October 2016 RTS London Conference 2016 Plus: Jane Tranter on why Wales needs a better deal RTS BRISTOL Futures From the CEO It has been a thrilling start to the RTS’s autumn season. An early highlight was our London conference, “Full stream ahead”. A record number of delegates Festival made a beeline for the main audito- rium at London’s Kings Place to be rewarded with a packed day that gen- erated numerous headlines. Did any- 1 November one mention The Great British Bake Off? I want to extend a massive thank you to all those who worked so hard 6:30pm-9:30pm to make it such a great day. It was wonderful to have NBCUniversal as At Watershed, 1 Canons Rd, our principal sponsor – and special Harbourside, Bristol BS1 5TX Contents This is a free event for students and RTS Tim Hincks’s TV diary Futures members, but booking is required. Tim Hincks is on garden leave but occasionally finds time 7 to hobnob with TV people Ticket includes free drink on arrival. Plus music from Slix Disco DJs. There will be a series of drop-in ‘TEDx’-style talks through the evening, RTS London Conference 2016: Full stream ahead: commissioning, producing and plus networking and company stands: distributing content in an age of on-demand Reports by Matthew Bell, Maggie Brown, Steve Clarke ■ O ne-man band: self-shooting observational and Tara Conlan documentaries – Bart Corpe Producer/ Director Introduction: Embracing the winds of change ■ F inding stories – Rachel Drummond-Hay 8 Success in a connected world depends on creativity, innovation and execution, says conference chair Director, Drummer TV Kevin MacLellan ■ E ditor’s secrets: life in post-production – One: ‘Think like an owner, not a renter’ Glenn Rainton Freelance editor Tina Brown interviews Steve Burke, CEO of 9 NBCUniversal, and receives a candid insight into how ■ P itching ideas: how to make them listen he intends to future-proof the business – Freelance development Kate Thomas Two: Quest for the global grail producer and Melanie Rodrigues Producer Is there a knack to securing an international hit such as 12 Downton Abbey or Gogglebox? Steve Clarke is given ■ B reaking in: transitioning from academia to some creative answers industry – Hugo Pettitt Researcher/AP Three: Hard Brexit – a turn-off for TV ■ W here’s the work? CVs, freelancing and Maggie Brown hears why broadcasters need to raise 15 their voices in unison when talks to exit the EU begin selling yourself – Sas Bonser Talent manager in earnest Editor Production, design Writer Book at www.rts.org.uk or through Steve Clarke and advertising Matthew Bell [email protected] Gordon Jamieson [email protected] Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rts- [email protected] bristol-futures-festival-tickets-28425738148 Journal of The Royal Television Society October 2016 l Volume 53/9 thanks to conference chair Kevin At the beginning of October, the flag for sustaining creative develop- MacLellan. RTS returned to King’s Place for the ments in Wales. One of the many takeaways was the latest in our “Anatomy of a hit” strand. Finally, I’m very proud to welcome reminder of the fantastic support that The subject was The Night Manager, the latest cohort of RTS student bur- major US players, such as NBCUni- BBC One’s glossy reimagining of John sary recipients. I have no doubt that, versal and Netflix, bring to the UK le Carré’s novel. in years to come, they, too, will be talent base. All three panellists – Susanne Bier, helping to make content of the calibre The conference also highlighted the Simon Cornwell and David Farr – of The Night Manager. competition for talent among the were brilliant. The event was chaired many thriving UK organisations that with authority and insight by Boyd produce, broadcast and/or distribute Hilton. Many thanks to them all and content. There is full coverage of every to the capacity crowd. session in this month’s Television plus Don’t miss Jane Tranter’s excellent videos of the sessions online. column in this issue, which waves a Theresa Wise Four: Horn of plenty Monks, mendacity and manipulation Tara Conlan listens as a panel discusses a connected world Simon Shaps gasps at an account of feuding, excess 18 where everything is available everywhere at any time 36 and greed at one of the world’s top talent agencies Five: Ofcom talks tough on diversity Countryfile: Anatomy of a hit In a wide-ranging talk with Cathy Newman, Ofcom CEO Matthew Bell gets to the heart of the BBC show for all 20 Sharon White insists that broadcasters must act on 38 seasons that bridges Britain’s rural-urban divide ethnic-minority targets Our Friend in the West Six: Netflix swoops to conquer Jane Tranter argues that it’s time broadcasters stopped US streaming service Netflix is expanding on all fronts. 41 treating Wales as TV’s problem child 24 Matthew Bell wonders if there is any limit to its global ambition The sound of success Audio Network’s pioneering business model is making Seven: Let’s get social 42 it easier for TV and film to license music for their Tara Conlan logs on as panellists explain how to productions, discovers Matthew Bell 26 commission content in an always-on world Double jeopardy: the allure of reality TV Eight: PSBs clash over Bake Off Matthew Bell is all ears as a panel of experts assesses The changing nature of public service broadcasting 44 the state of unscripted television 28 comes under the spotlight as Maggie Brown witnesses executive meltdown A fresh face for storytelling Facebook Live is being embraced by broadcasters and Nine: Beyond middle-class, white London 46 online news providers, finds Pippa Shawley Matt Hancock, Minister for Digital and Culture, tells 31 broadcasters to broaden their horizons IBC review: TV’s new geography Haydn Jones returns home happy from IBC, where Ten: Fit for the future? 48 it became clear that Internet Protocol represents a Television’s heavy hitters look back on the day and paradigm shift 33 tackle the big questions. Matthew Bell reports Sub-editor Photographer Royal Television Society Subscription rates Printing Legal notice Sarah Bancroft Paul Hampartsoumian 3 Dorset Rise, UK £115 ISSN 0308-454X © Royal Television Society 2016. [email protected] [email protected] London EC4Y 8EN Overseas (surface) £146.11 Printer: FE Burman The views expressed in Television T: 020 7822 2810 Overseas (airmail) £172.22 20 Crimscott St are not necessarily those of the RTS. E: [email protected] Enquiries: [email protected] London, SE1 5TP Registered Charity 313 728) W: wwwrts.org.uk Television www.rts.org.uk October 2016 3 Perfect balance An enterprise IT environment that is flexible yet strong. Fast yet safe. Scalable yet cost effective. By blending the best of Cloud powered and on-premise IT, the balance you seek is the balance that Hybrid delivers. And, with more than 5,000 large scale implementations globally, no one knows Hybrid better than Fujitsu. Find out more - HYBRID-IT.solutions 3011_Hybrid_IT_A4_Advert_DRAFT_v02.indd 1 12/11/2015 15:17:14 Your guide to upcoming national and RTS NEWS regional events LONDON NORTHERN IRELAND National events Local events Wednesday 26 October ■ John Mitchell Building a buzz – what makes ■ mitch.mvbroadcast@btinter- RTS EARLY EVENING EVENT BRISTOL a good promo? net.com Tuesday 1 November Tuesday 1 November 6:30pm for 7:00pm Virtual reality and 360° RTS Bristol Futures Festival Venue: ITV London Studios, REPUBLIC OF IRELAND storytelling Free event for students and Upper Ground, London SE1 9LT ■ Charles Byrne (353) 87251 3092 Panellists: Ken Blakeslee, RTS Futures members. Booking ■ Daniel Cherowbrier ■ [email protected] Conference Chair, VR and AR required. Ticket includes free ■ [email protected] World; Neil Graham, Executive drink on arrival. Plus music from SCOTLAND Producer, Sky VR and Sky Slix Disco DJs. 6:30pm-9:30pm. MIDLANDS ■ James Wilson 07899 761167 Movies; Spencer Kelly, Presenter, There will be a series of drop-in Thursday 3 November ■ james.wilson@cityofglasgow- BBC Click; Tamzin Taylor, New ‘TEDx’-style talks through the RTS Midlands Awards 2016 college.ac.uk Business Development, Android evening, plus networking and Venue: National Motorcycle Apps and Games, EMEA, Google. company stands. Museum, Coventry Road, Solihull SOUTHERN Chair: Bulkley. 6:30pm for 6:45pm ■ One-man band: self-shooting B92 0EJ ■ Gordon Cooper Venue: The Hospital Club, 24 Endell observational documentaries – ■ Jayne Greene 07792 776585 ■ [email protected] Street, London WC2H 9HQ Bart Corpe, producer/director. ■ [email protected] ■ Book online at www.rts.org.uk ■ Finding stories – Rachel THAMES VALLEY Drummond-Hay, director, Drum- NORTH EAST & THE BORDER Wednesday 16 November RTS MASTERCLASS DAY mer TV. Thursday 27 October Small camera systems Monday 14 November ■ Editor’s secrets: life in post- Networking evenings Speakers TBC. 6:30pm for RTS Student Programme production – Glenn Rainton, The last Thursday of the month, 7:00pm Masterclasses freelance editor. for anyone working in TV, film, Venue: Pincents Manor, Calcot, 10:30am-5:00pm ■ Pitching ideas: how to make computer games or digital Reading RG31 4UQ Venue: BFI Southbank, London them listen – Kate Thomas, production. 6:00pm onwards. Friday 25 November SE1 8XT freelance development producer, Venue: Tyneside Bar Café, Tyne- Thames Valley Centre Annual ■ Book online at www.rts.org.uk and Melanie Rodrigues, producer. side Cinema, 10 Pilgrim St, New- Dinner Dance ■ Breaking in: transitioning castle upon Tyne NE1 6QG This year, we are holding a RTS MASTERCLASS DAY from academia to industry – ■ Jill Graham masquerade ball. The after- Tuesday 15 November Hugo Pettitt, researcher/AP. ■ [email protected] dinner speaker is Katherine RTS Craft Skills Masterclasses ■ Where’s the work? CVs, Ryan.