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July/August 2015

Newsnight’s Mr Nice Guy RTS/IET JOINT PUBLIC LECTURE Wednesday 4 November 6:30pm for 6:45pm Demis Hassabis Founder of Deep Mind, artificial intelligence researcher, neuroscientist and computer game designer

Venue: British Museum, WC1B 3DG Booking: www.rts.org.uk Journal of The July/August 2015 ● Volume 52/7

From the CEO The great summer of Back in London, the Society’s early- Convention. I can’t promise yellow sport is here and evening event “Diversity: job done?” jerseys, but I can guarantee an exciting, cycling fans need no featured a stellar panel and a capacity international line-up, including: reminding that the crowd. Michael Lombardo, President of Pro- 2015 Tour de France is It was an electrifying debate, gramming at HBO, Sharon White, unfolding on a TV set chaired brilliantly by Afua Hirsch, Chief Executive at , David Abra- near you. Social Afairs and Education Editor at ham, CEO at , Adam Crozier, Last year the world’s biggest bike Sky . I am extremely grateful to ITV CEO, President and CEO race began with a thrilling two days everyone who made this a night to Philippe Dauman, Josh Sapan, Presi- in Yorkshire. remember. dent and CEO of AMC Networks, and At June’s RTS Yorkshire Awards, I In Bristol, I was fortunate to attend David Zaslav, President and CEO of was reminded of the excitement that “BDH unzipped”, a celebration of the Discovery Communications. The the event generated. When the Tour de company’s fabulous work directing convention will be chaired by BBC France Came To Yorkshire, made by commercials and creating brand Director-General Tony Hall. Roger Keech Productions, was a win- identities, music visuals and motion Enjoy the rest of the summer. ner at the ceremony in Leeds. graphics. It was proof again of the I was very graciously hosted by RTS range and excellence of creative talent Yorkshire in the grand setting of the that the UK is home to. Royal Armouries Museum. Thanks for Finally, as readers prepare for their a wonderful evening and congratula- summer holidays, now is the time to tions to all the winners and nominees. book for this year’s RTS Cambridge Theresa Wise Contents Lucy Lumsden’s TV Diary The king in waiting Gigs, Guinness and going to Soho screenings are all part takes the measure of Philippe Dauman, 5 of a week’s activities for Lucy Lumsden 18 the man poised to inherit the Viacom crown ’s Mr Nice opens up Our Friend in the North As Newsnight struggles to define itself in the Stuart Cosgrove identifies new, edgy Scottish news sites 6 post-Paxman era, Andrew Billen asks 20 that challenge the narrative provided by the mainstream if the chief presenter’s job is a poisoned chalice ITV’s big Diversity: job done? Don’t get me started... Neil Midgley asks ITV’s drama chief, Steve November, A highly charged RTS event asked whether broadcasters’ 21 how he will fill the void left by Downton Abbey 10 plans to address diversity are delivering real change. Steve Clarke found that the jury is still out Smartphones: TV’s friend or foe? By next year, 80% of UK adults are expected to own Rock on, John 24 a smartphone. Paul Lee assesses whether phones are It isn’t only ’s passion for heavy likely to further erode live TV viewing 14 metal that confounds his stereotype as an old fogey. Anne McElvoy profiles a political enigma How to be the best researcher Common sense, resourcefulness and enthusiasm are all Hill sweeps to the top 27 essential skills for a job that is the lifeblood of TV, learns Polly Hill has risen through the ranks to head BBC Matthew Bell 16 Drama, with an estimated budget of £200m. Maggie Brown assesses her biggest challenges

Cover picture: Phillip Bannister

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 2015. [email protected] [email protected] London EC4Y 8EN Overseas (surface) £146.11 Printer: FE Burman, The views expressed in Television Sub-editor T: 020 7822 2810 Overseas (airmail) £172.22 20 Crimscott St, 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 July/August 2015 3 Your guide to upcoming national and RTS NEWS regional events

Heggessey; Jay Hunt, Chief RTS MASTERCLASSES snacks and food available. National events Creative Ofcer, Channel 4; Tuesday 10 November Venue: Tyneside Bar Café, Michael Lombardo, President RTS Student Programme Tyneside Cinema, 10 Pilgrim St, RTS EARLY EVENING EVENT of Programming, HBO; James Masterclasses NE1 6QG Tuesday 14 July Purnell, Director, Strategy and Venue: BFI Southbank, London ■ Jill Graham In conversation with Chris Digital, BBC; Josh Sapan, President SE1 8XT ■ [email protected] Bryant MP and CEO, AMC Networks; ■ Booking opening soon Chris Bryant MP, Shadow Sir Howard Stringer; Sharon NORTH WEST Secretary of State for Culture, White, Chief Executive, Ofcom; RTS MASTERCLASSES ■ Rachel Pinkney 07966 230639 Media and Sport. Chair: Anne The Rt Hon John Whittingdale Wednesday 11 November ■ [email protected] McElvoy. 6:30pm for 6:45pm OBE MP, Secretary of State for RTS Craft Skills Masterclasses Venue: The Gallery at The Culture, Media and Sport; and Venue: BFI Southbank, London Hospital Club, 24 Endell Street David Zaslav, President and CEO, SE1 8XT ■ John Mitchell London WC2H 9HQ Discovery Communications. ■ Booking opening soon ■ mitch.mvbroadcast@ ■ Book online at www.rts.org.uk Chair: Tony Hall, Director-General, btinternet.com BBC. RTS AWARDS Venue: West Road Concert Hall, Monday 30 November 2015 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND Cambridge CB3 9DP and King’s RTS Craft & Design Awards ■ Charles Byrne (353) 87251 3092 College, Cambridge CB2 1ST 2014-2015 ■ [email protected] ■ Book online at www.rts.org.uk The closing date for awards entries is Tuesday 1 September SCOTLAND Venue: The London Hilton, Park ■ James Wilson 07899 761167 RTS Futures Summer Party Lane, London W1K 1BE ■ james.wilson@ cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk RTS FUTURES Thursday 16 July Local events SOUTHERN Summer Party ■ Gordon Cooper Organised jointly by RTS Futures BRISTOL ■ [email protected] and Guardian Edinburgh Interna- ■ Belinda Biggam tional Television Festival Talent ■ [email protected] Mike Darcey THAMES VALLEY Schemes. Sponsored by Chan- ■ Penny Westlake nel 4, Sky and Warner Brothers DEVON & CORNWALL ■ [email protected] International Television. 6:30pm RTS EARLY EVENING EVENT ■ Contact TBC Venue: Design Museum, 28 Shad Monday 28 September Thames, London SE1 2YD In conversation with Mike EAST ANGLIA ■ Book online at www.rts.org.uk Darcey, Chief Executive ■ Contact TBC Ofcer, News UK 6:30pm for 6:45pm LONDON Venue: The Hospital Club, ■ Daniel Cherowbrier 24 Endell Street, London ■ [email protected] Eisteddfod WC2H 9HQ ■ Booking opening soon ■ Jayne Greene 07792 776585 JOINT PUBLIC LECTURE ■ [email protected] Tuesday 4 August Wednesday 4 November RTS Cambridge Convention Eisteddfod: TV and broadband Joint RTS/IET public lecture NORTH EAST & THE BORDER in rural areas with Demis Hassabis Wednesday 29 July Welsh-language event at the RTS CONVENTION Demis Hassabis is founder of Networking evenings National Eisteddfod 16-18 September Deep Mind and an artificial For anyone working in TV, film, Venue: S4C Pavilion, National RTS Cambridge Convention intelligence researcher, neuro- computer games or digital Eisteddfod of Wales, Meifod, 2015: Happy Valley or House scientist and computer game production. The RTS event is Mid Wales of Cards – Television in 2020 designer. 6:30pm for 6:45pm held on the last Wednesday of ■ Hywel Wiliam 07980 007841 Speakers include: David Abraham, Venue: British Museum, Great the month. Future dates: ■ [email protected] CEO, Channel 4; Adam Crozier, Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG ■ 26 August; CEO, ITV; Philippe Dauman, ■ Booking opening soon ■ 30 September; YORKSHIRE President and CEO, Viacom; ■ 28 October ■ Lisa Holdsworth 07790 145280 Tim Davie, CEO, BBC Worldwide Start at 6:00pm, with a free TV ■ lisa@allonewordproductions. and Director, Global; Lorraine and film quiz at 8:00pm. Bar co.uk

4 July/August 2015 www.rts.org.uk Television TV diary

Gigs, Guinness and going to Soho screenings are all part of a week’s activities for Lucy Lumsden

ust back to Sky’s new hot- across the evening is the fragility of a (again), surrounded by a bunch of desking haven, “The Hub”, truly original idea: if it feels difcult, acrobats asking me if the show’s any after a Guinness-fuelled week- then it’s likely you’re on to something good. “Good? It’s brilliant, of course!” end in freezing Kilkenny at the special. Sky Cat Laughs Comedy Festi- ■ Blur tonight in Hyde Park with my val. Boss Stuart Murphy plonks ■ Up at 3:30am to take son to meet friend Nira Park in the rain. A bril- himself opposite me, which is coach for school day trip to France. liant gig, it’s a total 1990s-nostalgia disastrous for concentration Back to bed. fest. Blur look happy, the crowd are Jlevels. Woken up by the doorbell at ecstatic. I even briefly jump up and Tonight, it’s the party for 5:30am: my son, standing on the step down with my umbrella. MPs at the top of the Tower. looking forlorn. Trip cancelled as We meet up with Alfie Allen and Kit I wish Yvette Cooper good luck; she’s teacher with all the passports didn’t Harington afterwards. Nira and wearing a baby-blue jacket – easy to show up. We’re all speechless. I spend the night chatting about the spot in a sea of grey suits. I go bowling later with my lovely 1990s, when we worked at The Comic team. As it’s Ben Boyer’s birthday, Strip Presents… together. We took the day ■ The RTS Student Television Awards, I let him win. job so seriously but, boy, did we have a chaired by Stuart, on a gloriously hot ball. Unadulterated pre- fun. day at BFI Southbank. The chilly wind ■ I’m seriously aware of how much of Kilkenny is a distant memory. time I spend on my iPhone. Doesn’t ■ I’m on the RTS diversity panel Came out feeling full of inspiration generate ideas for me, just regur- event tonight. Oh my, thank God our and admiration for the nominees. gitates them. I know far too much targets are simple. A scrap breaks out Forced my kids to watch the new about things like “the top 10 disas- in the crowd – amazingly, between Clangers. Hubby and I are transfixed, trous facelifts”. three people from the BBC disagreeing they are bored after two minutes. As a tiny antidote, I’m going to a about their own policy on diversity. How depressing! life-drawing class tonight. I draw a This is a scene from W1A, surely. very naked Barry to the sounds of ■ New series of Doll & Em starts this Frank Sinatra. Not an iPhone to be ■ At the Broadcast Digital Awards week on . So nice to see seen, it’s very restoring. on a beautiful balmy evening, Sky 1’s the girls again at the South Bank Sky Wild Things collects an award – of Arts Awards at the Savoy. Made the ■ Insane day with a ton of reading to the team dressed as a squirrel. mistake of thinking they might win, do, followed by three screenings to Very happy for my old pal Cheryl but The Trip To Italy gets it… again. And attend across Soho in one night. Taylor, who wins award for CBBC. We well deserved. Hey ho. A quick hello to Idris Elba at King reminisce about BBC days for the few I’m delighted to be sitting next to for a Term, then hot foot it to Working minutes we share before being swept Don McCullin who presents an award Title to see the cast, then back to our respective camps. to the guys behind the poppies at the on to Kim Cattrall’s Ruby Robinson. Tower of London. The running theme I end the night drinking Guinness Lucy Lumsden is head of comedy at Sky.

Television www.rts.org.uk July/August 2015 5 Newsnight’s Mr Nice opens up

mailing me directions to Robinson, John Simpson – they are his flat in Earls Court, The Billen Profile basically people we would all die to Newsnight’s Lead Presenter, have on our programme.” Evan Davis, mentions the Beyond that lies a greater challenge. “fascinating cluster” of As Newsnight struggles The net ofers not only facts but opinion, estate agents where he to define itself in the plenty of it, and cheaply. Newsnight’s lives. “Fascinating” and “estate agents” brand of analysis is expensive. appearE infrequently in the same post-Paxman era, One can see the attraction of Evans sentence, but this is classic Evan Davis. Andrew Billen asks for BBC Two. He had hosted one of its Here is a man interested in everything banker shows, Dragons’ Den. He might – the inheritor of the intellectual curios- Evan Davis if the chief be in his fifties, but has a modern, ity of , a predecessor at shaven-headed, open-necked, tight- his previous workplace, Radio 4’s Today. presenter’s job is a suited look. He is funny. Most of all, he To Davis, a cluster of estate agents poisoned chalice had brought to Today a new style of suggests a rental property boom that is interviewing: inquisitive rather than forcing other traders out of business he had known from BBC News in the inquisitorial, explorative rather than – and a very good reason to move from 1990s. He hoped to discuss his options. confrontational. the one-bedroom flat he shares with his “Instead, he made it very clear it was With Paxman going, this was exactly civil partner. Interesting, all round. probably better for me to go, and I what Katz wanted for his Newsnight. A year ago, it was Davis himself, how- thought, ‘If the Director-General wants In an article in the FT last September, ever, that was the hot property. In April me to go, I am going to go’,” recalls he called for a shift from the current 2014, after 25 years, Davis, dressed in the shirt and suit “sullen equilibrium” between inter- announced he was leaving Newsnight. In trousers he will wear that evening on viewers and the political class. He only his seventh year as a presenter on air and half-sitting, half-lying on a sofa issued a challenge to politicians: “If Today, Davis gave the matter little in his top-floor apartment. you dare to be a little more candid, to thought, assuming that PM’s , But has Evans accepted a poisoned come to your crease a little less padded who had presented during some of the chalice? The ratings of all TV news and up, to answer questions rather than darkest nights of the programme’s Sav- current afairs shows have sufered avoid them, we will give you the space ile-McAlpine crisis, would get the gig. from the plethora of 24-hour and inter- to explain your politics and yourself.” Then the call came from Newsnight’s net news, yet Newsnight has sufered The previous March, Davis had given still new Editor, , formerly a more than most. a remarkably compatible lecture in Guardian Deputy Editor. If asked, would When Evans left the programme in Oxford on “adversarial journalism”, Davis consider himself a candidate? 2001, after a stint as its Economics in which he argued that, while every- He responded with “an 80% no”. Editor, a “good” figure would be over one needs to be held to account, “no Katz phoned back. The job was not 1 million viewers. These days, 600,000 one should be held to account to the going to Mair. “And it became clear I would be good. point where it becomes paralysing to was the candidate.” The problem was Two things, he thinks, help to explain what they are trying to do”. He would, that Today did not want him to go, nor the slump. BBC News at Ten is now in he said, “nudge the adversarial dial did Radio 4. In the end, with no reas- the interpretation business, on which down”. surances that he would be looked after Newsnight once had the patent. “When It was a marriage made in theoretical if it did not work out, Davis emailed you look at the slew of people you get journalism. The question is now the Director-General, Tony Hall, whom on the Ten – , Nick whether the theory was right. There is

6 no doubt that Evans has brought a refreshing change of tone to the show, his humour candid rather than snide. On the right subject, he can be brilliant. His interviewing of comedian- turned-savant (“I am trying to take you seriously”) should, perhaps, have been scrutinised by before he craved an audience with him during the election. When Green Party leader Natalie Bennett sufered “brain fade” about her hous- ing policy, Davis delivered a brilliant soliloquy on exactly what she should have said. But the fact is that Newsnight’s ratings have not improved. Indeed, they have sufered, if only from BBC One viewers staying with an extended regional bulletin at 10:30pm and from Scottish viewers now not getting to watch the show until 11:00pm. There is not, Evans admits, any equivalent of the “Paxman bounce” on the three nights a week he presents. “I stick by my lecture,” he says. “I think the dilemma is this. If a politician is spouting to you the same old boring lines of a very partisan nature, that are somewhat mendacious, what are you meant to do? “Are you meant to take that in the spirit of the new style of political interview and say, ‘That’s very interesting, minister’? Or do you argue about it? If you argue about it, you’re back to square one, adversarial inter- views. If you don’t argue about it, you just look like a feeble interviewer. “That is why I think the only way to make an interesting non-adversarial interview is to ask questions that are diferent from the ones that invite the prepared partisan answer. So my basic view of this is we should make more efort to think of interesting things to ask them.” When I ask whether Katz is a sup- portive editor, I note that, after a quick “yeah”, he chooses to praise him rather than reply directly. “He is very – what is the word? – interventionist. He is THE BBC IS VERY COMMITTED brilliant as improving every day’s TO NEWSNIGHT, AND I DON’T programme.” There is, he adds, no political ten- FEEL IT IS AN ENDANGERED sion between them. Davis, widely seen SPECIES YET as to the right of the former Guardian Sutton-Hibbert/Rex Shutterstock Sutton-Hibbert/Rex Katz, says his own views ❯

Television www.rts.org.uk July/August 2015 7 The Davis digest BBC

Evan Harold Davis, Lead Presen ter of Newsnight (since 2014) and Presenter of Dragons’ Den since 2005

Civil partner Guillaume Baltz, since 2002 Lives Earls Court, London, and Pas-de-Calais, France Born 8 April 1962, , two older brothers Father Quintin Davis, academic Mother Hazel Davis, social worker and psychoanalyst Brought up Education , ; St John’s College, Oxford (First in PPE); John F School of Government, Harvard

1984 Researcher, Institute for Fiscal Studies ❯ are “all over the place”. Katz, he says, Newsnight: what is it for? Here is Davis’s 1988 Research Fellow, London is similarly open-minded. summary of the argument: “On one Business School If Katz is open-mindedly reassessing side, we don’t want to be just a news 1992 Co-ordinator, Institute for interview theory, his doubts may have programme, because everyone has Fiscal Studies been visible in Davis’s election inter- been doing it all day. On the other side, 1993 Economics Correspondent, views, which Katz edited. These were against that, is the view that if you are BBC News for prime-time BBC One, so the style too of-piste you become missable.” 1997 Economics Editor, Newsnight was bound to be a little diferent. Never- I understand a Newsnight staf meet- 2001 Economics Editor, BBC News theless, Davis’s 50 interruptions of ing was held by Katz after the election 2008 Presenter, Today, Radio 4 were not his usual style. to thrash out exactly this dilemma, and 2014 Joined Newsnight And his approach to , high- that it left some so confused that he lighting his mastery of foreign lan- later sent out a memo clarifying its Books New Penguin Dictionary of guages and his Dutch mother, seemed conclusions. Business (2003); Made in Britain uncharacteristically ad hominem. With the BBC News channel win- (2011) “I think, in the end, we asked too few ning some 200,000 viewers for its Dog Mr Whippy, a whippet interesting questions and the interest- cheap-as-chip-wrapping-paper On gay relationships ‘There’s an ing questions sometimes came across review of the papers at 10:30pm, I old phrase that it’s better not to as ad hominem,” Davis says. He was wonder if Davis considers Newsnight know what goes into sausage. It is proud that he asked itself endangered. usually used about law-making… whether he was angry about rich tax He replies that, whatever its ratings, There’s a bit of truth to that, I think, evaders. The Miliband interview Newsnight is a formidable generator of about what urban gay men get up “probably worked the least well”: “He material for the internet. “The BBC is to after dark’ shut down one or two areas of ques- very committed to it, and I don’t feel it On joining Newsnight ‘It could all tioning very quickly and there was is an endangered species yet.” go wrong, but it will at least be an kind of nowhere to go.” The evening of his Newsnight debut adventure’ There is an even more fundamental last September, Paxman rang him and question being asked internally about told him to “enjoy” it. On air, Davis

8 CAMERON

CLEGG

MILLIBAND

THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE AN INTERESTING FARAGE NON-ADVERSARIAL INTERVIEW IS TO ASK QUESTIONS THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONES THAT INVITE THE PREPARED PARTISAN ANSWER All pictures: BBC pictures: All was quickly reminded of how much returned to Britain determined to tell grander in France to which they retreat easier enjoying radio is. If he is “spon- his parents. every few weeks. taneous”, he has to tell the studio “I set myself a deadline: ‘I’ve got to “I think people in successful, long- director which camera he plans to be do this by Christmas.’ And I did so on term relationships tend to be more spontaneous to. He reckons it will take Christmas Day. That tells you that it fulfilled,” he says. him two years (as it did on Today) to was something that was a little difcult As for moving from Earls Court, it find his own voice. for me.” sounds to me as if Evans is more inter- And, I say, when did he begin to feel Did it go OK? ested intellectually in his flat’s rise in comfortable about himself as a person? “It went very well. They were very value than actually finding somewhere “Is this about being gay?” nice, actually, really nice.” further out to live. Nor is there any sign Only partly, I say. He outed himself more publicly in that Evans is about to move from “Well, look, it does get back to being 1997 when, four years after leaving the Newsnight and return to Today – gay because I think you truly feel com- Institute for Fiscal Studies to join BBC although, I tell him, there is a precedent. fortable with yourself only when News, he crossed to Newsnight. Gay Times When Newsnight’s forerunner, Tonight, you’ve told people about it, and your asked for an interview and he “jumped” was floundering on BBC One in 1976, parents in particular.” at the chance. By declaring himself gay Today’s was persuaded This took him longer than two years. before he was really famous the issue to come to the rescue and present it. At Oxford, where he edited the college was neutralised, although the occa- Unfortunately, Timpson turned out by , he realised he was much sional media jokes about his body then to have grown a face, and hair-dos, more attracted to men than women, but piercings, allegedly intimate, and the best suited to radio. In 1978, he returned was still not out. Afterwards, working in soubriquet “Tinsel Tits” might be con- to Today and began a long stint as Brian London, he had a boyfriend but the sidered borderline homophobic by Redhead’s other half. relationship was kept between them. some (but not him, it seems). Davis looks, well, interested. It was only when he went to Harvard He met his partner, Guillaume Belts, “Do you know,” he says. “I did not and then had an internship in a utility a French landscape architect, in 2002. know that story. That is really, really company in California that he realised They share their impeccably minimalist interesting.” He pauses. “Shockingly there was no need to lie any longer. He Earls Court flat and something rather interesting.”

Television www.rts.org.uk July/August 2015 9 Diversity A highly charged RTS event asked whether broadcasters’ plans to address diversity are delivering real change. Steve Clarke found the jury is still out

Diversity: job done? Don’t get me started…

ll TV industry watchers For good reason, the debate has A year ago, Grey-Thompson was know that, thanks focused on the lack of opportunities in appointed by the BBC to its newly largely to Lenny Henry, TV for those from a black, Asian and formed Independent Diversity diversity remains high minority ethnic (BAME) background, Advisory Group. This was part of on television’s agenda. rather than those who are disabled. Director-General Tony Hall’s drive In the past year or so, Attendees heard from panellist and to improve BAME representation on the BBC, Channel 4 and Sky have each Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey- both sides of the camera. madeA big announcements, pledging to Thompson, together with executives This involved a £2.1m Creative improve their on-screen representa- from the BBC, Channel 4 and Sky. Also Diversity Talent Fund to support “the tion of minorities and to do more to on board was actor Kobna Holdbrook- development of ideas across all genres”; nurture and encourage multi-ethnic Smith, a campaigner for Act for Change, BAME , talent and production and diverse workforces. which was set up in 2014. staf would be encouraged to get But has genuine change finally kicked The broadcasters, especially Sky and involved, promised the BBC. in? That was the question that Sky Channel 4, were keen to publicise their Grey-Thompson, however, wondered News reporter Afua Hirsch wanted latest diversity initiatives. They claimed if the speed of change at the corporation answering as she chaired a packed and these were already making an . was fast enough. often emotional RTS event provoca- But, as Grey-Thompson stressed at “We need to do things much quicker tively entitled “Diversity: job done?”. the beginning of the debate, unless the than we have done in the past and the As she repeatedly put some of the BBC got its act together on diversity, the BBC should be leading the way,” she main protagonists on the spot and entire TV community was in trouble. said. “If the BBC is not doing it, it gives listened to members of the audience at Many in the room believed that the every other organisation an excuse not the sharp end of the diversity debate, it corporation’s diversity plan lacked to do it, as well.” emerged that, while progress is being clarity, was underfunded and too tardy Grey-Thompson spoke movingly made, more still needs to be done. (see box on page 12). and angrily of her own experience of

10 In 2012, we were able to say: ‘This is ethnic background by the end of the not good enough.’” year. Hirsch asked if she felt the BBC’s She said: “Diversity is very much on Independent Diversity Advisory Group our watch to make a diference and was independent enough. Yes, she make it happen. replied: “I feel there are lots of people “Stuart [Murphy, Sky’s Director, I am able to talk to at the BBC if there Entertainment Channels] didn’t take is ever an issue…” long to come up with these [quotas]. It Turning to Tunde Ogungbesan, the is part of the passion and pioneering BBC’s Head of HR for Diversity, Inclu- spirit of Stuart and Sky.” sion and Succession, the Sky News Sky wanted the terms of its diversity journalist wanted to know if the BBC’s package – which also covers those £2.1m BAME fund was sufcient to working behind the screen – to be as make a diference. And was it an clear as possible. annual commitment? “I’ve been in the industry for He said he understood it was and 20 years. There has been such a that accessing it “was the same as for change in the conversation this year,” any other commission”. said Lumsden, who was formerly at The Sky News Social Afairs and the BBC. “Producers bring up the sub- Education Editor pointed out that the ject before we have to guilt them into fund amounted to only 0.1% of the it… the fabric of the conversation has licence fee. shifted.” Would Ogungbesan like to see it She cautioned: “I’m not saying job increased? “From what I understand, it done, I’m really not… Basically, it’s a is not the only amount of money that commercial advantage for Sky. If relates to diversity,” he replied. “It is not only £2.1m, it is actually a lot more than that.” DISABLED PEOPLE Pressed on how much other money was available to back diversity in pro- ARE EITHER gramme budgets, the new BBC execu- tive was unable to provide an answer. PORTRAYED Channel 4 announced its so-called AS FUN-LOVING 360° Diversity Charter in January. Ade Rawclife, the broadcaster’s Creative PARALYMPIANS Diversity Manager, told the audience OR BENEFITS that the initiative was “a game changer”. Tanni Grey- Thompson (left) She said: “Every production has to and Kobna Holdbrook- Smith SCROUNGERS

Paul Hampartsoumian Paul go through a diversity tick-box process for on-and of-screen. being discriminated against and how “It means that diversity is the first you’re pitching a show to Sky and you the media can impact on public per- conversation that people have… What’s haven’t met our targets and you don’t ceptions of disabled people. been a pleasant surprise for us is how believe in them, you are not going to “If you don’t see disabled people on sector has embraced get your show away.” screen, if you don’t see them in all it.... In the past, people have felt really Actor Kobna Holdbrook-Smith walks of life, it is never going to change. passionate about diversity but haven’t expressed reservations over what the “I got disabled at seven, I am 45 now. had clear guidance about what to do. TV executives had told the RTS. “What Disabled people were locked away from We now have clear guidelines.” I’ve heard in the year and a half that society in care homes. They weren’t How many current Channel 4 shows we’ve been working is very exciting, allowed out…. would pass the two-tick system? but what I’ve also heard is many peo- “Growing up, the only representation “Most of the programmes that have ple say that they’ve been here before, on TV was Sandy Richardson in Cross- been commissioned since January are time and time again. roads, where they didn’t want his chair definitely two ticks. There have been “That’s a worry. We can’t do anything on TV too much. exceptions,” replied Rawclife. until we’ve seen more results. “It has got immeasurably better, but If a production company had a black “What I want to see next are mecha- it is not as good as it needs to be.” or minority ethnic accountant, would nisms for transparency. We need to Her sense of frustration was clear as that count as one of the two ticks? “An monitor ourselves and not just be told she recalled how the 2012 Paralympics accountant wouldn’t hit that.” what is happening. We need to have showed her that, when people were Sky’s Head of Comedy, Lucy Lums- the ability to go online and see it for determined, attitudes could change den, was equally upbeat about Sky’s ourselves.” suddenly. diversity scheme. The aim was to have Subsequently, speaking from the “I’m slightly bored of people saying, a minimum of 20% of the stars and floor, John McVay, CEO of Pact and ‘Let’s increase numbers in 20 years’ writers of its UK-originated shows Chair of the Creative Diversity Network, time and write another consultation’…. from a black, Asian or other minority claimed that the new monitoring ❯

Television www.rts.org.uk July/August 2015 11 Ade Rawclife Lucy Lumsden Tunde Ogungbesan

❯ system, Diamond, would ensure that ways of bringing sanctions,” replied “there is nowhere to hide for broad- Ogungbesan. “We can celebrate success: What is the casters or indies. Diamond, which where indies and in-house producers comes on stream later this year, covers are doing the right things, we celebrate BBC’s diversity all aspects of diversity, not just BAME. that success. It is funded by broadcasters.” “Where it is not happening, it is fund for? One apparent obstacle to imple- noted. The word is getting out there menting diversity schemes is the and they probably won’t get another Marcus Ryder, Head of Current Equality Act. Hirsch enquired if this commission.” Afairs, BBC Scotland: ‘You could had been a problem for the schemes Holdbrook-Smith repeated his scep- have an all-white production announced recently. ticism: “I am excited about it, but, until company and the show could be “We’ve been around this subject so I see the results on screen, on sets and written by a white person, but if long and, because of being caught up in in ofces, it’s the same thing that we’ve Tanni presented it, it would still the legalities of it, it has been crippling heard. be eligible [for diversity funding], to make change happen as quickly as “I don’t want to be negative about despite having nothing to do with we’d like,” acknowledged Lumsden. it, but a part of me still feels a little disability…. Has the BBC been slowed down by guarded. ‘It’s brilliant that we’ve been told fear of falling foul of the law? “No, I “The tendency is for these initiatives that the £2.1m is annual. It’s don’t think it’s that,” Grey-Thompson to be announced, they roll out and the first time anybody from the answered. “Around disabled people, then, after a few years, they seem to BBC has answered that question we’ve got some massive challenges. have evaporated.” directly…. “At the moment, disabled people are Both Lumsden and Ogungbesan ‘If we can have it in writing, that either portrayed as fun-loving stressed the business case for having would be wonderful, too.’ Paralympians or benefits scroungers content and a workforce that reflects sucking money of the state… pretend- modern Britain. Tunde Ogungbesan: ‘I will go back ing to be disabled when they’re not. Or In order to attract new customers, and see if that’s possible.’ they are portrayed as victims. Sky needed to mirror the population “The reality is that we don’t fit into as a whole, suggested Lumsden. Marcus Ryder: ‘What would failure boxes or Venn diagrams.” Over the years, consultants had look like to you?’ Turning to the issue of punishing demonstrated that companies employ- those who fail to meet diversity targets ing people from diverse backgrounds Tunde Ogungbesan: ‘Not hitting our – Channel 4’s solution is to cut bonuses were more likely to succeed finan- targets in terms of the numbers – Hirsch asked what sanctions the cially, noted the BBC man. of people or the percentages we’ve BBC had. He added: “The more diverse you said we want to put in place by 2017.’ “Unfortunately, we don’t get bonuses are, the more creative and innovative at the BBC, so we have to find other you will be.”

12 Paul Hampartsoumian Paul Recruitment advice: When is a chat an interview?

Treise O’Brien, freelance producer: When they invite you for a chat, pre- [speaking from the floor] ‘One of the pare for an interview. things I’ve always found problematic ‘As an industry, we have to be more Afua Hirsch

All pictures: Paul Hampartsoumian Paul pictures: All is seeing jobs advertised and applying professional about how we recruit.’ for them. Hirsch wanted to know if Channel 4 ‘They’re fully advertised on the main Judith Lee, sound recordist: [speaking was addressing diversity in the craft broadcasters’ websites. You apply and from the floor] ‘I’ve been in the industry skills area. “There are gaps in the you’re invited in for a chat. They’re thor- for 30 years. I’ve experienced inter- industry,” admitted Rawclife. “If I look oughly unfair. They are unmonitored. views where the questions asked have at our industry, diversity guidelines for ‘Often, you don’t hear anything back or nothing to do with sound. crewing is a challenge. Our scripted you are asked inappropriate questions. ‘My race, the colour of my ears commissioners tell me that.” The chats are all under the radar. That is doesn’t matter. It is whether I can do “If people are struggling to find a a very big problem when you’re trying my job. crew, we would love a conversation to recruit people, especially BAMEs.’ ‘I still come up against, “Oh, well, about it. If it’s impossible on this show, we’ve never worked with a black wom- make sure it’s possible on the next Ade Rawclife: ‘When you’re working an before, so we’re not sure if we can one,” recommended Lumsden. in TV, there is no such thing as a chat. work with you”.’ “We have funds sitting there, if it is hard to find someone from outside your immediate talent pool. They Don’t hire people like yourself might have to travel and add cost to the budget. Talk to us. If there is a sensible Kobna Holdbrook-Smith: ‘Reach out- them. That is basically saying, “Come business case, I will top up funding. wards, rather than stand still with open and be me”.’ “I am not sure everyone is aware of arms. If not, the people who come to that. People are not coming forward…. you will always be the same…. Tunde Ogungbesan: ‘You need to ensure This is a tricky year. There’s been a ‘Thinking about diversity is as much that job panels are diverse and are squeeze on the talent pool.” about adapting what you think you prepared to take a risk. Broadcasters and producers needed know to someone else, as bringing ‘By that, I mean: think serious- to do more to tell young people of the someone who is diferent into your ly about [recruiting] someone who opportunities that exist in the craft existing organisation and adapting doesn’t look like yourself.’ sector, the panellists agreed. Lumsden said that the recent RTS Student Television Awards once again beginning to work its way through. As that…. You’ve got to be much smarter illustrated the lack of diversity among Simon Albury, Chair of the Campaign about how you use budgets…. If you young wannabes. for Broadcasting Equality, said: “Money were going to ring-fence an amount, She said: “It was a brilliant event, but drives change.” it would probably have to be £100m.” it was weird how it was very white. I It can’t, however, be only about found it odd that the nationwide stu- money. “It’s also got to be about shifting ‘Diversity: job done?’ was an RTS early- dent awards were so white.” attitudes…,” stressed Grey-Thompson. evening event held at One George Street, Fostering a diverse TV community “You do need an amount that is ring- London, on 22 June. The producer was won’t happen overnight, but change is fenced [see box, left] but if it is only Angela Ferreira of Joy Media.

Television www.rts.org.uk July/August 2015 13 Profile It isn’t only John Whittingdale’s passion for heavy metal that confounds his stereotype as an old fogey. Anne McElvoy profiles a political enigma Tony Buckingham/Rex Shutterstock Buckingham/Rex Tony Rock on, John

ohn Whittingdale is a conun- fogey with a mild interest in Gilbert than he looks and the bloke likely to drum. A politician who can seem and Sullivan. linger after dinner, suggesting you play old beyond his 55 years, he has The man who headed the Culture, some old 45s.” been in Parliament since 1992, Media and Sport Committee for nearly Whether his new job, in the anxious Jnine years longer than David 10 years from 2005 relishes heavy period leading up to the renewal and Cameron. And, although only a metal in the form of an extensive col- revamp of the BBC Charter, will pro- few years older than his boss, Whitting- lection of AC/DC and Deep Purple. duce such jollity is doubtful. dale’s style and political heritage are One of his first trips out in his Whittingdale has been an outspoken soundly late-Thatcher era, with a enhanced brief was to the Camden critic of the licence fee as “worse than voting record that is pro-fox hunting Roundhouse, north London, to see the poll tax” in terms of its regressive and anti-gay marriage. what remains of the line-up of the impact on low earners, and “getting Yet, the freshly minted Secretary of chirpy punk band Sham 69. harder and harder to justify”. The BBC, State for Culture, Media and Sport also “Whitters,” says one senior member meanwhile, has stuck to its strategy of confounds stereotypes of the shire of Team Cameron, “is a lot more fun defending its funding mechanism (at

14 least for the short term) and attempted solution that Director-General Tony the headlines, [Whittingdale] is a good to stave of talk of a partial subscription Hall and strategy chief James Purnell choice. He’s really well-informed, service. have sounded unenthusiastic about. knows people in the independent The Culture Secretary’s stance has Perhaps the real point of the Whit- sector and around the country.” spooked BBC executives. Many of them tingdale era will be to open up a wider But broadening out a limited appeal think a Conservative Government, policy debate about public-sector beyond the Conservative right will emboldened by an overall majority, is broadcasting and the arts in general take work on his part. Slipped Disc, a out to dismantle the public broadcaster – and where they fit in a modern Con- classical music website, described him in its licence fee-funded form. servative vision. as a “dry stick”. One subscriber com- Another school of thought is that Both Cameron and Osborne are irked mented that he wore the facial expres- Cameron’s choice of an unflashy sort sion of “someone who had just left a with a good knowledge of the archae- Stockhausen performance”. ology of the BBC to head the licence- WHITTERS IS A Although generally viewed as close fee talks is intended to startle, rather to the centre-right media, he can be than afront. LOT MORE FUN firm with allies as well as foes. He This is reflected in the pragmatic THAN HE LOOKS brusquely summoned both James and way Cameron has approached the Rupert Murdoch to give evidence subject (barring the odd, testy election about the phone-hacking scandal at his outburst and carefully barbed joke by a narrative that regards the arts (and select committee – and made clear he about alleged bias). the BBC) as the natural preserve of would take a dim view of any excuses The sharp intake of breath caused Guardian-reading lefties. for not attending. They duly came. by Whittingdale’s appointment helped Rohan Silva, an arts entrepreneur If his Cabinet appointment looked Downing Street put pressure on the and former aide to David Cameron, like an inevitability, it did not seem like corporation’s negotiators to content thinks that Whittingdale’s role may that to him. He says he was “amazed” themselves with a licence fee-freeze end up being “about much more than when the call came from the PM and and a commitment to widen commis- the licence fee”. his “jaw hit the floor”; he had expected sioning opportunities to external Silva reckons that the Chancellor’s “a place on the lower rungs of bidders. “northern powerhouse” plans and the government”. In fact, when the new licence-fee idea of creating a new London concert If relations with the BBC squirearchy settlement was announced in a surprise hall (overseen by Sir Simon Rattle) “are are superficially cordial, disagreements move by Whittingdale on 6 July, the intended to show that the Government lurk not far below the surface. The BBC’s Director-General, Tony Hall, has a concept and approach to urban usually emollient Hall used uncom- described it as a “strong deal” for the culture nationally, as well as to the monly strong language recently about BBC. It could even see the corpora- economy”. the looming decision on the BBC’s tion’s income rise over the next five When his Culture, Media and Sport future. “This [broadcast] ecology years, suggested Hall. Committee conducted an inquiry into works,” he told Broadcast magazine. The five-year deal, pegged to RPI, Arts Council last year, “Don’t screw around with it.” involves the BBC having to cover the The new owner of the culture and cost of licences for the over-75s, phased media portfolio is far less convinced in from 2018-19 at a cost of £650m that HE IS A GOOD that the ecology works – or that it can year. At the same time, the BBC’s com- withstand the forces of disaggregation mitment to fund rural broadband will CHOICE. HE’S and choice bufeting today’s media. be reduced. REALLY WELL- One straw in the wind is a major Whittingdale comes with a CV that study under way by the Centre for reflects his support for the right of his INFORMED, HE Policy Studies, the more right-leaning party. He has advised three trade and KNOWS PEOPLE… of the main Tory think tanks, on alter- industry secretaries, done a stint in the AROUND THE natives to the BBC licence fee. commercial sector (specialising in big “That,” says a Number 10 insider, privatisations) and was Political Secre- COUNTRY “will most likely reflect John’s instincts tary and a close friend to Margaret that the BBC needs to change quite Thatcher in her turbulent final period as profoundly – his Freudian id, if you Prime Minister – working for her even Whittingdale decried the “imbalance like.” But political life is about calcula- after her ejection from Number 10. in favour of London at the expense of tion, as well as instinct. The true Certainly, the new boy has laid down taxpayers and lottery players around dilemma of a second-term Conserva- early markers on his instincts, suggest- the country”. tive Government lies in its tension ing that the corporation needs to think In a shot across the bows of Arts between an appetite for radical change again about how rigorous and efective Council England and its Chair, Sir Peter and conserving British institutions. its impartiality commitments are and Bazalgette, he announced that the The “dry stick” is at the forefront how they should be monitored. committee should regularly review of one of the most intriguing and far- His first target is the BBC Trust, arts funding decisions – with a clear reaching choices the new Government which he deems past its sell-by date. preference for moving investment in will make. That opens the way to governance by the arts outside the capital. Ofcom, the media regulator, including Diane Coyle, the former Vice-Chair Anne McElvoy is Public Policy and Educa- on sensitive editorial matters – a of the BBC Trust, thinks that, “despite tion Editor at The Economist.

Television www.rts.org.uk July/August 2015 15 Hill sweeps to the top

n a smooth transition, the She steps up to the top role following personable Polly Hill has become BBC drama five years as Head of Independent the BBC’s new Controller of Drama, so one of her early decisions Drama Commissioning. She takes has risen will be to fill her old post. Her commis- over without so much as dropping Polly Hill sions were wide-ranging and included a script from LA-bound Ben through the ranks to The Honourable Woman, Accused, Ripper Stephenson. Street, The Village and Death in Paradise. IHer new job is one of the most cov- head BBC Drama, with Hill describes her last job as “cheer- eted and powerful positions in UK an estimated budget of leading for the English independent television. Hill is responsible for the producing community”. This con- wide range of drama across BBC One £200m. Maggie Brown nected her to the most prolific writers and BBC Two, an estimated budget of and thrusting industry players. It also £200m annually, spiced with the chal- assesses her biggest enabled her to cherry-pick the best lenge of devising a new online policy, challenges ideas – at least, that’s the theory. principally for BBC Three. She also has Kate Harwood, a former BBC Head oversight of EastEnders, Casualty and love of it,” she says. “My dad was part of Drama Production, England, regards . of Bryden Company for many Hill as “a fellow soul” and her replace- But one of the key strengths that years, which had a huge impact on me.” ment of Stephenson as “signifying marks her out is that she was born Asked to name her favourite books, continuity. The BBC’s drama has been into the world of television and she replies: “Most reading is for work.” doing so well that it was not going to drama. She is the daughter of actor Hill can zip through 10 scripts a day. bring in an outsider.” Dave Hill, whose lengthy credits She joined the BBC 10 years ago and Harwood, now Managing Director include playing proud, flirtatious York- has been at the heart of the drama of Euston Films, adds: “Ben was very shireman Bert Atkinson in EastEnders, department’s success, most notably its collegiate. Polly will know everything between 2006 and 2007. renaissance on BBC Two. Many date that is in the slipstream.” “I was brought up around theatres this from The Shadow Line, executive Danny Cohen, Director of BBC Televi- and new plays… and have a continuing produced by Hill four years ago. sion, says that she was given the job

16 because of her “exceptional track record suggest she was uncritical. What we all plays, “which I went to whenever I in delivering outstanding drama”, from felt, every step of the way, was that could”; Bryden directed an acclaimed and Poldark to The Missing. Polly was behind us. She isn’t like a National Theatre version of part of the Respectively, the most acclaimed BBC faceless bureaucrat.” cycle in 1985. drama of the year, the most popular, This was particularly noticeable in The shows she loved when growing and the most gripping. In other words, the edit. He explains that the version up were House of Cards, Widows, Boys from Hill played a key part in Stephenson’s of Wolf Hall that he shot was very dif- the Blackstuf, Moonlighting and classic successful tenure. ferent to that on the black and white films. More recently, But she will have to outside of the BBC, grapple with the still it has been The Good fluid situation unleashed Wife, Five Daughters by Director-General Tony and Modern Family. Hall’s proposal to let BBC Brought up in Lon- Production pitch for SHE HAS don, Hill studied external commissions. INHERITED A drama at Hill’s intuitive style of University (as did her working (and nose for STABLE SHIP predecessor, Stephen- the popular) is AT A TIPPING son). Her first break described in intriguing came from producer detail by seasoned POINT FOR Verity Lambert – “an Kay Mel- inspirational woman”. lor. She recalls how, BRITISH She graduated to following the 2010 DRAMA script editing on East- broadcast of her play Poldark Enders, recruited by A Passionate Woman, Hill then-Executive Pro- asked to see her. ducers Corinne Mellor prepared three Hollingworth and Jane ideas, including In the Club – recom- page and not Harris. “The ability to missioned for a second series by BBC in exactly the same order. engage creatively with the writer is at One last year. “Instead of sitting there puzzled, she the heart of what we do, so I value my “As I left, having pitched the ideas, said: ‘Oh, I see why you’ve made training as a ,” says Hill. I said over my shoulder that I had that....’ Instead of feeling that she was In 2005, she joined BBC Drama, rising another idea, about a group of people the dead hand of the BBC, you felt she by 2008 to Commissioning Editor/ who win the Lottery. Polly said, ‘Oh my would go into battle on your side. I . Her EP credits God, that’s it.’ She knew instinctively.” can’t tell you how important that is.” include Inspector George Gently, The Ark,

All pictures: BBC pictures: All Mellor duly wrote what became BBC But a disgruntled independent puts New Tricks, Remember Me, Death Comes To One’s The Syndicate. She then moved a diferent spin on her passion. “She is Pemberley, The White Queen, Bonekickers, on to In the Club. A third idea is in passionate about the things she likes The Grufalo, Hustle and The Silence. development. and knows, but I find it very hard to At the same time, she has had to “She is absolutely the right person get anything away. I repeatedly came cope with pressure on BBC budgets for the job,” adds Mellor. “It was a nat- to her and said, ‘Here’s a new writer’, and the need to raise more money ural progression for her. She knows but it cut no ice. through international co-productions. when to give a note and when to leave “If you are Jimmy McGovern, Tony Several leading independent pro- alone. To me, this shows she is confi- Jordan, Kay Mellor, Billy Ivory – or, ducers confirm that Hill’s name is dent and trusts the creative that she now, Hugo Blick – it is fine. She gets already well known in US TV circles. has commissioned.” popular drama, but she has quite a One priority is to broaden the range , Director of Wolf closed mind.” of BBC One drama in order to appeal, Hall, says simply: “She values writers.” Mellor provides a slightly diferent particularly, to younger, more diverse Greg Brenman, who executive take. She passed Hill some edgy mate- and more male-skewed audiences. produced The Honourable Woman and rial that her company, Rollem, had Then, there is BBC Three’s online Ripper Street, elaborates: “She has a love commissioned from a woman in drama ofering and, perhaps, an of writers, and gets totally immersed, Leeds, who had written about the opportunity to create a kind of British but can also see [a prospective drama council estate she had grown up on. Netflix. “She has inherited a stable from the viewpoint of] a member of Hill said she would love to meet the ship at a tipping point for British the audience. She has massive passion. new writer, though her work was not drama,” says Harwood, who underlines She is not embarrassed about asking quite right for the BBC. “It will never the rise of on-demand drama that will difcult questions. In the edit, she will be a flat no with Polly,” says Mellor. compete for the BBC’s audiences. say if something doesn’t make sense.” And everyone agrees that she is good Some sceptics wonder if Hill will be He continues: “Ripper Street was at answering her phone. tough enough to dump established boysy and violent. She doesn’t try and Hill, a 44-year-old mother of two, shows to make way for the new. The homogenise everything into a mulch. says that, at primary school, she was consensus view is that “it will take Polly is very good at understanding a obsessed with Grease, which started time for her to acclimatise – look how unique property.” her love of musicals. She was particu- Ben changed” – but that she will rise Kosminsky adds: “I don’t want to larly influenced by medieval mystery to the challenge.

Television www.rts.org.uk July/August 2015 17 Profile The king in waiting Raymond Snoddy takes the measure of Philippe Dauman, the man poised to inherit the Viacom crown

hilippe Dauman, Chief Executive of Viacom, the media empire cre- ated by nonagenarian , has been called many things inP his long Viacom career. One is “dauphin”, marking both his succession potential and the fact that he is French-born. Although he has lived almost all of his life in the US, Dauman is a fluent French speaker. He is “an iron fist in a velvet glove” according to Sir Martin Sorrell, Chief Executive of WPP. summed him up as “The man who would be Redstone”. Bruce Tuchman, President of AMC Global, the company behind Mad Men, has an unambiguous view: “Philippe is a true visionary in this industry. It has been a real inspiration to watch him lead his company with extraordinary intelligence and grace through so many incredible opportunities and challenges over the years.” There is no doubt that the relationship between the ele- gant Dauman, aged 61, and Redstone, 92, has been the key professional partnership of their careers. Both are very smart. Redstone topped his class at Boston Latin School and romped through Harvard Law School. At the age of 13, Dauman scored what was then the highest possible score of 1,600 in his SAT test for college admis- sion and went to Yale when he was 16. Both men are poker players, but the biggest thing they have done together has been to pull of three contested multi-billion takeovers – Viacom, and then CBS – that turned Redstone into a major

Viacom player in the US media industry.

18 Dauman was a corporate lawyer specialising in the media with long- saw beating Channel 4 in the ratings as when he met Redstone in 1986 to term Viacom associate Tom Dooley. only a first step in growing his new deliver a routine legal filing – and They made it clear they would asset. the two recognised kindred spirits. come back if needed. In 2006, both “We do not put bounds on our ambi- Thereafter, Redstone would deal were recalled to try to rebuild well- tions. We are not arrogant about our only with Dauman, who then took on established, but increasingly challenged, ambitions. It’s a very competitive busi- an advisory role in the hostile takeover brands such as MTV and Nickelodeon ness. We are here to compete,” insisted of Viacom, owner of MTV Networks, – Dauman as CEO and Dooley as Chief Dauman. and became a director. He later moved Administrative Ofcer. “We will bring UK and global know- to the company as General Counsel. The Viacom share price was close to how and relentlessly pursue our objec- In 1993 the pair beat of the likes of $40 in 2006 and doubled to more than tives,” added the Viacom CEO . Barry Diller and John Malone to acquire $80 by 2014. Already there have been joint Chan- Paramount Studios in a $9.75bn deal. The turnaround in value under Dau- nel 5 and MTV commissions, such as At a party to celebrate Paramount’s man was achieved by the buying back 10,000 BC, and big-ticket acquisitions 100th anniversary in 2012, Dauman, that include the crime series Gotham. son of Life magazine photographer Now Dauman has had to enter a Henri Dauman, explained that Red- WE DO NOT PUT second rebuilding phase as the Viacom stone had transformed his life. share price has been heading south- “We shed a lot of blood, sweat and BOUNDS ON OUR wards of $65. tears in a very long process,” Dauman AMBITIONS… WE Ratings have fallen at MTV Networks told the audience. and Paramount has seen its revenues Redstone also transformed Dauman’s ARE HERE TO decline. A restructuring of the group is fortunes. In 2010 he was paid $84.5m COMPETE estimated to have saved around $250m in cash and stock, making him one of a year. Overall, the company is cutting the highest-paid executives in the US. about 10% of its workforce. Last year, his total compensation fell to of Viacom stock, combined with a push There will be more emphasis on data a more “normal” $44.3m. into digital syndication deals with the and mobile to reflect the realities of Claire Enders, Chief Executive of likes of Netflix, and by expanding inter- how younger viewers of Nickelodeon Enders Analysis, sees parallels between national activities. and MTV watch streaming videos. Dauman’s role in Viacom and that of The highlights of the period included Acquired shows that no longer deliver Chase Carey, the top non-Murdoch a long-running battle with YouTube will be dropped. executive in the Murdoch media busi- over copyright – a battle fought, in Despite the clear challenges, Dau- ness, who is staying on for a year to efect, for the entire audio-visual man is upbeat about what lies ahead. support James and Lachlan Murdoch industry. “I have a great deal of confidence in in their new roles. Dauman launched a $1bn lawsuit the future of Viacom. We can look Both, she believes, are thoughtful against Google, YouTube’s owner, for forward to renewed growth in the men who work for powerful owners alleged copyright violations – using years ahead,” he told investors in April. and only speak when they have some- Viacom material without permission. And then there is the succession. thing interesting to say. They have In 2010, a US court ruled largely in Rupert Murdoch has recently moved ofered safe hands over many years. Google’s favour. Viacom appealed, but to reduce uncertainty by elevating his “He [Dauman] has proved to be an sufered a similar outcome in 2013. sons within his organisation, but at incredibly able and very intelligent Then, last year, just before the latest Viacom things are less certain. Dau- survivor, who has sustained his impact appeal was due to be heard, Viacom man is the executor of Redstone’s will through the application of intelligence, and Google settled. Now, media own- and it has been claimed, though never rather than creative acumen,” Enders ers can ask for material to be taken confirmed, that Dauman is named in argues. down from YouTube or decide to run the will as successor. Dauman usually only hears about a ads against such items so that they are Redstone controls both Viacom and show when it has been green-lit. He properly compensated. CBS through his 80% stake in a private has remained and flourished while According to one analyst, the entire holding company, National Amuse- well-known executives such as Mel industry could have been seriously ments. He insists he will never retire. Karmazin and Frank Biondi at Viacom, damaged if Dauman had not persisted The ofcial view is that a trust and Tom Freston and Judy McGrath at MTV in court. Ironically, one of his two the boards of CBS and Viacom will and Brown Johnson at Nickelodeon’s sons, also called Philippe Dauman, decide who becomes chairman after animation studio have departed or is a Google executive. Sumner Redstone. been pushed. Dauman’s belief in international However, one unnamed Viacom Like Carey, Dauman also had time expansion is exemplified by Viacom’s executive has been quoted as saying: away – only to return. Dauman left successful bid for the UK’s Channel 5 “There will be an epic battle and Viacom to make room for Karmazin – the first time a UK terrestrial broad- Philippe will win.” But when it comes after the company’s merger with CBS caster has been bought by an Ameri- to the succession in family-owned in 2000. CBS is now a separately can group. businesses, you never can tell. quoted company, run by Les Moonves. Characteristically, Dauman has high When he quit Viacom, Dauman took ambitions for his £463.5m purchase Philippe Dauman is a keynote speaker with him $150m in severance pay and from Richard Desmond. Last autumn, at the RTS Cambridge Convention 2015, set up a private equity firm he told in London that he 16-18 September.

Television www.rts.org.uk July/August 2015 19 OUR FRIEND IN THE NORTH

Stuart Cosgrove t is impossible to summarise “cogitations from a cranachan cairn”. the political change that identifies new, But all three have taken their readers swept through Scotland in on journeys that are intelligent and the period between the inde- edgy Scottish audacious. pendence referendum and the news sites that These three are just examples of a general election. Yes, it was new Scottish intelligentsia, in which unprecedented. Yes, it was challenge the there is a widespread belief that public seismic. And yes, it has delivered the narrative provided service television has failed Scotland. biggestI number of pro-independence Set against this institutional stasis, MPs to Westminster since the roman- by the mainstream the new Scotland has been fired by the tic heydays of Irish nationalism. prospect of change, real change, across All of that is true but it doesn’t come almost every walk of public life. This close to describing the change and may not be good news for those that impact it has already had on the media imagine Charter renewal will all be in Scotland. about subtle lobbying, fine words and The 56 SNP MPs are not likely to be some self-imposed cost control. easily bought or duped. They were Public service television regulation elected on a mandate to fight austerity, – the reserved business of Westmin- challenge everything and secure the ster – has systematically failed to best deals for Scotland and its people. listen to Scotland’s views over dec- This is not a narrow mandate. It ades. By Scotland’s views, I do not travels across all walks of life and the mean the arcane arithmetic of indie 56 will not watch a Charter renewal production targets, but a wholesale process from the sidelines. Nor, reimagining of the role of public tele- incidentally, will they participate in a vision in a digital age. carve-up of the BBC for purely ideo- Since Scotland’s historic indie ref, logical reasons. I have kept a small list of comments The SNP is a party of social govern- I heard from senior broadcasters and ance that believes in meaningful - regulators. Some are less risible than

lic funding. It is broadly in support of Wallace 4/Stuart Channel others. I was told often and compla- the licence fee as a mechanism for cently that the system was “the best funding public service broadcasting. compliant with the institutional in the world”, that it was “too fragile It just happens to think the licence behaviours of our national broadcast- an ecology” to be messed around fee has failed Scotland, and many ers, nor confined to Scottish afairs. with and that it was “much more people in civic society share its view. Even more spectacularly, none of complicated than people think”. Over the past two years, Scotland them has been launched by rich And, most disarmingly of all, that has seen the growth of virulent and owners or government grants. Mainly, calling for change would be mean- very informed new media outlets. they use a variation on the subscription ingless because the BBC, in particular, Quietly, away from the gaze of Lon- model, raising crowd-sourced funds was incapable of change. don, these have shifted the register of through the website indiegogo. I cannot be certain, but seen from public debate and driven an intelligent Very few people in the Westminster the perspective of the place I live in, rationalism that has had no equivalent media cloisters have heard of land those complacencies feel like the in my lifetime. reformer Andy Wightman, bank hand-wringing of a past era. There is Three particular new entrants stand interrogator Ian Fraser or the human only one certainty and that is change. out: Bella Caledonia, Newsnet.scot and rights lawyer Andrew Tickell, who Common Space. All three provide a blogs as the Lallands Peat Worrier Stuart Cosgrove is a Glasgow-based news service, but not one that is and ofers his thousands of followers writer and broadcaster.

20 July/August 2015 www.rts.org.uk Television Downton Abbey ITV ITV’s big drama

n 18 September “Well, it could be, it could be crime,” 2016, Steve Novem- Interview says November. “We’ve recently ber has a problem. seen Black Work do great figures on At 9:00pm that a .” night, the slot arrives Neil Midgley asks Black Work is a police series starring in ITV’s schedule ITV’s drama chief, Sheridan Smith, who has also scored thatO would normally be filled by the recent hits for ITV with Cilla and The season premiere of Downton Abbey. Steve November, Widower. Is Smith now the hottest As Director of Drama for the ITV female lead in British television? network, November has to find a how he will fill the void “Wow, she might be – she does replacement – Downton is ending, left by Downton Abbey bring an audience, absolutely,” says with the last ever episode to air this November. “So do Olivia Colman and coming Christmas Day. And, given Beyond that, November won’t be Sarah Lancashire. We’re blessed at the Downton’s blockbuster ratings perfor- drawn on the detail of what he’s got moment in drama – there’s a vast mance, it’s going to be a fiendishly in mind. Given the lead times for range of really great male and female difcult act to follow. drama commissioning and produc- actors. But, yes, Sheridan’s got an “I genuinely think that the new tion, though, one thing’s for sure: it’s a undeniable everywoman quality.” Downton won’t be a country-house show that’s already either green-lit, or And Black Work has not been drama in the Edwardian period,” says close to it. November’s only new hit in 2015. Safe November, firmly. “The danger is that “It could be one of three things, at House (an average audience of 6.5 mil- we say, ‘Edwardian period drama in least,” says November. One obvious lion) and Home Fires (6.2 million) both that tone works – the new Downton choice would be the recently scored solid ratings, with Home Fires will be something similar.’ The new announced Prime Suspect prequel, already recommissioned. Downton might be sci-fi, it might be Tennison, which will see a young Jane Indeed, ITV’s dramas are currently something completely diferent.” battle police-force sexism in the 1970s. standing out as the ratings hits in its ❯

Television www.rts.org.uk July/August 2015 21 ❯ schedule. The network, overall, is performing much more poorly: so far this year, its share of viewing is just 14.7%, compared with 23.3% for its great rival, BBC One. But November won’t be drawn into criticising ITV colleagues who are commissioning less popular shows in other genres. He points to entertain- ment’s Ninja Warrior UK as a breakout hit – and says he “thoroughly enjoyed” the computerised Spitting Image reboot, . “That was the most satirical show in the run-up to the election – hard to do, right to do,” he says. “ITV keeps pushing out into diferent areas, trying new things. That range, taste and tone in the schedule is extraordi- narily exciting.” ITV’s drama slate has not been immune to ratings reverses: its soaps Emmerdale and Coronation Street have both seen dips recently. “I wouldn’t call it an editorial prob- lem, because I think it’s just a natural lifecycle of all the shows – it’s the same across EastEnders at the moment as well,” argues November. He adds that “there’s always a plan” for renewing the soaps, and points to the arrival of big-name cast signings Shayne Ward and Sarah Harding, but cautions: “We don’t want a soap revolution, because we’d kill of our audience.” November knows whereof he speaks. In the late 1990s, he worked on Sky 1’s soapy football drama, Dream Team – where he met his TV-writer wife, Hayley. Arriving at ITV 15 years ago, November was first a script editor at Emmerdale, before making a series of The Royal, and then being appointed Producer of Coronation Street. “Working on soaps is just a lesson, constantly, day by day, in storytelling and production and everything about TV,” he says. “So much, so rapidly. It’s fantastic.” In 2008, he jumped from “We haven’t got plans for one at the includes Controller of Drama Victoria ITV’s production arm to ITV network moment, but we regularly look at our Fea, Head of Drama Series Jane Hudson drama commissioning, under Laura mix of drama and ask, ‘Is there some- and commissioning editors Charlie Mackie. He was responsible for return- thing missing?’” he says. Hampton and Sarah Conroy (who has ing series, including both the soaps So, if someone pitched you a year- joined the team permanently, staying and long-running stalwarts such as round series? “We’d definitely con- on after she covered Hampton’s Midsomer Murders. sider it.” maternity leave). His portfolio back then included The ITV drama is in expansive mood As well as a burgeoning number of Bill, which ran for more than 25 years more generally. “We’ve got more slots on the main ITV channel, Novem- as another week-in, week-out contin- drama hours in the schedule in 2016 ber is now also commissioning for the uing series on ITV. Today, BBC One still and, hopefully, more again in 2017,” Sky-only channel ITV Encore and, very scores solid audiences with Casualty says November. That uplift will be in soon, for ITV2 as well. and Holby City – and November says the “tens of hours”, marking a step- The last drama commissioned spe- that ITV’s door isn’t closed to a third change in the volume of the network’s cifically for ITV2 was the unsuccessful continuing franchise to go alongside drama commissioning. Lacey Turner vehicle Switch, about Coronation Street and Emmerdale. November’s recently enlarged team young witches, which aired in 2012.

22 that, to attract the best talent, on-screen and of, people want that big shop window,” he says. “Actually, co-pro brings you not a pudding, nowadays, but often a really enhanced show, with great talent.” November also believes that ITV drama has moved firmly on from what was perhaps the most unlikely race row of all time, when the producer of Midsomer Murders championed its all- white casting in 2011. November points to Marsha Thomason and Paterson Joseph, as two BAME lead characters out of three (alongside Christopher Eccleston) in Safe House. But, on both BBC One and ITV1, dra- mas tend to feature occasional brown faces in a sea of white ones. Would November consider a series that fea- tured predominantly BAME characters? “We will continue to push for more and more diversity,” he says. “Whether we want to say we’d go principally minority ethnic, I don’t know, because we’re trying to represent Britain as it is. “If we went principally minority ethnic, we might feel like we’d over- steered and were playing to a more niche audience. We want to make shows that feel like they’re for abso- lutely everybody and therefore reflect the diversity in Britain. “I think, therefore, for principally [BAME casts], we’d be saying, well, no. We just want a really great, authentic mix, to be honest.” That hunt for an authentic mix, which plays to the broadest audience, can sometimes lead to accusations that ITV drama lacks originality. “I think there is still – particularly within the Clockwise from inner-London hothouse of TV makers top left: Steve – a slightly skewed, out-of-date per- November, Home ception of what ITV is when it comes Fires, Black Work to risk-taking,” says November. and Safe House

All pictures: ITV pictures: All “There’s a kind of an inbred snobbery, which we have to fight quite hard.” Since then, ITV2 has become even requires a certain amount of original November believes that audience more clearly focused on a 16- to drama commissioning. November’s tastes have moved on very quickly in 34-year-old audience. latest ITV Encore commission is Houd- the past couple of years. He points to November says he is not in a position ini & Doyle, a 10-part British/Canadian Game of Thrones bringing fantasy into the to make any announcement, yet, but co-production. The series ofers a mainstream, and also to The Missing, confirms that the new work is “not fictional take on the real-life friendship which included tricky things such as going to be teen. The protagonists need of Harry Houdini (played by American subtitled French. The Missing was devel- to feel a little more grown-up – in that actor Michael Weston) and Sir Arthur oped at ITV, but ended up on BBC One, in-between stage of life, where you’ve Conan Doyle (Stephen Mangan), with and November says that, in the end, ITV left home, you’re kind of an adult, but the mismatched pair solving crimes “watched it with a degree of envy”. His you haven’t actually set up your own each week. Despite the slightly forced advice to producers who are pitching is home yet.” international juxtapositions, November not to “second-guess or dumb down”. Initially, he will be commissioning is adamant that this will be no “Don’t self-edit. We will do bold,” around 10 hours a year for ITV2 – a “Europudding”. says November. “Mainstream is big, similar scale to ITV Encore, whose “Increasingly, I think broadcasters in bold and broad – and we’re at the exclusive carriage contract with Sky the US, in France and the UK realise heart of it.”

Television www.rts.org.uk July/August 2015 23 Is the smartphone TV’s friend or foe? ShutterStock

or years, most of us had has declined globally in every recent just one screen in our Mobile video year, and is forecast to continue to fall living rooms: the until the end of the decade. television. Over the past By next year, 80% Better functionality has stimulated decade, laptops, tablets greater usage; lower prices enable and smartphones have of British adults are greater ownership, and the public has allF muscled in on this relationship. expected to own a responded. Checking our smartphones Of the newer screens, the smart- instinctively upon waking is a habit phone has been the most successful: it smartphone. Paul Lee common to 11% of smartphone own- has had the most commercial impact ers; a third of us have looked at our – it clocked up £250bn in global sales assesses whether phones within five minutes of rising. last year. A third of 18- to 24-year-olds look at It has the highest unit sales, with phones are likely to their phones more than 50 times a day. 1.4 billion forecast to be sold this year, erode live TV viewing High penetration and usage rates of which 1 billion will be purchased as have catalysed a shifting of creative (significantly improved) upgrades. many users upgrading their handsets efort. Games publishers, for example, Ten years back, smartphones were once every two years. have an addressable global market of expensive, compromised devices, In the UK, tens of millions of new more than 1.5 billion people for their often with more promise than punch. smartphones are purchased annually; mobile content, but only a few hun- As of May 2015, Deloitte estimates that they pack larger screens, faster proces- dred million for console-based games. 76% of UK adults had a smartphone, sors, better connectivity and higher- The visual sophistication of games up six percentage points from last year capacity batteries. The number of created for mobile phones ratchets up (see chart, opposite). transistors (a measure of capability) each year: compare the first Angry Birds We expect smartphone penetration in the latest high-end smartphones is with the high production values in to have exceeded 80% of UK adults more than 600 times greater than in a Monument Valley or Leo’s Fortune. Social within a year. 1995 laptop. networks have long since shifted their The smartphone market is charac- And, overall, smartphones are focus to tapping into mobile usage. terised by a high pace of innovation becoming both better and cheaper: the Media agencies extol the virtues of and a short replacement cycle, with average selling price for smartphones mobile advertising, and forecasts

24 suggest that the continued rise of digi- and about, and often reliant on a cellu- tal advertising spend will be driven lar network). primarily by spend on mobile. Mobile As for other video formats, about one dominates the breaking-news market; in seven smartphone owners watches traditional news formats catch up news videos; one in 10 watches hours later. catch-up TV; and one in 16 watches So what does this mean for tradi- live TV or movies. tional television? The latest mobile networks (known Will the television set surrender its as fourth generation, or 4G) have had first-screen status to the smartphone? little impact on video consumption Will content makers shift their creative when out and about. Deloitte’s attention to the five-inch screen, and research has found that the majority of abandon the 50-inch? Will advertising recent new subscribers to 4G react to budgets move to mobile? Or is it the faster network speeds by using com- case that television and the smart- munication services more (that is, phone are perfect complements? email, social networks and instant Deloitte’s view, based on its latest messaging). consumer research (see the box below for more information on the research 100% approach), is that smartphones and 2012 2013 2014 2015 television largely coexist. They generally address diferent 80% needs, and are therefore used in difer- 76 70 % ent ways. That said, the smartphone has % 60% 62 probably contributed to the decline in % television viewing experienced in the 59 % UK over the past few years, and may 40% further dent the number of hours of TV we watch. However, what appears very

Device penetration 20% clear is that smartphones have, thus far, not competed head on with television. Our assessment, based on research, 0% Laptop Smartphone Tablet E-reader Smart Fitness and also from reviewing other recent watch band studies, is that the primary function of the smartphone is communication: the television’s main role is entertainment, While smartphones may not com- Penetration of consumer electronics mainly by presenting content with pete with television for watching tradi- devices in the UK, 2012-15 high production values. tional, long-form video, arguably they Question asked: Which, if any, of the fol- We use a widening array of commu- could crowd out time and attention lowing devices do you own or have ready nications tools on our phones. As well that would otherwise have been spent access to? as voice calls and text messaging (which in front of a TV set. After all, more than Source: UK edition of the Deloitte Global are used weekly by nine in 10 adults a third of adults claim to look at their Mobile Consumer Survey, May-June 2013 with a smartphone), we use email (60% phones more than 25 times a day, and and May-June 2014 of adults), social networks (51%) and about a sixth look 50 or more times a Base: All respondents, UK, 2014: 4,000, instant messaging (46%) to exchange day. Even the most avid TV viewers 2013: 4,020, 2012: 2,060 information with others. Aside from would not have two dozen viewing voice calls, we are, on the whole, using sessions a day. each communication medium more By contrast, smartphone usage is each year; use of instant messaging, is characterised by brief glances – fre- up 15 percentage points from 2014. quently, checks for updates – whereas Research note When we reach for our phones first television viewing is typified by lengthy The data on mobile consumption thing in the morning, this is most gazes. We think mobile addresses dif- patterns is previewed from the UK commonly to check for text messages, ferent needs to television, and is used edition of the 2015 Deloitte Global email and social networks. We do not, at a diferent time of the day. Consumer Survey, and is based on in general, reach for our phones to Smartphones are our connection to a nationally representative sample watch video before getting up. our personal and professional net- questioned online in May and June When it comes to video, the length- works, and are used throughout the 2015, with a base of 4,000 UK adults ier the content, the lower the degree of day, but briefly. For tens of millions, aged 18-75. Of the sample, 3,682 usage on a smartphone. Clips are con- television is an evening activity, used had a mobile phone, of which 3,039 sumed by a large proportion of smart- to relax and disconnect, often in the were smartphones. The report will phone owners: 37% of them, or about company of others (and smartphones). be launched in September. For any a quarter of all mobile phone users, At present, consumers frequently view inquiries about the data set, please watch these when connected to a wi-fi television accompanied by their contact [email protected]. network (this falls to 13% when out favourite devices. ❯

Television www.rts.org.uk July/August 2015 25 new data mining techniques come on stream. Future smartphones are likely to become increasingly important for search, including queries prompted by television content. Arguably, the much greater screen size of TVs, and the ability of televi- sion to grab the attention of millions at the same time, mean that it will always be the preferred advertising medium for building brand presence. In recent years, there has been a focus on developing second-screen apps to accompany television viewing. Our current view is that only a minor- ity of TV viewers “second screen”, such as playing along with contestants on a quiz show. Given the modest take-up so far, this behaviour is not expected to change significantly in the medium term. The less these apps are used, the less investment is likely to go into their creation. So, as of 2015, we do not think that smartphones have had a sizeable positive or negative impact on the television market; the two have largely co-existed. As mentioned earlier, our view is that the smart- phone and television are specialised for diferent functions, respectively communication and entertainment. There is a caveat, however: the future may not mirror the past. According to Barb’s measures, hours of live-television viewing in Monument Valley

UsTwo the UK fell by 6% (or 12 minutes), to 193 minutes, in 2014, following a 5% ❯ Our research has found that 22% of will get much bigger (and therefore (11 minute) decline in 2013. During adults (and a third of 18- to 24-year- able to accommodate these genres), these two years, the number of adults olds) use their phones “very often” or as they will lose their portability. Only with mobile phones increased by “always” while watching TV. Using a a tiny minority of larger-screened about 15 percentage points. phone would distract from watching tablets are used out of doors. There were multiple factors con- a complex drama, but glancing at However, some genres, particularly tributing to this decline, such as gaps updates and alerts relayed to a phone news and weather, mesh very well in measurement (leading to under- can easily be interspersed with with smartphone platforms. Smart- counting of TV consumption) and watching light entertainment pro- phones are well suited to both break- rising employment (reducing hours grammes that feature frequent pre- ing news alerts and longer feature available to watch programmes). views and summaries. stories. However, the rising appeal and We do not think content creators After waking, once we have usage of smartphones is also likely to are likely to abandon television in checked for messages, we then tend have been a factor: nibbling away, for favour of mobile. Some core televi- to turn to news and weather. During example, at viewing of news bulletins sion genres, including entertainment, the day, about two-fifths of smart- or ofering a personalised drama and sports are formatted for phone owners use their devices to via social networks, as opposed to a large television screens and can be read news, with a smaller proportion broadcast one. significantly harder to watch on a watching news. Today, television and smartphones small screen. In sports, for example, it For advertisers, the key advantage are more friends than foes; in the may be hard to spot the ball. that mobile can ofer is personalisa- future, influenced by innovations One option would be to format tion; its core limitation is screen size, such as virtual reality, their relation- content for a small screen; this works which diminishes mobile’s ability to ship might become adversarial. readily, and can be automated, for text show display advertising. We expect and even for still images, but is much the ability to customise advertising Paul Lee is Head of Research for Tech- harder to attain with video. We think will get markedly more sophisticated nology, Media and Telecommunications it is unlikely that smartphone screens over time, as new technologies and at Deloitte.

26 July/August 2015 www.rts.org.uk Television How to be the best researcher

From left: Ayo Ajibewa, Rick Edwards and Selina Tso Paul Hampartsoumian Paul

ithout compe- turned up at the studio, “he was very tent researchers, RTS Futures heavily tattooed in a football hooligan TV would be way – basically, he was terrifying”. riddled with During the live interview, the man half-truths and Common sense, revealed he’d spent years in prison, even outright resourcefulness and which, of course, he hadn’t discussed lies, the butt of viewers’ derision and with Edwards. theW recipient of libel lawyers’ writs. “It went from being a five-minute enthusiasm are all Helpfully, the latest RTS Futures item to about one minute 10 seconds,” event, “How to be the best… researcher”, essential skills for a job Edwards recalled. “I knew that, as explained how the job should be done. that is the lifeblood of soon as the show was over, I was “Research is the life blood of the TV going to get bollocked. And, sure industry. Without research, we’d have TV, learns Matthew Bell enough, I did get bollocked.” no Big Brother, Gogglebox or Panorama,” The best researchers, agreed the argued broadcaster and writer Rick Edwards recalled one traumatic panel, need common sense, energy, Edwards, who chaired the June event. experience, working on the short-lived enthusiasm, an ability to listen, In front of a large, youthful audi- Channel 4 breakfast show, Rise. Asked resourcefulness and an eye for detail. ence, the panel of three researchers by his series producer to find quirky And honesty. and two company bosses discussed stories for the newspaper review “If you don’t know something, what it takes to be a researcher – “the section of the programme, Edwards don’t try and blag it,” advised Emily best way to fast-track your TV career”, came across a local paper article on Hudson, Casting Executive at Studio according to Edwards. the strange story of a man who had Lambert, which makes Channel 4’s The presenter of BBC Three topical “married” a ladder. Gogglebox. “Be honest if you make a debate show Free Speech had once “I chatted to him over the phone mistake.” worked as a researcher. “I definitely and he seemed OK. Obviously, he “We don’t want people who think wasn’t the best, which is why I ended [claimed] he’d married a ladder, but they know it all,” said Producer/ up taking a diferent direction. In fact, I still thought [the interview] would Director Victoria Bell, whose recent I was rubbish,” he admitted. be all right,” said Edwards. When he credits include the BBC Two ❯

Television www.rts.org.uk July/August 2015 27 ❯ documentary Traders: Millions by the Minute. Researchers should never be When it all goes pear shaped afraid to ask questions, she added: “There are some bad bosses out there All the panellists had experienced Bristol and needing to get rushes back – really nasty, shouty people. But [most] moments of panic or worse. At some to London: ‘I arranged for a runner to people working in telly are nice, clever, point, said Selina Tso, ‘you’ll mess up – meet me at the station and I passed fun and interesting. They like being it will happen to all researchers and it them to him over the barriers. I was asked things, sharing their knowledge [will seem] like the worst feeling you’ve stopped by the British Transport Police and nurturing talent.” ever felt’. who seemed to think that a drugs The life of a researcher is seldom She advised: ‘Tell someone, because transaction had just gone down.’ easy. “You will get the most random people will help you through it. Own up Shoddy research can lead to embar- requests and think, ‘I’m never going to to [the mistake] quickly and don’t point rassment for presenters. Rick Edwards be able to do this.’ Your heart will flut- fingers at other people.’ Tso’s howler recounted a disastrous interview, for- ter and you’ll think your TV career is was losing £500, although she later tunately not live, with the comic Gina over,” said Hudson. “But you will [find found it. Yashere. Trusting the biography he’d a way to] do it.” Victoria Bell recalled one incident been given, which he admitted was an Ben Ruby, a Senior Researcher on where a researcher had been ‘too fright- error, Edwards read his introduction ’s sports comedy panel show, ened to tell me, even though it wasn’t of the autocue. Yashere responded: A League of Their Own, recalled the time his fault’, that a location had cancelled ‘No, that isn’t me – you’re thinking of he was asked to find a kitten for a the night before the shoot. The crew another black comedian.’ studio shoot. Within a few hours he’d turned up to film and couldn’t. ‘He got ‘She was probably thinking that this met the legal and safety obligations of himself into deeper and deeper water.’ guy’s an idiot, and probably a racist working with animals and, after phon- Ayo Ajibewa remembered filming in idiot,’ he added. ing round animal shelters, landed a kitten – only to be told by the pro- From left: Emily Hudson, ducer that the item had been dropped. Ben Ruby and Victoria Bell “It’s the nature of all television – if it doesn’t work out, don’t feel ofended that your hard work has gone to waste. It will be noted that you put the efort in,” he said. Hudson and Bell had both found that a younger generation of researchers, wedded to the internet and social media, was reluctant to use the tele- phone or, indeed, talk to people at all. Using the phone, said Bell, “is a chal- lenge to begin with, but you’ll get better at it. You’re essentially a cold caller.” Internet sites such as Star Now advertise the talents of TV wannabes but, argued Hudson, they should only

Paul Hampartsoumian Paul ever be a starting point. “Please pick up the phone – the worst people can do is to slam it down on you,” she said. How to get that first job “The first couple of research calls I made, I left the ofce to make them in Victoria Bell: ‘Keep CVs short – one of the context and suggestions about the corridor,” recalled Ayo Ajibewa, a page for a researcher, unless you’ve how to work on it. By the time I had researcher on BBC One consumer got reams and reams of programme become a researcher, it was the one shows Rogue Traders and Watchdog. “I experience.’ thing that I knew I could do.’ made the first call and the person was friendly and I realised I could do it.” Ben Ruby: ‘I used to get all my runner Victoria Bell: ‘The reason that you “Generally, people like talking about tasks out of the way and then pester [two] are researchers is that you’ve themselves,” added Selina Tso, a the researchers, shadowing them and ofered exactly what a producer/direc- researcher on Wall to Wall’s ITV series asking if there was anything I could do… tor – or anyone else in the team – is Long Lost Family. When I stepped up to be a researcher looking for. You’re making yourselves “Don’t ever be afraid to hear the word I already had the know-how.’ indispensable. When you spot a good ‘no’,” said Ruby. “Most of the time, peo- runner doing the things these guys ple love to help, because they find the Ayo Ajibewa: ‘I was a runner first, too, were doing, they always get promoted. glitz and glamour of TV [irresistible].” and I used to constantly pitch ideas to That’s the way to do it: push, push, “You are a social chameleon. You producer/directors… They would give push. Get yourself in people’s faces have to work out how to relate to me a story and ask me about some without being a pain.’ another person and find something you have in common,” said Hudson.

28 The importance … of accuracy

Ben Ruby: ‘Read every day … I read , The , and BuzzFeed. Stories will stick in your head and when you need an idea you can return to them… I’m also a huge fan of [bul- letin board news site] Reddit…. But don’t believe everything you read online – check if it’s correct.’

Selina Tso: ‘Never take information straight from Wikipedia – always check the sources.’

Ayo Ajibewa: ‘For the productions I work on, such as Rogue Traders, [the quality of the research] can be the diference between litigation and no litigation.’

Victoria Bell: ‘I’m not looking for regurgitated information… I’m looking for [researchers] to go a bit further and not give me information that I already know from a cursory glance…. It’s got to be right, as well.’ Paul Hampartsoumian Paul

Researchers tend to read the same “It’s an invaluable skill to have, even ... of looking of newspapers and websites, so to find if you don’t want to go on to become a original material requires old-fashioned producer/director,” agreed Ajibewa, who the beaten track research – talking to people. “It’s from had “pestered the production manager chatting to people that you get the to send me on a shooting course”. Ayo Ajibewa: ‘I look at plenty of most interesting and diferent ideas,” He recalled the first time he was blog forums and reviews – there’s added Hudson, “but it’s about the asked to use a camera – shooting a a lot of really strange people out scariest thing you do when you short piece with Olympic heptathlon there… I’m often looking for experts become a researcher.” gold medal winner Jessica Ennis – as in weird subjects.’ “You think, ‘Why should this person “the most daunting thing of my life”. speak to me when I’m asking them the Ruby, who also has shooting skills, Ben Ruby: ‘There is a blog or Face- weirdest questions?’” said Tso. “My explained that there is more to using a book page for everything… you have first show was [BBC Three’s] Websex: camera than simply capturing good to find those niche blogs that are What’s the Harm? and I had to ask peo- shots. “Sound is so important. It’s buried somewhere deep in the web.’ ple really intimate questions.” ridiculous the amount of stuf that Increasingly, the traditional skills of comes back with poor sound, even Victoria Bell: ‘Once you find [a digging out information and people for though the shots are perfect. It’s un- person from] that site, get on the shows are not enough – researchers usable without good sound,” he said. phone.’ now need technical skills if they are to “But,” added Hudson, “please be get the best jobs. “Teams are so small upfront about your skills.” She recalled now – it’s often just me and a sending one researcher, who had ... of being researcher,” explained Bell. “So having assured her that he had the requisite someone with the wherewithal to look ability, out on his own to shoot. “The organised after me technically while I’m shooting researcher returned with unusable is indispensable.” footage and admitted that he’d never Ben Ruby: ‘Be really organised – Bell added that the ability to use a used a camera before.” don’t write down contacts’ names camera would enhance career pro- on scraps of paper. Putting them in gression. “There’s so much more work ‘How to be the best... researcher’ was an an Excel or Word file is invaluable for self-shooters and there will be RTS Futures event, held at 110 Rochester for yourself and for anyone working much more choice of programmes to Row in London, on 8 June. The producers on [the programme] afterwards.’ work on,” she said. were Carrie Britton and Jude Winstanley.

Television www.rts.org.uk July/August 2015 29 RTS NEWS North East gets a flying lesson

ith more than controlled urban environ- 100 tickets ments. flying out of the CAA regulations vary door in just a according to aircraft size and fewW days, the North East and flight path, and cover the the Border event in mid-June commercial use of drones. on filming with drones proved Wrangham and Davies A Horizon AP drone highly popular. demonstrated their £7,000 AP Horizon Led by BBC Academy octocopter on the playing trainer Mark Batey and fields outside the theatre. held at the Royal Grammar Was it a smooth flight? School’s theatre in Newcastle, Almost. A software glitch and Pitch-perfect event the event ofered a lesson in no time to tinker meant that the practicalities and legali- the flight was hampered by a ■ Pitching can prove a Hughes, whose credits ties surrounding this new, but fault on the monitor feed daunting experience but at include Channel 4’s Time afordable, technology. – but it felt true to life. the Northern Ireland Futures Team and BBC Four’s The Also on hand to share This is cutting-edge and event ‘The pitch: there is no Beauty of Anatomy, passed their experiences were Jack fast-changing technology. right way!’, Tern TV Belfast’s on his experiences of pitch- Wrangham and Paddy Davies, Even the industry is unde- head, Brendan Hughes, put ing to the BBC, ITV and RTÉ. directors of aerial photogra- cided what to call a drone: his audience at ease. He said that ideas had to phy specialist Horizon AP. a UAV (unmanned aerial ‘You must have confidence meet broadcasters’ needs. With credits that include vehicle); UAS (unmanned in your idea and know who ‘Your idea is always adapt- ITV’s Vera and the BBC’s cov- aerial system); or RPV your audience is,’ he said able – it is never perfect,’ erage of the Commonwealth (remotely piloted vehicle). at the Belfast event in early said Hughes. ‘Always allow for Games, the duo are among a In 12 months’ time there June. He explained how to changes, be open to criticism handful of Civil Aviation will be new machines, new prepare a treatment, come and be prepared for rejection. Authority-approved opera- workflows and, possibly, a up with a title, hire talent But never give up.’ tors allowed to fly drones new regulatory framework. and pitch an idea. Orla Sharpe weighing more than 7kg in Mark Murray ONLINE at the RTS Doctor Who: Where are Video: Who should join Crowdfunding: the future Tips in … How they now? Chris Evans on Top Gear? of television? to be a factual researcher ■ Doctor Who fans missing ■ It’s all anyone’s talking ■ The 1990s game show The ■ Meet Ayo Ajibewa, shooting Matt Smith will be excited to about in ofces across the Crystal Maze hit headlines in researcher on Building Cars know that he will return to country. Immediately after June when its creators Live and former runner on our screens in the latest the bombshell news that launched a crowdfunder . Fresh from Netflix drama, The Crown. On cheeky chappy Evans will campaign (which so far has appearing on a panel at the hearing the news, Bex host Top Gear after all, our raised over £645,000) to RTS Futures event “How to Stewart took a trawl through video team took to the bring the show back as a live, be the best researcher”, the archives to see what streets to ask the British immersive experience. Pippa Ajibewa shares his insight happened to the 10 other public who they think should Shawley discovers how into the art of being a great actors who have graced our replace Richard Hammond websites such Indiegogo and researcher. What’s the big screens as the Time Lord. and James May. With Kickstarter can help to bring secret? “Make copious notes.” Some of their subsequent startling results. back cult favourites to our j.mp/RTStipsin60 roles on Earth are surprising. j.mp/RTSTopGear screens. j.mp/DrWhoNow j.mp/crowdfundtv

30 Film shows Freeview Play will ofer real Thomas ■ To mark the centenary of ‘simple’ route to smart TV Dylan Thomas’s birth, pro- ducer Phil George and his he people behind a company, Green Bay Media, new connected-TV had the “rare treat” of mak- service, Freeview ing a film about the poet’s life. Play, told an RTS My Grandfather Dylan aired TLondon audience that “we’re on ITV last year and, said going fast”, but committed George, challenged “miscon- themselves only to a launch ceptions about one of the later “this year”. greatest English-language Digital UK Managing poets of the 20th century”. Director of Connected TV Interviewed by journalist Ilse Howling and Commer- Robert Lloyd at an RTS cial Director of Connected Wales event during the Car- TV Richard Knight were marthen Bay Film Festival in speaking at “Freeview Play: May, George said it was a hard the natural next step”, which task to tell the story of the was held at ITV London poet’s life in just 23 minutes. Studios in mid-May. The film’s premise is that The subscription-free the “stereotype of the

service will ofer live, Freeview hard-drinking womaniser catch-up and on-demand masked the reality of a dedi- TV, either built into a TV or that Freeview Play would TV work in the right ways,” cated craftsman who loved via a set-top box, using a help viewers to navigate the said Knight. the Welsh countryside”. broadband connection. TV landscape: “People want Howling claimed that Hannah Ellis, Thomas’s In June 2014, the share- their TV to help them watch Freeview Play would boost granddaughter, visited the holders of Freeview – the the programmes they love, the consumer electronics poet’s favourite places, BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and find more to love and watch industry, citing the success of transmission company them when they want to.” Freeview, which is now in Arqiva – and Digital UK (the The Freeview catch-up almost 20 million homes. company that supports services BBC iPlayer, ITV Since its 2002 launch, Freeview viewers and chan- Player, All 4 and Demand 5 more than 100 million digital nels) agreed a five-year, are signed up for the launch terrestrial TVs and boxes £100m-plus investment to and “we expect more to have been sold, which Howl- develop the new service. follow”, added Howling. ing claimed was worth £30bn Freeview Play will compete Freeview Play’s technical to the manufacturers. with Sky’s Now TV and You- specification was developed In a fast-changing world, it View. Howling said Freeview with TV manufacturers and was important to have “an Play was “complementary” to will allow users to search for organisation such as Freeview, Hannah Ellis YouView, which shares several programmes using a “scroll- which lets people know that backers (the BBC, ITV and C4) back” EPG. there is a simple way of get- but which also includes As it is an open internet- ting great programming free,” choosing pieces of poetry Channel 5, BT and TalkTalk. connected service, manu- said Howling. Only 12% of and prose, which were per- “YouView has an excellent facturers will be able to Freeview homes have smart formed by Michael Sheen. product but it is seen as a operate it, within certain TVs, which means that there Thomas wrote in English, service bundled with a limits, as they see fit. is room for Freeview Play to but George argued that “the broadband service, whether Panasonic, Humax and grow: “For these homes, it’s a rhythms and patterns of that’s BT or TalkTalk,” she Vestel have signed up as natural next step to use a Welsh” infused his work, a said. “Our service is unbun- partners and will be produc- connected service.” view illustrated by the suc- dled, which means customers ing TV sets and set-top boxes Knight said: “Our objec- cess of the Welsh-language are free to choose the broad- with the service. “It is being tive is [to get] scale. We’d film of Under Milk Wood, Dan y band provider they want.” adopted by manufacturers like Freeview Play to be Wenallt, which was shown at Technology can be confus- across and does all normal TV in a few years.” the festival. ing, argued Howling. She said the smart things to make the Matthew Bell Hywel Wiliam and Tim Hartley

Television www.rts.org.uk July/August 2015 31 RTS NEWS Bristol marks BDH anniversary ristol Centre hon- journey from simple titles oured the founding and graphics through to directors of one of embedded content in a series the UK’s top creative using the latest technology. teamsB as it celebrated 20 years “One of the great strengths in television. of BDH is its endless com- BDH has been at the cut- mitment to taking risks and ting edge of British TV for trying out new things. This two decades. Steve Burrell, has resulted in some of the John Durrant and Rob Hifle most boundary- crossing, are known for their award- magical work to come out of winning titles, graphics, ani- the UK,” said Clare Redding- mation and film-making ton, Creative Director of the skills, with credits that include Watershed. Planet Earth, Antiques Roadshow The event was held at the Award winners: Steve Burrell (left), John Durrant and Rob Hifle and Seven Ages of Rock. Craig Jon end of an RTS Centres Coun- Recently, the outfit has cil and board meeting, with made the promotional film “BDH unzipped”, before discuss its work. The com- the RTS centre chairs joining We Are Your RTS (www.rts.org. a packed audience at the pany has won 18 national the Society’s HQ team in uk), to highlight the work of Watershed in June, Bristol RTS awards, as well as making their own Morphs the Society within the televi- Centre Chair Lynn Barlow receiving Bafta, Emmy and under the expert tuition of sion industry. rummaged through BDH’s Grammy recognition. Jim Parkyn from Aardman In a special celebration, RTS awards cabinet to Clips showed a fascinating Animations.

Wales meets its makers

■ RTS Wales ran its first Boomerang, Dragonfly, Green speed-dating event for Bay, Avanti, Boom Cymru freelancers in Cardif in May. and Modern Television. The evening brought around ‘Meet the makers’ was 80 Cardif-based TV crew organised by Wales com- together with the heads of mittee member Cath Tudor some of the region’s leading from freelance agency TV independent producers. Teams. ‘The aim was to raise RTS members visit the set of Nolan Live Eight groups of freelanc- awareness of RTS Wales and ers, with a wide range of to build a better network of production skills, spent freelancers here in Wales,’ Blackstaf studios 10 minutes at a time with she said. The from the potential employers. attendees was very positive. throw doors open These included , Hywel Wiliam

■ RTS Northern Ireland Cen- and sound could be sent, via The Technology Innova- BBC journalists use the new- tre took a tour of the BBC’s a 3G or 4G data network, to tion Group demonstrated est kit to gather and broad- Blackstaf studios, Belfast, in the studio without using an 360° video from 12 GoPro cast news quickly. The “mojo” June and discovered how the expensive satellite truck and cameras mounted on the or mobile journalist – rather latest technology was used to crew. back of a motorbike travelling than the camera, sound and cover this year’s North West The kit was used at May’s at 180mph and rigged to lighting persons of yesteryear 200 motorcycle race meeting. North West 200 to capture record full 3D video. – works with just an iPhone, Camera operators had pictures, previously unavail- The 3D video required headphones and microphone. encoders fitted to the backs able because of the high cost a “beast of a computer” to The tour also took in an HD of cameras, which were con- of fibre circuits, from remote stitch the material together truck, satellite uplink truck nected to a wireless network. cameras around the race, to enable seamless viewing. and the Nolan Live studio. This meant that live pictures which is run on public roads. Centre guests learned how John Mitchell

32 Baird’s inner circle employed to put his ideas into practice. As Paul says, with the great man he had “a closer associ- ation over a longer continu- ous period than fell to most others”. To be able to sit down and talk with one of the men who worked at the most interesting time in Baird Television’s history, reminds us just how far and how fast television in all its aspects has progressed. In late 1938, Paul moved on to take up a post with the Colonial Service as Assistant Engineer to the Postmaster General of Hong Kong. Three years later, during Christmas 1941, the Japanese invaded. Now 30 years old, he was imprisoned, along Paul Reveley

Donald F McLean Donald with his government col- leagues, at Stanley Intern- ment Camp in Hong Kong. His experiences of life as a Pioneering engineer civilian under the occupation sound today as fresh as when he lived through them. Appointed as a quarter- recalls first days of TV master for food rations in the camp, he and his compatri- t 104, Paul Reveley Underlining their impor- means of delivering televi- ots survived on little more is the Society’s tance, Sir Paul Fox said earlier sion were still being devel- than 340g of rice a day. longest-standing this year: “Engineers made oped in research laboratories. After the war, Paul left the Fellow and its the BBC. They were the foun- These mechanical systems, Colonial Service and spent oldestA member. dation of the service.” however, were not the card- the rest of his career as a Paul was one of the great At home in King’s Lynn, board and string lash-ups of freelance contractor across pioneering engineers of Brit- , Paul described his Baird’s early years as a lone the Far East. ish television in the 1930s. early involvement in televi- inventor. Paul’s designs were He installed, ran and man- His membership of the sion. He joined Baird Televi- precision engineered, running aged electricity services for Society was approved in sion in 1932 at the age of 21. at the limits of materials remote communities, inclu- December 1937, just over a He initially worked on the research. ding many across British year after the start of the BBC cinema projection system for His scanner for colour North Borneo. Television Service from live coverage of the Derby; it projection television, now in Paul managed dozens of Alexandra Palace. It was also was only the second time the National Media Museum projects in the region from six months before the first that the country’s premier in Bradford, rotated so fast the 1940s to the 1980s – all production Spitfire was flat race for horses had been (17,500rpm) that the scanning significantly improving the delivered and a week before televised. mirrors experienced 6,000 lives of the local population. the premiere of Snow White His last of many projects times the force of gravity, He returned to the UK in and the Seven Dwarfs, Disney’s with John Logie Baird culmi- travelling at over 200mph. the 1990s, retiring at the age first animated colour film. nated in 1938 with the The large-screen colour of 80. As recently as 2006 – At that time, the Television packed-house demonstration picture generated by the at 95 – Paul was in overalls, Society – not yet “Royal” – of large-screen projected scanner, using an arc lamp installing central heating in was very diferent from today. television in colour at Lon- from a military searchlight, his cottage in north-west It comprised engineers and don’s Dominion Theatre. was “rather good”, he said. Scotland. scientists, who were forging The mid-1930s was a time From 1933, Paul had Now he is enjoying a ahead with developing new when broadcast television worked directly for Logie relaxed retirement by the technologies and building the was possible only through Baird as his personal techni- banks of the River Ouse in first systems for operational the use of mechanical com- cal assistant; he was one of King’s Lynn. . ponents. Fully electronic the handful of engineers in Donald F McLean

Television www.rts.org.uk July/August 2015 33 OFF MESSAGE

o the BBC has agreed thing David Cameron wants is a owned Eurosport will license to to pay for the cost of so-called “culture war” on two fronts national broadcasters. After all, Chan- licence fees for the – the battle to scale down the scope nel 4’s Paralympics coverage was over-75s – in return for of the BBC’s activities and a for-sale rightly acclaimed. licence-fee rises in line board erected on Horseferry Road. with inflation for the Stand by for a campaign to keep the ■ Well done, ITV. Its campaign to pre- next five years. status quo, if the idea of privatising vent the BBC launching a BBC One+1 With the number of silver tops Channel 4 becomes a real policy channel paid of at the end of June, increasingS all the time, the initiative option. when the Trust rejected the proposal. could end up costing the Beeb a cool Don’t, however, expect former With BBC Three certain to go £700m, according to some estimates. Channel 4 Chair Luke Johnson to online in the not-too-distant future, Inflation, meanwhile, is expected to lead it. He thinks privatisation should what will happen to its spectrum? remain low for the foreseeable future, be examined, judged by his remarks BBC Three’s EPG slot is potentially although the corporation will no to on . very valuable. Surely, in the present longer have to pay for rolling out rural climate, a sale can’t be ruled out. broadband. ■ Congratulations to Discovery’s Tony Hall has presented the settle- heavy-hitting President and CEO, ■ As Richard Desmond needs no ment as “a good deal” for the BBC. David Zaslav. His £920m-plus deal reminding, a good royal story works Time will tell if he is right or wrong. If to control pan-European Olympic wonders for newspaper circulation. licence-fee evasion is decriminalised, rights from 2022 is, by any reckoning, But does the royal efect do the the level of cuts to BBC services could a massive coup. same for TV ratings? Netflix is invest- be significant. Exactly where it leaves the BBC’s ing a ton of money in The Crown, When the idea of forcing the BBC hitherto unquestioned ownership of Peter Morgan’s epic story of the life to stump up the money for free TV the world’s number-one sports occa- and times of Elizabeth II. licences for the elderly was discussed sion is very much open to question. Not to be outdone, ITV is eager to back in 2010, Director-General Mark Will the corporation be left out in the add some regal glitter to its own, Thompson and members of the BBC cold in terms of Olympics coverage, more traditional schedule. The net- Trust threatened to resign. The plan come 2022? work is preparing a high-profile was ditched. The Olympics is, as all readers drama on the life of Queen Victoria. know, a “listed event”. As such, under ITV’s eight-parter, scripted by the ■ What, though, of Channel 4 and the present legislation, it must be shown brilliant Daisy Goodwin, is unlikely to P-word, now that Chancellor George on a free-to-air channel in the UK. be broadcast until next winter at the Osborne is strutting his stuf? Given the complexion of the new earliest. After Vince Cable’s intervention Government, that could all change. The BBC, meanwhile, is understood during the Coalition Government, Also, it is sometimes forgotten that to have been toying with its own privatisation dropped of the agenda. Discovery owns a non-pay service on Queen Victoria show, developed by But a prominently displayed Finan- Freeview, factual entertainment writer Kate Brooke. cial Times report, published in early channel Quest. But, mindful of being accused of July, suggested that plans for privati- And, in any case, there is nothing to doubling up on what a rival was sation were once again being dis- stop Channel 4 from attempting to already doing, the project looks to cussed in Whitehall. outbid the BBC for the rights to have been quietly kicked into the Others insist, however, that the last Olympics coverage, which Discovery- long grass.

34 July/August 2015 www.rts.org.uk Television RTS PAT RONS

RTS Principal BBC BSkyB Channel 4 ITV Patrons

RTS Discovery Corporate Services Ltd Turner Broadcasting System Inc International Global Viacom International Media Patrons NBCUniversal International Networks The Walt Disney Company YouTube

RTS Accenture FremantleMedia KPMG Virgin Media Major Channel 5 Fujitsu McKinsey and Co YouView Patrons Deloitte IBM S4C Enders Analysis IMG Studios STV Group EY ITN UKTV

RTS Autocue ITV London ITV Yorkshire Quantel Patrons Digital Television Group ITV Meridian ITV Wales Raidió Teilifís Éireann ITV Anglia ITV Tyne Tees Lumina Search UTV Television ITV Granada ITV West PricewaterhouseCoopers Vinten Broadcast

Who’s who Patron Chair of RTS Trustees CENTRES COUNCIL History at the RTS HRH The Prince of Wales John Hardie Lynn Barlow Don McLean Mike Best President Honorary Secretary Charles Byrne IBC Conference Liaison Sir David Lowen Isabel Clarke Terry Marsh Alex Connock Vice-Presidents Honorary Treasurer Gordon Cooper RTS Legends Dawn Airey Mike Green Tim Hartley Paul Jackson Sir David Attenborough OM Kingsley Marshall CH CVO CBE FRS BOARD OF TRUSTEES Kristin Mason AWARDS COMMITTEE Baroness Floella Tim Davie Graeme Thompson CHAIRS Benjamin OBE Mike Green Penny Westlake Awards & Fellowship Dame Colette Bowe OBE John Hardie James Wilson Policy John Cresswell Huw Jones Michael Wilson David Lowen Mike Darcey Jane Lighting Graham McWilliam SPECIALIST GROUP Craft & Design Awards Lorraine Heggessey David Lowen CHAIRS Cheryl Taylor Ashley Highfield Simon Pitts Archives Rt Hon Dame Tessa Graeme Thompson Steve Bryant Television Journalism Jowell MP Awards David Lynn EXECUTIVE Diversity Stewart Purvis CBE Sir Trevor McDonald OBE Chief Executive Marcus Ryder Ken MacQuarrie Theresa Wise Programme Awards Trevor Phillips OBE Early Evening Events Alex Mahon Stewart Purvis CBE Dan Brooke John Smith Student Television Sir Howard Stringer Education Awards Mark Thompson Graeme Thompson Stuart Murphy

RTS Futures Camilla Lewis

Television www.rts.org.uk July/August 2015 35 HAPPY VALLEY OR HOUSE OF CARDS Television in 2020 the challenges for content, creativity and business models

16-18 September

RTS CAMBRIDGE CONVENTION

Chair: Tony Hall, Director-General, BBC David Abraham, CEO, Channel 4 Adam Crozier, CEO, ITV Philippe Dauman, President and CEO, Viacom Tim Davie, CEO, BBC Worldwide and Director, Global Lorraine Heggessey Jay Hunt, Chief Creative Ofcer, Channel 4 Michael Lombardo, President of Programming, HBO James Purnell, Director, Strategy and Digital, BBC Josh Sapan, President and CEO, AMC Networks Sir Howard Stringer Sharon White, Chief Executive, Ofcom The Rt Hon John Whittingdale OBE MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport David Zaslav, President and CEO, Discovery Communications Principal sponsor Registration: www.rts.org.uk