RTS Conference 2018 Is Bigger Better? Will the “consolidation game” help TV tip the scales against the tech giants?

Draft Programme @ 21 August 2018

08.00 Registration opens

08.55 Opening Welcome by David Lynn, RTS Convention Chair and President & CEO, VIMN

09.05 Session One: A full set of FAANGs The FAANGs have yet to take too big a bite out of TV’s share of viewing. But with Facebook, Apple and Google now promising to join Netflix and Amazon in investing billions in video streaming, major entertainment companies, notably Disney and Fox, are rushing to consolidate. This strategy session explores the consumer, creative and commercial impact of the new entrants and the ongoing shift from scheduled to on-demand viewing. Are mergers and acquisitions the only way forward for broadcasters and producers? When it comes to doing battle or business with the Tech Giants, is bigger better?

Chair Kate Bulkley, Media Commentator & Journalist

Speakers David Abraham, Founder, Wonderhood Studios Tom Mockridge, Chief Executive Officer, Virgin Media Darren Throop, President & CEO, Entertainment One Jane Turton, Chief Executive Officer, All3Media

10.00 Session Two: International Keynote – Bob Bakish Bob Bakish, President & CEO of Viacom in conversation with Sian Williams. Chair Sian Williams, Presenter, Channel

Speaker Bob Bakish, President & CEO, Viacom

10.30 Session Three: Diversity and Inclusion: Lessons From Outside TV Diversity and inclusion are top of the list for responsible media organisations. But tackling inequalities across gender, race, disability and social mobility is a challenge, so how can we learn what works and define best practice? Can we learn from other sectors? Deborah Williams (CEO of CDN) gives an update on the current state of play in the broadcasting industry followed by a discussion with Mark McLane (Barclays) Anne Nguyen (BCG) and Karen Blackett (WPP) with examples of good practice elsewhere.

Chair Trevor Phillips OBE, Founder, Webber Phillips

Presentation Deborah Williams, Executive Director, Creative Diversity Network

Speakers Karen Blackett OBE, Country Manager, WPP Mark McLane, Global Head of Diversity, Barclays Anne Nguyen, Partner & Managing Director, London, BCG

11.10 Coffee

11.35 Session Four: Rise of the Machines – Voice, AI and Beyond – How will broadcasting embrace the challenge? From mobile Virtual Assistants to Artificially Intelligent TVs to Smart Speakers, Voice is now impacting the broadcasting industry in exciting and explorative ways.

Targeted Advertising, Personalised Discovery, Fake News? What opportunities does this audio-based medium hold and what issues does it bring along with it?

How will advancements in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Biometrics drive the platform forward and really get to the heart of the consumer?

Chair Kate Russell, Technology Reporter, BBC Click

Speakers Matthew Postgate, Chief Technology & Product Officer, BBC Babak Hodjat, Co-Founder & CEO, Sentient Technologies Further speakers tbc

12.20 Session Five: Tomorrow’s BBC: Meeting The Challenges of the Future An address by Tony Hall, Director-General of the BBC, followed by Q&A with Zainab Badawi

Chair Zainab Badawi, Presenter, BBC News

Speaker Tony Hall, Director-General, BBC

12.50 Lunch

13.50 Session Six: Carolyn McCall Carolyn McCall, ITV’s Chief Executive, in conversation with Tim Hincks

Chair Tim Hincks, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Expectation Entertainment

Speakers Carolyn McCall, Chief Executive, ITV

14.15 Session Seven: Commission Accomplished We all know the market is changing shape. But what of the shows within it? What does it mean to commission linear television in an increasingly SVOD world? Meanwhile, what are the new entrants really looking for? And are these platform distinctions as cut and dried as they seem? Amazon’s Georgia Brown, Channel 4’s Ian Katz and Sky’s Zai Bennett discuss content in a shifting world with Kirsty Wark.

Chair Kirsty Wark, Writer and Broadcaster

Speakers Zai Bennett, Director of Programme, Sky Entertainment UK and Ireland Georgia Brown, Director, European Originals, Amazon Studios Ian Katz, Director of Programmes, Channel 4

15.10 Session Eight: Making It On The Global Stage The death of co-pro, peak drama, the globalisation of content… myths or reality? NBCU’s Jeff Wachtel and Endemol Shine’s Peter Salmon share their thoughts on major market trends in production and distribution, and ask what the UK industry can learn from the rest of the world. Chaired by Kirsty Wark.

Chair Kirsty Wark, Writer and Broadcaster

Speakers Peter Salmon, Chief Creative Officer, Endemol Shine Group Jeff Wachtel, President, NBCUniversal International Studios

15.50 Tea

16.15 Session Nine: Alex Mahon Alex Mahon, Chief Executive of Channel 4, in conversation with Tim Hincks.

Chair Tim Hincks, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Expectation Entertainment

Speaker Alex Mahon, Chief Executive, Channel 4

16.40 Session Ten: How To Regulate The Internet – Audience Protection In A Digital Age Even Mark Zuckerberg agrees that regulation of online platforms is inevitable. The question now is “how do you do it”? With a white paper on internet regulation expected in the Autumn, this session will examine what steps the Government must take to ensure a level playing field between broadcasters and technology companies. Has the time come for an internet regulator? And do successful broadcasting rules – like the watershed, advertising rules and impartiality – have a place in an online regime?

Chair Beth Rigby, Political Correspondent, Sky News

Speakers Tess Alps, Chair, Thinkbox Damian Collins MP Rachel Coldicutt, CEO, Dot Everyone

17.20 Session Eleven: Sharon White, Chief Executive, Ofcom The Ofcom CEO contributes to the debate about issues and challenges in on line regulation from the perspective of the UK’s broadcast regulator.

Chair Kirsty Wark, Writer and Broadcaster

Speaker Sharon White, Chief Executive, Ofcom

17.45 Session Twelve: RT Hon Jeremy Wright MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Media and Culture

Speaker RT Hon Jeremy Wright MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Media and Culture

18.15 Convention Closes James Currell, RTS Convention Chair and President, VIMN UK Northern and Eastern Europe

18.20 Drinks Reception sponsored by Spencer Stuart (Battlebridge Room)