October 2019 RTS Cambridge 2019 CONTENT, CONSUMERS & EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN + Mark Thompson and Jeff Pope RTS London Christmas Lecture From the CEO What a truly engaging RTS Cambridge that was – one of the very best ever. Unusually, even the weather was on our side. There are so many people to thank for conceiving and delivering Cam- bridge, but most of all I’d like to thank ITV’s Carolyn McCall and her team, led by the matchless Emma Gormley. Emma and her co-executive pro- ducer, Helen Scott, did us proud. Thanks, too, to all the keynote speakers, our brilliant panellists and Contents Liz Reynolds’ TV Diary There’s no prorogation for Liz Reynolds, as one 5 conference leads to another RTS Cambridge Convention 2019 Reports by Matthew Bell, Steve Clarke, Tara Conlan Caroline Frost and Gordon Jamieson One Content, consumers and everything in between 7 Television has a bright future despite the blizzard David of change, argues Carolyn McCall Two The truth about Gen Z Young entrepreneurs and influencers analysed the 10 importance of authenticity, social activism and new Abraham platforms such as TikTok to this generation Three Running on empty CEO of Wonderhood Studios Non-scripted television is in robust health and former CEO of Channel 4 12 despite the drama boom Four Keynote: Sharon White Ofcom Chief Executive Sharon White weighs 14 up the regulator’s hits and misses Five Keynote: Nicky Morgan MP The Secretary of State wants to see UK 4 December 16 broadcasters co-operating more Six Keynote: David Zaslav 6:30pm for 7:00pm Discovery’s dominance in factual TV will preserve it 18 from the consolidation feeding frenzy, believes its CEO Cavendish Conference Centre 22 Duchess Mews, W1G 9DT Editor Production, design News editor and writer Steve Clarke and advertising Matthew Bell [email protected] Gordon Jamieson [email protected] www.rts.org.uk/london [email protected] Journal of The Royal Television Society October 2019 l Volume 56/9 session producers, and the Cambridge Chaired by Good Morning Britain’s Ran- ducted by the Newsnight anchor. planning committee, without whom vir Singh, this commendably inclusive Moving on from Cambridge, this none of this would have been possible. panel introduced a fresh note to the year’s Steve Hewlett Memorial Lec- Television contains reports of all discussions. ture was given by Mark Thompson. 17 sessions, and we have a Cam- I was thrilled that many of the RTS This statesman-like address by the bridge-themed TV Diary from Free- bursary students attended on the last cerebral former BBC Director-General view’s Liz Reynolds. Videos of all the day. It was especially revealing to was extremely thoughtful, eloquent sessions, on our website, are proving listen to Lorraine Kelly’s interviews and set the agenda for UK and, indeed, popular. So, if you haven’t done so with our students during her own global media policy. already, do please take a look. session on social mobility, “Blow the One of the big differences this year bloody doors off”. was that the conference involved real Kirsty Wark’s headline-generating consumers in the debates. The Leeds- interview with Netflix’s Reed Hastings based People’s Panel brought the voice was also remarkable. I think that was of the viewers live to Cambridge. one of the very best interviews con- Theresa Wise Seven The rights stuff Sixteen Blow the bloody doors off! What does the rise of the streaming giants mean What will it take to end working-class exclusion from 20 for UK producers and broadcasters’ IP? 40 positions of influence in the media, asks Lorraine Kelly Eight Keynote: Jeremy Darroch Seventeen Better TV or better diversity? Being part of Comcast gives Sky great global Lenny Henry urges executives to scrap failing diversity 22 potential, argues Sky’s CEO 42 schemes and spend the money making TV with diverse talent Nine Part 1 Who you gonna trust? How well are TV companies and their online rivals 24 doing at winning and keeping public confidence? Our Friend in the Midlands From TV to games, the Birmingham area is making a Nine Part 2 Trust in numbers 44 splash on the global stage, explains Caren Davies Ed Williams shares Edelman’s research findings that 26 streamers are gaining ground on PSBs in the trust stakes A question of sovereignty Mark Thompson argues that policymakers need Ten The world has gone nuts! 45 to rethink their attitude towards the BBC – or risk Piers Morgan tells Christine Lampard that’s he’s only total US cultural dominance 28 one vegan sausage roll away from being sacked Loud and proud Eleven Keynote: Alex Mahon Matthew Bell hears how Anne Lister’s world was Channel 4’s CEO says PSBs need supportive regulation 48 reconstructed for TV and why this complex character 30 to protect local voices that reflect UK viewers’ lives has wowed viewers Twelve Mad Men vs Math Men IBC review: 5G opens the door to 8K Will data kill advertising – or is there still a role Tim Dams rounds up the talking points from this 32 for creative storytelling that builds brands? 50 year’s tech fest Thirteen Keynote: Tony Hall Why crime pays for Jeff Pope In turbulent times, the BBC should play to its strengths Steve Clarke is engrossed as the acclaimed writer and 34 in trusted news and national storytelling 52 producer looks back on his extraordinary career Fourteen Keynote: Reed Hastings RTS news and events listings Netflix’s CEO explains why he is relaxed as he prepares Reports of Society activities across the nations and 36 to face competition from Apple and Disney 57 regions, and calendar of forthcoming public events Fifteen You gotta have a stream Can streamers funded by subscriptions or ads coexist – 38 or will one model come to dominate? Sub-editor Photographer Royal Television Society Subscription rates Printing Legal notice Sarah Bancroft Paul Hampartsoumian 3 Dorset Rise, UK £115 ISSN 0308-454X © Royal Television Society 2019. [email protected] [email protected] London EC4Y 8EN Overseas (surface) £146.11 Printer: FE Burman The views expressed in Television T: 020 7822 2810 Overseas (airmail) £172.22 20 Crimscott St are not necessarily those of the RTS. E: [email protected] Enquiries: [email protected] London, SE1 5TP Registered Charity 313 728 W: www.rts.org.uk Television www.rts.org.uk October 2019 3 MUSICAL TALES FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME A unique Audio Network project – four stunning albums of music composed by Debbie Wiseman, in collaboration with Stephen Fry AVAILABLE FOR LICENSE AT WWW.AUDIONETWORK.COM/DISCOVER/MYTHOS-COLLECTION FIND OUT MORE: Rebecca Hodges [email protected] 0207 566 1441 TV diary TV diary There’s no prorogation for Liz Reynolds, as one conference leads to another t’s September. That means ■ With Cambridge bathed in view of the future for British media back to school. And not just warmer than normal autumnal sun- as a “cultural Airstrip One” without for the kids. shine, the relentlessly sunny Reed more robust and ambitious policy With Edinburgh hang­ Hastings gives a much anticipated intervention. He asserts that “it is… overs barely forgotten, and interview. He doesn’t disappoint. of overwhelming importance that TV execs and politicians Kirsty Wark is in playful mood and British audiences still get access to still reeling from Dorothy the Hollywood mogul handles her great news, drama, comedy [and] Byrne’s outlandishly honest Mac­ questions with as much grace and documentary made first and fore- ITaggart Lecture, conference season humour as Tom Hanks in an episode most for them and them alone”. gets into full swing. of The Graham Norton Show. From a Freeview point of view, Not in Bournemouth but in Cam­ Lenny Henry’s impassioned and I couldn’t agree more. The lecture bridge, courtesy of ITV, for the RTS urgent appeal for change on diversity follows major success for British biennial convention. There’s no pro­ ends the convention on a serious talent at the Emmys, led by the rogation for us. note. Throughout, Baz’s parish indomitable Phoebe Waller-Bridge. notices are a joy. Congratulations to all the winners, ■ Turns out that last month’s illumi- With more than a sprinkling of ITV on and off screen, and long life to nating TV Diary from Neil Thomp- showbiz (and some actual consumers) the concept of “hot priests”. son provides the perfect segue into thrown in for good measure, Carolyn Piers and Susanna’s triumphant turn McCall’s vision for a positive and pro- ■ The month ends with the exciting at the three-day conference. Back vocative conference is realised. announcement that BritBox will fea­ from their summer sojourns, it feels ture on Freeview’s smart­TV service, like the team from GMB have liter- ■ No sooner am I back from Cam­ Freeview Play, and with one final ally been parachuted in. bridge than it’s off to Brighton for a hotel room – this time in Manches­ Susanna is firmly at the helm of quick spin at Labour’s conference. ter, where the mood is more colour­ the opening afternoon. The next day, The mood’s tense and the MPs I talk ful than the weather. her sidekick, Piers, blows everyone to are generally despondent. By Tues­ The Sky News party is packed with away with carefully casual rhetorical day, I’m back in London and we inter­ parliamentarians – one or two even hand grenades. rupt a board meeting to watch the dance. Damian Collins MP hosts a Supreme Court’s historic judgment. lively “in conversation with” culture ■ On a self­interested note, it’s fan­ Around our table, jaws drop when secretary Nicky Morgan MP and we tastic to see Freeview named as the the unanimous ruling comes.