Discov- in pure sporting achievement may be curial and talented athletes of each ery’s grand gamble. Eurosport’s strat- turned off by corruption, doping scan- generation. Signing up Eric Cantona egy depends on a complex assemblage dals and ennui. as a tongue-in-cheek commissioner of moving cogs. These parts include Yet Hutton is optimistic, believing of football during Euro 2016 was a selling content to mobile networks to that the thrill of the sport will ulti- particularly astute, if high-risk, move. carving out free-to-air rights for Dis- mately win out: “For me, as a teenage “It’s a learning experience,” says covery’s other channels and establish- runner in Yorkshire, watching Seb Coe Hutton. “Talent is often a bit of a ing online subscription services. It at the 1980 Moscow Olympics was an

20 daytime shows fragment, sport still bought into the local league. You can’t brings people together in a way that ignore football if you want to be a big very little else does. sporting competitor. When you see the “One of the great things about sport right opportunity, it’s right to do it.” is that, the more you immerse yourself Hutton gives the impression of a in it, the richer your experience is. So, man thoroughly enjoying the challenge Tour de France obsessives can go to of transforming a respected but staid the website, get the fixture of EPGs across map, get the data and Europe into a more supplement what YOU CAN’T thrusting, multi-­ they’re seeing on platform beast. broadcast. IGNORE “Living and working “All those things feed in Paris, and being part into the idea that you FOOTBALL of what happens here, can get much more out IF YOU WANT is a pretty interesting of the big events.” experience,” he says. Part of the trick, TO BE A BIG “Sports deals come and therefore, is to amplify SPORTING go but changing an old that noise through digi- brand, and seeing the tal channels and social COMPETITOR evidence across Europe media. of that, it’s pretty “It’s brilliant that our special.” ratings have been consistently up – Doing so against a backdrop of Brexit 14% up in the first six months of this at home must be an odd experience, year – and that has been driven by live I suggest. events,” he argues. “Even though TV “We’re living proof of the strength of ratings might be down for a lot of being part of that wider community channels, our big events are getting and seeing that wider range of experi- bigger and our audiences are getting ences,” Hutton responds. “We don’t see bigger – not only on TV but [through] our future as being a pan-European, the different feeds you create around one-size-fits-all broadcaster, but we them and the social media you create do benefit from taking content from around them.” multiple countries.” Eurosport remains in a “growth His most pressing concern is the acquisition phase”, says Hutton. As is looming Winter Olympics in South traditional for any sports broadcasting Korea, the first big test of Eurosport’s executive, he is coy when it comes to IOC deal. rights targets but doesn’t rule out a tilt at “I’m both excited and slightly nerv- the Premier League next time around. ous about PyeongChang,” he confesses. Eurosport has invested in football “People will rightly judge us on it. We elsewhere, including Germany and need to move our production up a Norway, but Hutton, a lifelong Derby notch to deal with that expectation. County fan, stresses that value must “It’s going to be challenging,” he iconic moment. That wasn’t tarnished also be the watchword: “There are five laughs. “I’m looking forward to the by the fact that lots of countries were territories in Europe where we’ve holiday in March.” n not there. It was still my great Olympic moment. Yes, you get a lot of back- ground noise around sporting events sometimes, but, when it comes to the moment, you immerse yourself in it.” Hutton has seen the sports industry from all sides. His career has taken in stints at the BBC, the early days of the revolution, senior interna- tional roles at ESPN and Star Sports and a period on the rights side, at agency MP & Silva. Picture redacted Unsurprisingly, he is convinced that sport will remain a key driver of TV audiences: “If you look at the stats across Europe, if you look at the top 100 shows of the year, sport takes up more and more of that space. “As audiences for soap operas and

Television www.rts.org.uk September 2017 21 Interview Deborah Turness is back in London after her achievements running NBC News in New York. She tells Tara Conlan what’s next The return of the native

eborah Turness greets “It was a moment when NBC News me in the top-floor had been a dominant first for many café of NBCUniversal’s years and its corporate psyche [consid- UK HQ, which looks ered it to be] number one. But the fig- out over London’s ures showed that story was changing.” rooftops. This is She had to learn fast: “You do see appropriateD as NBC News took a 25% things more clearly if you come from stake in Euronews­ in February in order the outside. But it does present you with to “change the landscape of interna- a challenge. You need to be humble and tional news”, as Turness’s boss, Andrew go in and take the time to understand Lack, put it. the organisation… to act quickly to stem He said that, for years, NBC News the flow and take action, but also to had “wanted to establish a global reach”, demonstrate that you are listening and and Turness was moving from being understanding. That’s a challenge for And so to Euronews. She says she President of NBC News to do just that any leader. I let others judge how suc- is “grateful” for the “new opportunity”, – to become the first President of NBC cessful I was at doing that.” adding: “I think I’ve come to the con- News International and oversee content Not long after she joined, Nightly News clusion that I’m better at renovation for the new Euronews NBC. anchor Brian Williams was suspended than maintenance. I love nothing better The channel, founded in 1993 by the after falsely claiming that he had come than building something new, or taking European Broadcasting Union, will use under fire in a military helicopter. something that has real value and a NBC’s resources (an undisclosed finan- The woman who hired Turness, Pat legacy, but rediscovering its new life.” cial investment plus all its network) Fili-Krushel, became a casualty of the Turness knows Euronews, having alongside those of its major stakeholder, fallout and was replaced by Lack. been an avid viewer at university and Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris, to Nightly News’s audience dropped off. from working as a journalist in France. expand. Based in Lyon, Euronews Meanwhile, ratings for other key shows, Also, her former employer ITN once broadcasts in 12 languages to around such as Today and Meet the Press, had held a 49% stake in the service. 3.3 million European viewers daily and been in decline since ’s take­ She and Lack looked at other news reaches more than 160 countries. A new over of NBC Universal in 2011. companies – which she declines to network of correspondents is being Turness set to work. By the end of name – as potential investments, but built up, to be followed by the station’s 2016, all four of NBC News’s big shows Euronews won. first anchored “global feed”. were number one in both of their The channel had already begun to But why Euronews? And how has key demographics – for the first time evolve before the deal with NBC News, Turness fared since she stepped down since 2011. While she agrees that the and there is further change in store. The as editor of ITV News in 2013 to cross Williams issue was not easy, she old Euronews style of airing one video the Atlantic? insists: “How NBC ultimately came feed and having 12 language options She is happy to be back in the UK, through this was a test that it passed over it, has changed to 12 separate video but sad to leave the US, where her hus- with flying colours. [His replacement,] feeds, one for each language. band and their two girls had put down Lester Holt, is now doing brilliantly. Turness argues this is important, roots. Her time as President of NBC “Was it tough at times? Absolutely. “because never has Europe’s story News was no bed of roses. She reflects But much more than that, it was the been more complex.… Different coun- that she was chosen “because I was an greatest fun. I look back now at what we tries see it from different points of outsider… not only to NBC News but built and rebuilt and am immensely view and perspectives.” also to the US broadcast diaspora”. proud of having done that.” She is also appointing a team of

22 IT’S CRITICAL THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT WE ARE NOT HERE TO AMERICANISE EURONEWS

NBC News International President Deborah Turness Getty Images

correspondents – based in major Euro- Regarding the fake news debate, Tur- unpalatable. We’ve gone back to a pean cities and charged with breaking ness believes unreliable sources have period of extremes and that must be stories. Coincidentally, the London always existed but “the problem is that reflected.” reporter will be located in NBC News’s people believe it.… Maybe they believe Turness adds: “Euronews sits at the bureau at Gray’s Inn Road, where Tur- it because trust has eroded in main- crossroads of Europe.… If any organisa- ness worked when she was at ITV News. stream media organisations. Why has tion has the DNA to reflect that, it’s The next phase will be for Euronews’s that happened? Maybe because we Euronews, but it has not had the English-language feed to become what could have done better at listening to resources to express it.” Turness dubs “our global feed”. The idea people who perhaps feel they weren’t She stresses: “It’s critical that every- is to have an anchored news channel listened to.” one understands that we are not here “[with] live anchors in studios and Does Donald Trump, then, have a to Americanise Euronews.” locations responding to breaking news point about mainstream media? “Some With other channels, such as the events”, alongside some “built shows”. of what he says reflects how his sup- BBC and CNN, “expressing a very Renowned for her innovations (she porters feel,” she says, choosing her defined national view, Euronews has was partly responsible for perching words carefully. “Some of what he says the opportunity to actually put all the Kirsty Young on the Channel 5 News is also deeply unfair and exaggerated.” pieces of the jigsaw together and be desk), the fast-talking Turness wants to Although The Apprentice aired on NBC, Europe’s town square”. use technology to create a news chan- she had no greater insight into Trump But she sees a need to “humanise nel with “a slightly different voice”. than others, and thinks that, “if things that”, as she thinks “the views of the Adapting social-media techniques such as his election or the Brexit vote people of Europe are not currently means that some Euronews NBC jour- are a giant surprise to us, then it’s prob- adequately represented.… I look at nalists could “be slightly less perfect ably telling us that we weren’t doing our coverage of Brexit or the US coverage and packaged and tethered, and say: jobs to the extent that we should have”. of the election – I think we were all ‘Come with me, I’m going to take you She did not see enough of the UK found a little wanting, if we are honest to the story. I’ve just landed, I’m in an general election to judge it, but she with ourselves. Uber on my way to the press confer- ensured that NBC News visited the rust “Did we filter it out using our own ence. Direct tweet me any questions.’” belt during the US election and is deter- subconscious bias? This in an old She wants to “break down the barri- mined that Euronews should stay true debate. Our job is to capture the ers to maybe create” what she describes to its history of representing all views, moment we are here to cover and as “a new relationship of authenticity”. “even those that, to some, might be report upon.” n

Television www.rts.org.uk September 2017 23 Christian and Syed marry in EastEnders, 2012

Soap’s power to fight prejudice BBC

ritish soaps have made in 1987, as Colin in EastEnders] mes- huge strides in portraying Diversity saged me that night and said, ‘I can’t the lives and loves of gay believe you’re having to put up with characters since the gen- the same shit that I was putting up re’s first on-screen in Matthew Bell hears with 30 years ago.’” EastEnders three decades how shows such as Pete Lawson, a writer on EastEnders ago. But the fight against prejudice­ is since 2008, discussed the storylines he notB yet won, argued a panel of experts and has created for the BBC One soap. “I’m at an RTS early-evening event earlier always looking for what hasn’t been this summer. The panel – which EastEnders are leading shown and what hasn’t been told,” he brought together actors, writers and the way in depicting said. “We don’t set out to shock; we set producers from Coronation Street, East- out to entertain, because, ultimately, Enders, and – was LGBTQ characters we are a soap and we want to be good chaired by TV presenter June Sarpong. TV. But we want to show the reality of Recently, she has appeared on the people who don’t believe the clergy the world that we all live in.” weekly Sky News discussion show can be gay – whereas the reaction Oliver Kent, head of continuing The Pledge. before was about the fact that it was drama series at BBC Studios, agreed, “Soaps are incredibly powerful in two boys kissing. adding: “It’s hugely important that we terms of being able to get a message “So we’ve definitely moved [forward] tell stories about contemporary Britain out and in changing people’s percep- in that time – but not far enough, as it really looks, and that includes tions,” said Daniel Brocklebank, who [going by] the negative responses that characters of every sexual persuasion. plays gay vicar Billy Mayhew in Coro- we’ve had about Corrie.” “If we set out to shock, we’d fall on nation Street. A scene last year, involving Mayhew our arse,” he went on. The stories had Brocklebank recalled being one half and Todd Grimshaw kissing on a bed, to “come from character first. We’re of the first gay snog in another ITV provoked a “huge homophobic on telly four, five nights a week all soap, Emmerdale, 12 years ago. “Now, as response” after the show aired, said year round, and we can tell stories I’m playing a vicar, the reaction pre- Brocklebank. “Michael Cashman, who slowly in a way that seeps into people’s dominately comes from very religious gave the first gay kiss [in a British soap, consciousness. �

24 transgender actor to play a regular transgender character in a British soap. ‘It was a closing of the circle – I was there helping with the first trans character, and then to be the first [trans actor] in soap was an honour and a privilege,’ she said. ‘As a trans person, to play this role is very important to me because it’s reality within fiction. There are young people who have approached or messaged me who are getting a lot from Sally and are seeing her as a role model, not just as a trans role model, but as a teacher.’ Wallace discussed whether transgen- der roles should be reserved for trans actors. ‘There’s a big argument for that,’ she said, but conceded that it was also a ‘grey area’. One example was Eddie Redmayne’s portrayal of the trans artist Lili Elbe in the filmThe Danish Girl. ‘For most of the film, he played the character of Einar Wegener, who became Lili. I think there is a case for non-trans actors to play the story of tran- sition – that’s valid,’ said Wallace. ‘If you were to ask a trans person to play their pre-transition self, that would be difficult and a bit odd, although I’m not saying it would be impossible. ‘But if you are writing a post-­transition Annie Wallace plays Sally St Claire in Hollyoaks trans character, I think there’s a duty now for casting directors to cast their net [widely]. Wallace: life as a transgender actor ‘Until a few years ago, we weren’t visible, either because nobody was Before she landed the role of Sally Her advice, Wallace­ said at the RTS interested in talking to us or because, St Claire in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks, event, involved ‘giving [the producers] like myself, we kept our heads down and Annie Wallace worked on ITV’s Coro- my own life. I told them things that didn’t come out.’ nation Street as a consultant on the had happened to me; things I had ‘More and more trans performers are storyline featuring Roy and Hayley Crop- come up against that had affected me coming out of the woodwork,’ she con- per, the first transgender character in a emotionally’. tinued, ‘and are having the confidence to British soap. In 2015, Wallace became the first say, “I am a trans actor.”’ Brocklebank on playing gay roles

Actor Daniel Brocklebank has featured in as a gay actor, Brocklebank said: ‘I play Emmerdale and Coronation Street. From all sorts of characters but there’s 2005, he played bisexual dustman Ivan something wonderful about being able Jones in the rural soap; currently, he is to represent [my community]. Corrie’s gay vicar, Billy Mayhew. ‘I’ve had experiences where I’ve ‘I came out publicly in 1998,’ he met a mum in tears, thanking me for recalled. ‘I was advised not to by my being so visible, because it’s helped her management because I was working son come out. [At times like that] you a lot in the States. realise it’s worth putting yourself up on ‘They basically said: “If you come out, a platform and potentially risking your you’re not going to work.” So I said: future casting. “I don’t want to work here. I’ll go back to ‘I was once a terrified 12-year-old the UK.”’ with nobody to talk to or for me to Billy Mayhew in Coronation Street

ITV Discussing the risk of being typecast look at [on TV] and think, “That’s me.”’

Television www.rts.org.uk September 2017 25 � “If it ever feels like we’re pushing actor. “Most of my storylines are an agenda, it will feel bogus and the WE DON’T SET school-based, and I like it that she is audience can tell straight away. It’s OUT TO SHOCK; destigmatised. It’s really important about authenticity and truth.” that she’s [seen on the soap] being Bryan Kirkwood, executive pro- WE SET OUT a success.” ducer of Channel 4’s Hollyoaks, noted TO ENTERTAIN, Emmerdale series producer Iain that it was part of his channel’s remit MacLeod discussed his soap’s gay “to deliver shows for a minority audi- BECAUSE, couple, Aaron Dingle and Robert ence”, adding: “I think it is our ULTIMATELY, WE Sugden, arguing that they “entirely responsibility to deliver storylines for transcend people’s conceptions of a young LGBT audience [so they can] ARE A SOAP AND sexuality. The way they’ve been taken see themselves reflected [on TV] for WE WANT TO BE to the audience’s heart is like nothing the first time.” I’ve ever encountered before. It’s Hollyoaks is well known for tackling GOOD TV purely down to it being a love story.” difficult and sensitive issues. “The Nevertheless, he added, gay story­ reason we get away with so much is lines still lead “an unpleasantly large because nobody has ever told us to minority of viewers” to complain. stop,” he said to audience laughter. Are there any limits to the types of “We’ve got a broad diversity of stories soaps can portray? “Most LGBT characters,” continued Kirk- things that occur in the world can be wood, “but with every character [in played in soap,” concluded MacLeod, the soap] their sexuality should be the “albeit it with some delicacy.” n fifth- or sixth-most interesting thing about them.” This was true of Holly- ‘LGBTQ in soap: job done?’ was held in oaks character Sally St Claire, played partnership with ITV and Pride in the by Annie Wallace. “She’s a headmis- City at in central Lon- Ben and Paul’s first public tress, who nurtures her kids and don on 12 July. The event was produced kiss in EastEnders, 2016

really cares about her job,” said the BBC by Angela Ferreira and Jonathan Simon.

very writer-driven process. So, if a the louder they shout, the more writer brings you a good story you, of the stuff they don’t like they QUESTION as a producer, rubber stamp it and will get. Generally, when you read put it on the television. complaints made to Ofcom or & ANSWER The moment you take a sub-­ emails to the duty log that are in standard story on the basis that that vein… it makes you want to you’re trying to push a particular stick up two big dramatic fingers How do you represent diversity angle, and put that on the at them and keep on doing what Q homo­phobia in your story­ TV, the audience can smell it as you’re doing. lines without playing into the bogus. [You have] to find the right Annie Wallace: In terms of the hands of bigots in the audience? stories to bring these characters A trans character experience, Bryan Kirkwood: We’ve got naturally into the show. the public acceptance [of it] has A a new villain coming [into been wonderful… but there’s a very Hollyoaks] who is a homophobe.… Are you ever told by your small minority who are very vocal What you don’t want to do is to Q channel that you can’t run a and they are all over the inter- portray a voice that is appealing to particular storyline? net [claiming] that [being] trans an audience – [this new character] Oliver Kent: [The BBC] would is a phoney experience. A lot of is a bad bastard. A never do that. it, unfortunately, is coming from Pete Lawson: You bring the Iain MacLeod: In fact, [ITV] within the LGBT community… but A argument on to the screen and A actively encourages us to does that stop what we do? Of make that your drama; you don’t look for broader and more diverse course not, we keep on. pretend homophobia doesn’t exist. characters with which to tell our Pete Lawson: We always have stories – it’s quite the opposite. A to be aware that, just because How can we ensure that We rarely get told, “No”. some voices are loudest, it doesn’t Q soaps also cater for black and June Sarpong: Soap is way mean that they’re the majority. minority ethnic LGBTQ audiences? A ahead of traditional drama – On social media, it’s very easy for Iain MacLeod: Cast the net it leads the way, where diversity is a small number of people to be A wider in looking for new concerned. really vocal and antagonistic… and characters. The challenge that there are some papers that will soaps face all the time in rep- Do you fear a backlash treat that as a news story… [about] resenting any kind of minority Q against LGBTQ rights? the British people being up in community is making sure that it Iain MacLeod: The terrible arms. No, they’re not – it’s just [a doesn’t look like tokenism.… It’s a A irony for homophobes is that, few] angry people.

26 OUR FRIEND IN THE EAST

Norwich may look idyllic, but it must elcome to place to grab that youthful, vibrant, Norwich work harder to full-of-opportunity feeling and keep – a Fine retain its young it going. City. Apart from anything else, a healthy Whoever media talent, says and truly representative media indus- came up try should surely be made up of the with that, Nikki O’Donnell whole of the UK, not just those who emblazoned on signs on the way into make their way to a big city. WNorwich, was spot on. It really is. Think how many great talents Not just one but two beautiful might have been lost because we cathedrals, a thriving marketplace, weren’t broad-minded enough to nice-looking castle, lots of pretty, olde be anything other than metropolitan. worlde pubs and plenty of cobble- So, to everyone seeking and offer- stones. Add to that, lovely countryside ing opportunities – let’s work a bit and the fabulous north Norfolk coast. harder. Look at all those media busi- So far, so idyllic – but perhaps it’s nesses trying to grow outside the no surprise that, the other day, I found London bubble. There are opportuni- myself talking with a group of creative ties in Norwich, not just cobblestones media people, all worrying that there and pretty scenes. are too many young, talented people Our business correspondent always making their way out of Norfolk. says that you can drive down a coun- Hosted by the Norwich University try road around here and suddenly of the Arts, which has a track record find you’re outside a global technol-

of getting its students into employ- Nikki O’Donnell ogy company. There’s far more than ment, we were in a creative space. oil seed rape growing in our beautiful But when you look at the population everything that London has to offer. countryside. So, I guess our job is to figures, Norfolk is a bit “top-heavy”, as (For it is London that’s still the big make that clearer and to work harder the demographers would say. A buxom draw. No wonder – it vibrates with to foster, support and grow the talent population graph is dominated by a life, energy and diversity.) But I think we already have. larger-than-average older population. we’re all missing a trick. We can all be a bit lazy. It’s so easy I have nothing against that, of We have just relaunched the RTS in to tell the story of the UK via the big course: some of my favourite people the East and hosted our first regional cities, the court cases, the crime and fit into that top segment of the graph. RTS awards for more than a decade. the politics, throwing in something But I do worry for the future of our Things had dwindled a bit here and gritty up North and off we go to East creative industries when it feels like it had begun to feel dominated by the Anglia for some green fields and the new talent is relentlessly heading regional news programmes and not rural stuff. out for the bright lights. a lot else. Before you know it, no one realises It’s a well-trodden life path: grow up But, wonderfully, there are signs of there’s more to it than that. If we’re here, disappear when you need your a transformation! Our awards night not careful, we will cement those old first break, look for someone to take a was jam-packed with every creative stereotypes before the next genera- chance on a newbie, then come back media type you could imagine. And tion has a chance to redefine what’s to your roots when you’ve earned all looking for a way to connect, to really going on. n your stripes. That’s great, in lots of say: “We’re here, we can do this cre- ways – well done, the talented young- ative thing outside London.” Nikki O’Donnell is editor of BBC sters who go out there and grab I want that to continue. I want this Look East.

Television www.rts.org.uk September 2017 27 Picture redacted

Out of step with public opinion

know nothing. We the media, So, perhaps we shouldn’t be sur- the pundits and experts, know Book review prised to find that, in the first book nothing.” These were Jon which attempts to analyse the 2016 Snow’s opening words on and 2017 votes, Snow and other leading Channel 4 News the day this June Stewart Purvis combs broadcast journalists, including the that the UK produced the elec- through an ambitious BBC’s Nick Robinson, admit to what ‘tionI result which conventional wisdom amounts to one of the biggest mea had ruled out and that summed up an attempt to work out culpa of recent times. awkward two years for broadcasters Robinson says: “We didn’t get it right and other media. why the media keeps on Brexit. We didn’t see it coming. We Consider these prevailing narratives getting it wrong must try harder.” Snow goes as far as in the TV coverage that didn’t quite offering to take some of the blame for turn out the way that was expected: not spotting the populism that would n 2015 UK general election: “There take Trump to power, after witnessing will be another hung parliament.” him in action in a sports hall in North There wasn’t. Brexit, Trump and the Carolina. We will let you off on that n 2016 UK Brexit referendum: “In Media, edited by John one, Jon. the end, voters will stick with the EU.” Mair, Tor Clark Neil Brexit, Trump and the Media has chap- They didn’t. Fowler, Raymond ters on various topics from campaign n 2016 US presidential election: Snoddy and Richard managers, journalists, academics and “Trump can’t be elected.” He was. Tait, is published plenty of other pundits and experts. n 2017 UK general election: “There by Abramis, priced Professor John Curtice lays the blame won’t be another hung parliament.” £19.95. ISBN for the wayward pre-vote Brexit polls There was. 978-1845497095 on the “decisions made by the pollsters

28 I WONDER IF as to what to do about the don’t- [BROADCASTERS] how they appealed to the media’s knows and how to estimate who “eagerness to find a ‘gotcha!’ moment would make it to the polls”. He is too THOUGHT THEY here… by making calculated mistakes modest to mention how accurate his KNEW BETTER that drew public attention to us”. exit polls for the broadcasters have Under an equal-airtime guarantee, been in recent general elections. THAN THE VOTERS their voice and their message would But, for some of the other contribu- have to be heard in such controversies. tors, the failure of the Brexit and Trump Of course, claiming after the event coverage was not so much that they arguments” to quickly become an that a mistake was deliberate is a very didn’t forecast the outcome, rather, the attempted “balance between the facts” handy way out of a hole. failure was the outcome itself. That they which, he says, “led the BBC ship of The other issue arising from the big didn’t get the result they wanted. state to head widely off compass. votes of 2016 and 2017 was analysed in I wonder if it wasn’t so much that There cannot be a ‘balance of facts’ last month’s edition of Television by they didn’t know enough about the because it is a tautological nonsense.” Professor Charlie Beckett. It is the voters, but that they thought they For the BBC, Nick Robinson says that proposition that the rise of social knew better than the voters. its Reality Check team provided “regu- media and political campaigners’ “data A common conclusion on Brexit lar robust analysis of the claims and mining” opportunities on Facebook among journalists across the media is: counter-claims”, while executives mean that broadcasting is losing its “We didn’t get out enough.” A regional David Jordan and Ric Bailey argue that, pre-eminence at election time. Has the newspaperman writes: “With hind- “contrary to received wisdom, there is “air war” lost ground to the “data war”? sight, I should have spoken to more of no general set of onerous rules corset- Gary Gibbon, political editor of Chan- our readers about Brexit and fewer ing the broadcasters into a ‘false bal- nel 4 News, writes in his chapter: “The politicians.” An American editor talks ance’, thus enforcing perfect equality of EU referendum was a contest like no of the US coverage of the Trump cam- time, inhibiting the exposure of other – conducted in unique times by paign as “an epic fail” and a German untruths and generally failing to inform unconventional political forces and TV reporter offers powerful evidence the electorate of what it needs to know”. driven by data not used to the same of the impact of the so-called London Yet, during the campaign the extent before. The broadcast media media bubble. then-editor of the Today programme, coverage, I think it’s true to stay, didn’t Diana Zimmermann of ZDF says Jamie Angus, told Steve Hewlett that keep up.” that, outside London, she found “very “the BBC has signed up, rightly, to He quotes Dominic Cummings of often not a single person had anything provide both sides in the referendum Vote Leave saying that broadcast jour- positive to say about the EU and [they] with equal airtime”. nalists, in particular, didn’t have a clue believed it was responsible for all [the] Two self-styled “bad boys of Brexit” what his campaign was up to. It mined problems facing the UK”. set out in chilling detail how they data on voters. Back in the , she would “soak manipulated this situation, using what Cummings argues that, to this day, up the predominantly pro-European they call “the Trump approach”. broadcasters don’t have the newsroom sentiment” and the analyses by politi- Andy Wigmore and Jack Montgom- skills to keep up with modern cam- cal economists that “people will ery of Leave.EU are understandably paign methods. Gibbon reflects: “He always vote for economic security”. keen to suggest that it was their tactics, may have a point.” But at least Diana Zimmermann can and not those of the rival and officially Brexit, Trump and the Media is an ambi- say: “‘Whenever I returned to London recognised and funded Vote Leave tious and largely successful attempt to from these trips I gave a truthful report campaign, that won the day. pull together at great pace multiple of how it seemed increasingly unlikely They offer four lessons in “how you strands from three separate but over- that the UK would remain in the EU.” manipulate the media as an outsider”, lapping major events. Its format does How many British television and citing their widely condemned “Break- not allow for a single definitive chro- radio reporters can say the same? ing point” poster, which showed a nology. For that, turn to the best book Judged by the evidence in this book, queue of refugees and migrants. This on Brexit, Tim Shipman’s All Out War. very few. poster was, they say, an example of And it does not resolve remaining At the heart of this is the confusion mysteries, such as what exactly was about the implications of the UK’s the role in Leave.EU of the data analyt- statutory requirement for broadcasters BROADCASTERS’ ics firm Cambridge Analytica and its to observe “due impartiality”, espe- US billionaire funder, Robert Mercer, a cially during the debate about the NEWS COVERAGE key Trump supporter. Brexiteers’ “£350m” claim. Professor SOMETIMES But within the book’s 56 chapters, Jay Blumler believes that the broad- 70 contributors and 408 pages are a casters’ news coverage sometimes SEEMED TO host of revelations, insights and occa- “seemed to have been governed less HAVE BEEN… sionally unsettling thoughts. n by ‘due impartiality’ than by ‘impar- tiality carried to an extreme’”. ‘IMPARTIALITY Stewart Purvis is a former CEO of ITN Fellow academic Professor Ivor CARRIED TO AN and Ofcom regulator. He is currently a Gaber accuses the BBC of allowing its non-executive director of Channel 4 and preferred “balance between the EXTREME’ writes here in a personal capacity.

Television www.rts.org.uk September 2017 29 All eyes on the next breakthrough

ill virtual reality Group, will speak on radical develop- (VR) finally IBC preview ments coming out of academia. make goggles IBC, which is owned by six not- ­ cool – despite for-profit bodies in the communica- their rejection As IBC celebrates tions sector, including the RTS, has by 3DTV its 50th anniversary, responded to comments that its viewers? VR, AR (augmented reality) insights should be available across the andW AI (artificial intelligence) will be Raymond Snoddy asks year, rather than concentrated in a at the forefront of this September’s five-day annual burst in Amsterdam. IBC, the international broadcasting what is likely to be TV’s The IBC365 website was launched in exhibition and conference at Amster- next big disruptor April, the week of NAB in the US, to dam’s RAI centre. create a more permanent presence. “I am really pleased we are cover- “Everyone in the market knows ing AI, VR and AR across IBC this year. IBC and most of the industry attends They are the relevant and topical sub- so, really, it was to capitalise on the jects of the moment,” explains Jaisica reach that IBC has, and the data it has Lapsiwala, head of content at IBC, on the market, and to use these all which is celebrating its 50th anni- year round,” explains George versary under the title “Truth, Bevir, IBC365 editor. trust and transformation”. The new website is seen as a “We will absolutely be cele- place for longer-form articles brating the last 50 years but concentrating on industry very much focusing on trends and analysis, and fast-forwarding to the next not a fast-turnaround hub 50 years and the new dis- featuring breaking news ruptive forces in our indus- and press releases. So far, try,” the IBC executive adds. Bevir says the reaction has Speakers at the IBC con- been “very good”. ference include Daniel There has also been a Danker, Facebook’s product reorganisation of one of the director, and Jørgen Madsen more popular features of Lindemann, CEO of Modern IBC, the Future Zone. Here, Times Group (MTG), the Scan- visitors can see where the dinavian digital entertainment broadcast industries are likely company; MTG is increasingly to be in five years’ time. moving on from conventional The aim is to move away broadcasting towards digital video from a scattergun approach and networks and online gaming. to focus on emerging trends – such The conference’s opening session, as the latest immersive VR experi- “Fans, friends and the future of ences, 360° video, 3D sound and even broadcasting”, will look at how “fan holographic experiences. and friend” power is driving new “Whether or not in 10 years we will approaches to broadcasting. all be donning VR goggles, I don’t BBC political interviewer Andrew Journal, and Claudia Palmer, chief know, but I am sure that the lessons Neil will chair a discussion on the business officer of Thomson , we have learned from this stage of future of news: how it is produced, to explore how major news providers immersive technology will be applied distributed and consumed in the will survive in a world of online news. to what we are looking at in 10 years,” wake of fake news, alternative facts, Eurosport CEO Peter Hutton will Bevir believes. President Trump and Brexit. give a presentation on the latest in While the question mark remains Tony Maddox, head of CNN Inter- sports broadcasting. And later, Billy over the business case for virtual national, will join Will Lewis, CEO of Zane, the actor, digital entrepreneur reality, there is absolutely no sign of Dow Jones, publisher of the Wall Street and co-founder of the Convergence interest in it fading at IBC 2017. n

30 RTS NEWS Wales renews Eisteddfod success

ollowing its achieve- including the 2001 foot and ments last year, RTS mouth crisis, the severe Wales again hosted weather in 2010 and the several events with current heated debates over FWales-based film and TV Brexit,” said Hardy. organisations at Sinemaes, a RTS members were given pop-up cinema erected at a tour of a group of shops on August’s National Eisteddfod, the main street in Menai held in Bodedern, . Bridge, Anglesey, which form The RTS Centre screened part of the set of youth a special edition of the iconic soap Rownd a Rownd. S4C agricultural series Ffermio, They also attended a produced by Swansea indie discussion, held at Sinemaes, Telesgop, which had been which was chaired by Iestyn edited by Ffion Rees, a post- Garlick, one of the longest- graduate student at the running cast members of the University of South Wales. soap. He is currently Chair Rees studied with USW of the Welsh Independent lecturer and RTS Wales Producers Association, TAC. committee member Heledd Rownd a Rownd, which Ffermio

Hardy, who chaired a celebrated its 21st anniversary S4C discussion following the last year and is produced by screening. This reflected on Rondo Media, is screened followed by a screening of Department for Digital, how the series had reported twice a week on S4C. Second World War drama Culture, Media and Sport was on agricultural life in Wales Later in the week, a short Pum Cynnig i Gymro, which announced on the Eisteddfod over its 20-year run. documentary was shown at was produced and directed field by Guto Bebb MP, “The archive footage shows Sinemaes to honour drama by Edwards. parliamentary under secretary how effectively the series producer Peter Edwards, who Rounding off a busy week, of state at the Wales Office. covered some major stories, died last year. The film was a review of S4C by the Hywel Wiliam

Night at the ONLINE at the RTS museum n With 31 fights, including not yet household names, but n RTS members were 28 wins under his belt, former the boxer believes that, in time, treated to an evening of world heavyweight and cruiser- they will be. ‘The whole country exploration at the Man- weight champion David Haye is will get behind these fighters,’ chester Museum at a looking for his next challenge. he says. North West event in July. The boxer has paired up Haye was keen to work Museum director Nick with leading promoter Richard with free-to-air channel Dave Merriman and Egyptolo- Schaefer to launch the careers to allow as many people as gist Campbell Price of four potential future boxing possible to tune in to the fights. shared the wealth of champions. Over the next three ‘That is the one thing that history held beyond the years, UKTV channel Dave will I was really adamant on: public eye. Ancient Egyp- be showing off the pair’s new that it was just accessible to tian mummies, and jew- signings in a series of boxing everybody,’ he says. ‘We’re going ellery and artefacts from fight nights. to give you guys some real good across the globe were on ‘The focus was to get the entertaining evenings of boxing display as members were very best talent,’ Haye explains, for nothing.’ given exclusive access to speaking to the RTS from his Read the full interview online the vast archives. gym in south London. at (www.rts.org.uk/DavidHaye). David Haye Steve Henderson

The four new signings are Getty Images/Ian Walton Ed Gove

Television www.rts.org.uk September 2017 31 RTS NEWS Yorkshire crowns ITV’s Victoria

mmerdale actor John Mark Kielesz-Levine (local Middleton nabbed channel Made in Leeds TV); two prizes at the RTS while shooting researcher Yorkshire Programme Joe Foley, from Air Televi- EAwards, which were held in sion, was named the One Leeds in early July. to Watch. Middleton, who has played In the factual genre, Ashley Thomas in the ITV ­Hillsborough (made by Very soap for the past two decades, Much So Productions for took the Actor award. BBC Two) took home the The judges commended Single Documentary award; the actor for his “heart- The Last Miners (Keo Films for breaking, powerful and dig- BBC One) secured the Docu- nified performance” in the mentary Series prize; Our wake of his character’s diag- Dancing Town (Twenty nosis with vascular demen- Twenty Tele­vision for BBC tia. Middleton received one Two) won the Factual Enter- of two RTS Yorkshire Out- tainment and Features standing Contribution award; and Helicopter ER (Air awards presented on the Television for UKTV channel night. Emmerdale also won a Really) received the Low Cost second award, with Maxine Factual award. Alderton taking home the The Independent Spirit prize in the Writer category. prize was awarded to Leeds The second Outstanding indie Daisybeck Studios for Contribution award went to the second year in a row. Carol McKenzie, head of was presented with production and facilities the RTS Yorkshire Centre at factual indie True North Award for its successful Productions. “There are stewardship of the Emley many shows that would Moor Transmitting Station. never have made it to the In the other Professional screen without Carol’s drive Excellence categories, BBC and passion. She is truly an Four’s Flying Scotsman from the unsung hero,” said the judges. Footplate (made by Roger Double awards were the Keech Productions) won the trend of the night at the Factual Post-production Victoria

Royal Armouries Museum, ITV award, while The Lie Detective in a ceremony hosted by (True North Productions for Grierson Trust Chair Lorraine drama’s production and beautiful, film-like and inti- Channel 4) collected the Heggessey. design team took home the mate, with a fantastic cast Factual Production award. Paul Whittington took Professional Excellence: and script portraying a dif- The Animation award went home the Director – Fiction Drama and Comedy Produc- ficult and incredibly impor- to Leeds-based Works for award for his work on BBC tion award; and Martin tant story,” said the judges. the title sequence on Basket- One’s The Moorside (made by Phipps and Ruth Barrett ITV Yorkshire’s regional ball Champions League (Canal+ ITV Studios), while the dra- triumphed in the Music and news and current affairs and Live Basketball.TV). ma’s editor, Ben Yeates, won Use of Music category. programme, Calendar, per- Otley’s Ink Films’ work on the Professional Excellence: The Moorside and Emmerdale formed even better than the the BAFTA Film Awards Trailer Drama and Comedy Post- faced strong competition for double winners, picking up 2017 secured it the Promotion production award. The two- the Drama award, and were three prizes: the Jo Cox Murder or Commercial Production part series told the disturbing pipped at the post by Chan- (News or Current Affairs award. story of the disappearance of nel 4 drama National Treasure Story); the Hillsborough Inquest The Second Screen Award nine-year-old Shannon Mat- (made by The Forge). The Verdict (News Programme); was presented to Sheffield thews in Dewsbury. four-parter starred Robbie and Duncan Wood (Presenter). digital outfit Joi Polloi for the ITV hit Victoria (made by Coltrane as a much-loved TV The News or Current BBC interactive test What’s Mammoth Screen) also won comedian accused of rape. Affairs Reporter award went My Real Age? two gongs: the period “National Treasure was to Made Television reporter Matthew Bell

32 Professional Excellence, a few days before his death in July. Roger Keech 1953-2017 Roger was credited with helping to bring the Tour de France to Yorkshire. elevision production It was his vision of in Yorkshire has lost the television coverage one of its true heroes. showcasing the county in Roger Keech was an all its glory that helped Taccomplished producer and convince the tour organisers director who crafted some of to award Le Grand Départ to the most beautiful images of Yorkshire in 2014. the county ever televised. He was an active RTS Roger began his career at Yorkshire member and for the BBC in Leeds as a studio the past few years had been assistant on Look North and involved in producing the other regional shows. Centre’s Programme Awards, He soon moved on from including personally floor management and designing all the on-screen graphics duties to directing, graphics. making stylish, creative films It was Roger’s meticulous for the network with writers attention to detail and including Alan Ayckbourn impeccable taste that gave and Peter Tinniswood. the awards in Yorkshire their Roger formed his own unique style and elegance. production company, His work with the making films about varied University of Leeds also subjects, from brass bands to helped to secure future skills the Battle of Towton during and talent in the region. the Wars of the Roses. A modest perfectionist, Ultimately, he was Roger’s perfectly composed responsible for more than images always captured 200 productions, including beauty and natural spectacle. Flying Scotsman from the He will be deeply missed Footplate, for which he was by his friends and colleagues awarded an RTS Yorkshire in Yorkshire.

Programme Award for Harness Paul Lisa Holdsworth Gray named RTS Young Technologist

n Broadcast engineer Kath- engineering sector – the from the family of leen Gray is the RTS’s Young ever-changing and constant AM Beresford-Cooke, a Technologist of the Year flow of new technologies distinguished engineer who 2017. Gray, who graduated means there is always contributed much to the from Southampton Solent something to learn and development of British University with a BSc in live understand,” said Gray. broadcasting technology. and studio sound, works for “Kathleen impressed the As part of her prize, Gray NEP UK Broadcast Services. jury with her swift career receives an all-expenses- At NEP, she has worked on trajectory and her total paid trip to the technology shows such as ITV’s Love commitment and show IBC, in Amsterdam this Island, and recently managed dedication to delivering September. the deployment of host quality to production The runner-up prize, the broadcasting facilities at teams,” said digital media Coffey Award for Excellence Kathleen Gray the Wimbledon tennis consultant Terry Marsh, in Technology, was awarded tournament on behalf of who chaired the RTS Young to Matthew Carroll, a trainee the BBC. Technologist Award jury. broadcast engineer at “It is an exciting time to The award was established the BBC. work in the broadcast by the RTS with funding Matthew Bell

Television www.rts.org.uk September 2017 33 RTS NEWS

programme A Life Through the Lens: David Peat for BBC Two Scotland. Lockwood works mostly alone, which she believes allows her to build closer relationships with contribu- tors. “I love the intimacy of doing the filming myself – my goal is always to make the camera almost disappear.” “I have the camera on my shoulder with mics strapped on and am completely self- contained. I don’t carry a tripod so I can run up a hill or sit in someone’s front room,” she continues. “I’d rather have a wobbly shot than not get it at all.” Lockwood left BBC Scot- land in April to set up a Fair Isle: Living on the Edge

BBC “collective”­ with Martyn McLaughlin, a journalist at The Scotsman, who came up with the idea for Fair Isle: Filming on the edge Living on the Edge. They were joined by the Fair Isle pro- duction’s editor, Jonathan t the RTS Scotland Having my family there made “They were edgy, experi- Seal, and producer/director Awards earlier this a big difference – the island- mental and a bit rude,” recalls Tim Neil, who was the script year, Louise Lock- ers got to know me as a Lockwood, “but they were a editor. She promises “human wood bagged two whole, rather than as a TV great training ground.” stories, with no compro- Aprizes – Director of the Year director,” she says. The director moved to mises” from the new outfit. and the Professional Excel- The director believes that BBC Scotland in 2001, ini- “I had some great projects lence (Craft) Camera Award the film has boosted Fair tially in arts and entertain- to work on at BBC Scotland, – for her work on Fair Isle: Isle’s chances of attracting ment. “Things really started but you were still governed Living on the Edge. new settlers, who are vital to to shift for me when I did by certain rules,” says Lock- The RTS judges described its survival. “After the pro- Parallel Worlds, Parallel Lives,” wood. “This is almost like a the BBC One Scotland/BBC gramme went out, there was she says. The 2007 new beginning.” Four documentary as a a lot of interest from people documentary – Matthew Bell “beautifully directed” and who wanted to live on which followed “searingly honest portrayal” remote islands,” says Lock- the quest of Mark of the lives of the 50 or so wood. “My worst nightmare Everett (of US people who live on the as a documentary-maker is indie band, Eels) to remote Shetland island. that I’ll have a negative effect learn more about his Fair Isle’s tiny population on my subjects, not that my quantum physicist was swollen by the arrival job is to do a puff piece. I father – earned Lock- of Lockwood’s young family wanted to be truthful but wood a clutch of Grier- and, for some of the shoot, sensitive.” son, RTS and Bafta awards. sound recordist Stewart Over two decades since Lockwood is grateful for Houston. “It was a real family graduating from Glasgow the support she received adventure,” recalls Lockwood, School of Art, Lockwood has early in her career from the who was joined by her part- built an award-winning late Scottish film-maker ner and their twins, who career in TV. She began at David Peat: “He was my were just eight months old Productions, mentor when I first started when filming started. moving from runner to at the BBC. I’d always loved Lockwood had the luxury director within a couple of his work – it makes a mas- of shooting over an 18-month years, working on late-night sive difference having some- period. “It takes time for peo- Channel 4 review shows Vids one to chat to who’s been ple to trust you and to get an and Bits at the turn of the there and done it.” In 2012, Louise Lockwood understanding of a place. millennium. she directed the tribute

34 RTS PATRONS RTS Principal BBC Channel 4 ITV Sky Patrons

RTS A+E Networks International The Walt Disney Company International Discovery Networks Turner Broadcasting System Inc Patrons Liberty Global Viacom International Media Networks NBCUniversal International YouTube

RTS Accenture Deloitte ITN STV Group Major Amazon Video EndemolShine KPMG TalkTalk Patrons Atos Enders Analysis McKinsey and Co UKTV Audio Network FremantleMedia OC&C Viceland Boston Consulting FTI Consulting Pinewood Studios Group Fujitsu S4C YouView BT IBM Sargent-Disc Channel 5 IMG Studios

RTS Alvarez & Marsal LLP Digital Television Group PricewaterhouseCoopers UTV Television Patrons Autocue Kantar Media Raidió Teilifís Éireann Vinten Broadcast Blackmagic Design Lumina Search Snell Advanced Media

Who’s who Patron Chair of RTS Trustees CENTRES COUNCIL RTS Futures at the RTS HRH The Prince of Wales Tom Mockridge Lynn Barlow Alex Wootten Charles Byrne Vice-Presidents Honorary Secretary Steve Carson History David Abraham David Lowen Dan Cherowbrier Don McLean Dawn Airey Isabel Clarke Sir David Attenborough OM Honorary Treasurer Stephanie Farmer IBC Conference Liaison CH CVO CBE FRS Mike Green Cat Lewis Terry Marsh Baroness Floella Kingsley Marshall Benjamin OBE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Jane Muirhead RTS Technology Bursaries Dame Colette Bowe OBE Lynn Barlow Will Nicholson Simon Pitts Lord Bragg of Wigton Tim Davie Nikki O’Donnell John Cresswell Mike Green Tony Orme AWARDS COMMITTEE Adam Crozier David Lowen Fiona Thompson CHAIRS Mike Darcey Graham McWilliam Judith Winnan Awards & Fellowship Greg Dyke Tom Mockridge Policy Lord Hall of Birkenhead Simon Pitts SPECIALIST GROUP David Lowen Lorraine Heggessey Jane Turton CHAIRS Ashley Highfield Rob Woodward Archives Craft & Design Awards Armando Iannucci OBE Dale Grayson Lee Connolly Ian Jones EXECUTIVE Baroness Lawrence of Chief Executive Diversity Programme Awards Clarendon OBE Theresa Wise Angela Ferreira Wayne Garvie Rt Hon Baroness Jowell of Brixton DBE PC Early Evening Events Student Television David Lynn Dan Brooke Awards Sir Trevor McDonald OBE Phil Edgar-Jones Ken MacQuarrie Education Gavin Patterson Graeme Thompson Television Journalism Trevor Phillips OBE Awards Stewart Purvis CBE Sue Inglish Sir Howard Stringer

Television www.rts.org.uk September 2017 35 A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY RTS CAMBRIDGE CONVENTION 2017

Principal sponsor 13-15 SEPTEMBER King’s College, Cambridge

Co-chaired by Andrew Griffith, Group Chief Operating Officer at Sky and Gary Davey, Managing Director, Content at Sky

Confirmed speakers include:

David Abraham Siobhan Greene Alexi Mostrous Sponsors: CEO, Channel 4 Head of Entertainment, ITV Head of Investigations, Anushka Asthana Andrew Griffith Joint Political Editor, Group Chief Operating James Murdoch Officer, Sky CEO, 21st Century Fox Chris Banatvala Michelle Guthrie Fraser Nelson Independent Media Consultant Managing Director, ABC Editor, The Spectator Rt Hon Karen Tony Hall Richard Osman Bradley MP Director-General, BBC Producer/Presenter Secretary of State for Digital, James Harding Kate Phillips Culture, Media and Sport Director, News & Current Controller, Entertainment Lindsey Clay Affairs, BBC Commissioning, BBC CEO, Thinkbox Andy Harries James Purnell CEO, Left Bank Pictures Director, Radio & Education, Sir David Clementi BBC Chairman, BBC Tim Hincks Co-CEO, Expectation David Rowan MP Editor-at-large, Wired UK Gary Davey Julie Hulme Managing Director, Director of Newsgathering, Sarah Sands Content, Sky ITV News Editor, Today Hugh Dennis Jay Hunt Barbara Serra Chief Creative Officer, Presenter/Correspondent, Susanna Dinnage Channel 4 English President and MD, Discovery Networks UK and Ireland Jonathan Levy Lorna Tilbian Director of Newsgathering Media analyst Nancy Dubuc and Operations, Sky CEO, A+E Networks Sophie Turner Laing David Lynn CEO, Endemol Shine Group Greg Dyke President & CEO, Viacom Media executive and International Media Kirsty Wark former Chairman, FA Broadcaster Ben McOwen Wilson Philip Edgar-Jones Director, YouTube EMEA Sharon White Director, CEO, Ofcom Anne Mensah Peter Fincham Head of Drama, Sky Kelly Williams Co-CEO, Expectation Commercial Director, ITV Stuart Miller Cécile Frot-Coutaz Head of News, Buzzfeed Andy Wilman CEO, FremantleMedia Group Executive Producer, Tom Mockridge The Grand Tour Mai Fyfield CEO, Virgin Media Chief Strategy Officer, Sky

Registration: www.rts.org.uk