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April 2017 Celebrating the art of TV RTS Programme Awards 2017 CrewStartTM Struggling with start paperwork? Hiring artists and crew? CrewStart™ manages the onboarding process for you, from the initial invitation, to ensuring that paperwork is completed correctly, signed and approved online. CrewStart™ is designed to help your team automate the processing of contracts, start forms, daily rate vouchers and timesheets. CrewStart™ benefits: Reduce administration Sign contracts securely Submit start paperwork Calculate timesheets Approve documents Ensure accuracy Auditable reports To find out how you can save time and go paperless on your next production, visit the Digital Production Office® website www.digitalproductionoffice.com Contact our team for more information: T: +44 (0)1753 630300 E: [email protected] www.digitalproductionoffice.com www.sargent-disc.com @DigiProdOffice @SargentDisc /digitalproductionoffice /SargentDisc Journal of The Royal Television Society April 2017 l Volume 54/4 From the CEO It’s been an awards- Meanwhile, in London, the always- at the University of Birmingham on packed month at the brilliant Sandi Toksvig hosted a fantas- 29 March. It was a real pleasure to be Society. I was thrilled tic evening at the RTS Programme there and what a great venue! to be at the RTS West Awards. A big thanks to Sandi for being Michael’s illustrated talk gave his of England Awards on such a tremendous host. I’d like to listeners the inside track on the BBC 19 March, just two days congratulate all the winners, in Bristol landmark documentary. He has over- before the RTS Pro- and in London. seen more than 140 wildlife films, so gramme Awards, which were attended It’s also been a busy month for RTS has few peers in this area of television by a record-breaking 900 guests. events. I am seriously grateful to Sally production. The RTS West of England Awards Doganis for producing “The Crown: Finally, I’d like to draw your atten- were held at the hugely atmospheric Deconstructing the coronation”. A tion to one of our upcoming events, Bristol Old Vic and brilliantly hosted capacity crowd gained a valuable “Breaking barriers: How can the TV by Countryfile’s Anita Rani. Those insight into Netflix’s unique way of industry encourage more women into attending included Mark Linsey, Nick working. I am sure I’m not alone in technology jobs?”, on 26 April at Lon- Knowles and Mark Millar, Hugh saying that I could have listened all don’s Hospital Club. I hope to see you Fearnley-Whittingstall and CBBC’s night to Peter Morgan talk about his there. Andy Day and Naomi Wilkinson. experience of scripting The Crown. A No prizes for guessing that Bristol’s full report is in this issue of Television. Natural History Unit, which is cele- This year’s Baird Lecture, organised brating its 60th anniversary, did excep- by RTS Midlands, “Planet Earth II: The tionally well, taking three awards for making of a natural history ‘block- the wonderful Planet Earth II. buster’”, was given by Michael Gunton Theresa Wise Contents Waad al-Kateab’s TV Diary The era of global event television Waad al-Kateab discovers a different world when she At an RTS event on The Crown, Peter Morgan revealed 7 visits London after filming the horror of Aleppo 20 how he was liberated by writing for Netflix. Steve Clarke took notes Fingers on buzzers… Sanya Burgess asks why University Challenge is still Our Friend in the North East 8 thriving after more than half a century on air Graeme Thompson urges TV’s decision makers to be 24 bold as they demand a stronger regional presence Great expectations Former ITV and BBC chief Peter Fincham has returned A fresh flavour for footie 11 to his indie roots with Expectation. Andrew Billen checks BT’s John Petter explains how BT Sport has recast the the slate 25 national game as entertainment. Matthew Bell reports When TV is the tip of the iceberg RTS Programme Awards Alastair Fothergill tells Pippa Shawley why his latest Hosted by Sandi Toksvig, the awards were presented 14 project, Netflix’s Our Planet, is his most ambitious 28 on 21 March at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London, documentary in partnership with Audio Network. The winners and nominees over eight pages The Afghan Rupert Murdoch Saad Mohseni – Afghanistan’s first media mogul – RTS news 16 tells Raymond Snoddy how he built his empire 36 Event reports from around the nations and regions A man of influence Lisa Campbell profiles Damian Collins, an MP who’s 18 gaining fans in the TV sector Cover: Gordon Jamieson Editor Production, design, advertising Royal Television Society Subscription rates Printing Legal notice Steve Clarke Gordon Jamieson 3 Dorset Rise UK £115 ISSN 0308-454X © Royal Television Society 2017. [email protected] [email protected] London EC4Y 8EN Overseas (surface) £146.11 Printer: FE Burman The views expressed in Television Writer Sub-editor T: 020 7822 2810 Overseas (airmail) £172.22 20 Crimscott Street are not necessarily those of the RTS. Matthew Bell Sarah Bancroft E: [email protected] Enquiries: [email protected] London SE1 5TP Registered Charity 313 728 [email protected] [email protected] W: www.rts.org.uk Television www.rts.org.uk April 2017 3 RTS Cambridge Convention 2017 Save the date 13-15 September Television | www.rts.org.uk | SEPTEMBER 2008 www.rts.org.uk15 Your guide to upcoming national and RTS NEWS regional events NORTH WEST National events ■ Rachel Pinkney 07966 230639 ■ [email protected] RTS EARLY EVENING EVENT Monday 10 April NORTHERN IRELAND Where have all the disabled ■ John Mitchell people gone? ■ mitch.mvbroadcast@btinter- Panellists: Adam Hills, presenter net.com of The Last Leg; Rosie Jones, researcher and comedian; REPUBLIC OF IRELAND Shannon Murray, actor, writer ■ Charles Byrne (353) 87251 3092 and broadcaster; Deborah ■ [email protected] Williams, CEO, Creative Diversity Network. Chair: Ade Adepitan SCOTLAND MBE. 6:30pm for 6:45pm start Wednesday 26 April Venue: Channel 4, 124 Horseferry The next generation of TV Road, London SW1P 2TX journalism ■ Book online at www.rts.org.uk RTS Futures: Thursday 27 April Venue: City of Glasgow College, City Campus, 190 Cathedral RTS EARLY EVENING EVENT RTS AWARDS American International Univer- Street, Glasgow G40RF Wednesday 26 April Friday 16 June sity in London. Tickets are free Wednesday 17 May Breaking barriers: How can the RTS Student Television but numbers are limited, so the RTS Scotland 2017 Awards TV industry encourage more Awards 2017 selection process involves an 6:00pm for 6:30pm women into technology jobs? Venue: BFI Southbank, London application form. Booking: www. Venue: Oran Mor, Byres Rd, Panellists: Dr Maggie Aderin- SE1 8XT rts.org.uk/event/update-tv-skills Glasgow G12 8QX Pocock MBE, space scientist ■ Book online at www.rts.org.uk and follow the ‘Register your ■ Jane Muirhead 07718 087 108 and science communicator; interest’ link to Eventbrite. ■ [email protected] Sinead Greenaway, chief tech- RTS CONFERENCE Topics include: multi-platform nology and operations officer, 13-15 September commissioning; production for SOUTHERN UKTV; Anna Patching, sound RTS Cambridge Convention portable devices; using social ■ Gordon Cooper engineer, OB STV; Sara Putt, 2017 media; immersive TV; digital ■ [email protected] deputy chair, WFTV (UK). Venue: West Road Concert Hall, media workflow; CV workshop; Chaired by Maggie Philbin OBE, Cambridge CB3 9DP and King’s and directing in a digital age. THAMES VALLEY CEO and co-founder, TeenTech. College, Cambridge CB2 1ST Individual sessions may change Wednesday 17 May 6:30pm for 6:45pm start ■ Booking opens soon closer to the date. Registration NAB review 2017 Venue: The Hospital Club, 24 Endell from 9:00am; event starts at 7:00pm-9:00pm Street, London WC2H 9HQ 9:45am. Venue: Pincents Manor Hotel, ■ Book online at www.rts.org.uk Local events Venue: Asa Briggs Hall, Calcot, Reading RG31 4UQ 7-17 Ansdell Street, London ■ Penny Westlake RTS FUTURES BRISTOL W8 5BN ■ [email protected] Thursday 27 April ■ Belinda Biggam ■ Daniel Cherowbrier You’re hired! Nail the perfect CV ■ [email protected] ■ [email protected] WALES Experienced media recruitment ■ Hywel Wiliam 07980 007841 consultants and TV professionals DEVON & CORNWALL MIDLANDS ■ [email protected] will talk you through the ideal ■ Kingsley Marshall ■ Jayne Greene 07792 776585 structure and content, and the ■ Kingsley.Marshall@falmouth. ■ [email protected] YORKSHIRE dos and don’ts, to really make ac.uk Friday 7 July your CV shine. NORTH EAST & THE BORDER Programme Awards 2017 Using interactive examples, EAST Wednesday 17 May 7:00pm for 7:30pm you will be guided through the ■ Nikki O’Donnell Young People’s Media Festival Venue: New Dock Hall, Royal process of identifying flaws in ■ [email protected] 2017 Armouries, Leeds LS10 1LT CVs, to help you analyse your Further information at: ■ Lisa Holdsworth 07790 145280 own. Don’t get left in the pile! LONDON www.sunderland.ac.uk/rtsypmf. ■ lisa@allonewordproductions. 6:45pm for 7:00pm Saturday 22 April 6:00pm co.uk Venue: Cavendish Conference Update TV skills Venue: Media Campus, University Centre, 22 Duchess Mews, Free, all-day training event, in of Sunderland SR6 0DD London W1G 9DT partnership with BBC Academy, ■ Jill Graham ■ Book online at www.rts.org.uk WFTV and Richmond, The ■ [email protected] Television www.rts.org.uk April 2017 5 RTS STUDENT TELEVISION AWARDS 2017 16 JUNE 1:00pm BFI Southbank, London SE1 8XT www.rts.org.uk TV diary Waad al-Kateab discovers a different world when she visits London after filming the horror of Aleppo have just arrived in London people are asking you to remember story to tell.