Annual Report 2009

ROYAL TELEVISION SOCIETY

ANNUAL REPORT 2009

AGM 26 May 2010 at 6:00pm at the RTS, Kildare House, 3 Dorset Rise, London EC4Y 8EN Patrons

S4C Principal Patrons SMG UKTV BBC Value Partners Management Consulting BSkyB Channel 4 Television ITV RTS Patrons

International Patrons APTN Autocue Avid Technology Europe Discovery Communications Europe Bloomberg Microsoft Channel Television MTV Digital Television Group NBC Universal Granada Television OC&C Strategy Consultants HIT Entertainment RTL Group Ikegami Electronics UK Walt Disney Company ITV Anglia ITV London ITV Meridian Major Patrons ITV Tyne Tees ITV West Deloitte ITV Yorkshire DLA Piper Panasonic Broadcast Europe Enders Analysis PricewaterhouseCoopers Five Quantel FremantleMedia Radio Telefís Éireann GMTV Reuters Television ITN SMG Grampian Television KPMG SMG Scottish Television Millbank Studios Tektronix (UK) Ofcom Ulster Television Pepper Post Production University College, Falmouth PRS for Music Vinten Broadcast

2 R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 Contents

Patrons 2 Board of Trustees report to members 4 1 Achievements and performance 4 National events 2008 4 Centres report 2008 19 2 Structure, governance and management 26 3 Objectives and activities 26 4 Financial review 27 5 Plans for future periods 27 6 Administrative details 28 Independent auditors’ report 30 Financial statements 31 Notes to the ﬁnancial statements 34 Notice of AGM 2010 42 Form of proxy 43 Advisory Council election manifestos 44 Minutes of AGM 2008 45 Who’s who at the RTS 48 Picture credits 51

The Board of Trustees (who are also the directors of the Royal Television Society for the purposes of company law) presents its report and consolidated accounts for the year ended 31 December 2009. The ﬁnancial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the Memorandum and Articles of Association and the Statement of Recommended Practice – Accounting and Reporting by Charities (March 2005).

R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 3 RTS Board of Trustees Report 1 Achievements and Performance

The RTS maintained its unique and influential role in fur- Don Larotonda, Deutsche Bank’s Paul Reynolds and Emily thering public understanding of the transformative changes Bell of the Guardian – to hear pitches for the revenue model affecting British television through its publications, website of the future. “TV’s next top model” tackled the question of and the wide range of public events it staged, despite the whether subscriptions, advertising or micro-payments would adverse economic climate. be the best way to fund programme production in the years In December the Society was deeply saddened by the death ahead. of its President and Chair of the Board of Trustees, Sir Robert BSkyB COO Mike Darcey put the case for subscriptions; Phillis, who had done so much to reshape and strengthen Thinkbox chief executive Tess Alps argued that advertising the RTS. revenue would bounce back “as it has done in the past”; and FremantleMedia CEO Tony Cohen championed micro- Cambridge Convention payments. The nearest anyone came to admitting their rival The biennial RTS Cambridge Convention organising com- had a point was Darcey, but even he worried that “micro- mittee, chaired by Mark Thompson, delivered a compelling payments lead to micro revenue.” agenda that pulled in a large audience and top contributors. The travails of ad-funded TV were put under the micro- With regional news in crisis, drama budgets being slashed scope in the following session. “Desperate networks” saw and great uncertainty about the economic and regulatory RTL Group CEO Gerhard Zeiler, Channel 4 chair Luke Johnson environment, the convention’s title, “Riding out the storm”, and ITV COO John Cresswell outline their recovery plans. could not have been more apposite. The session was notable for some pithy and revealing The opening keynote speech was delivered, according to soundbites. Johnson said regulation of PSBs was now “com- custom, by the secretary of state for culture, media and sport, pletely disproportionate” and “the wonderful people of the the Rt Hon Ben Bradshaw MP. He announced a relaxation Competition Commission… should shove off.” And Cresswell, of rules on product placement, called time on the BBC Trust when asked about ITV’s failed diversification efforts, pinned and argued that the BBC needed to shrink – though not by the blame squarely on former CEO Sir Charles Allen. too much. But Zeiler’s recipe for success was the most succinct: “Fail In the second session BBC economics editor Stephanie often, fail fast and fail cheaply. If I look at the three of us, we Flanders looked at the prospects for broadcasters when the already have the first principle right.” recession ended. She said she did not believe that TV adver- The fifth Cambridge session examined the consequences of 1 Delegates’ tising revenue would recover to the levels of 2006 until at ever-tightening budgets for UK-produced drama. “The storm packs at the least 2012, and was also downbeat about the growth poten- will get worse in the next 18 months,” predicted Andy Har- RTS Cambridge tial of the pay-TV sector. ries, chief executive of Left Bank Pictures. He was joined by: Convention She then invited a jury of three media experts – Mindshare’s fellow indie producer Nicola Shindler, executive producer8

4 R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 the wider television community and the public to better effect Sir Robert Phillis 1945-2009 over the next two decades. In 2006-2007 Bob Phillis led another crucial review, RTS President 2004-2009 resulting in essential new governance arrangements for Chair of Board of Trustees 2007-2009 the Society. These reflected best practice for a charity and RTS Vice-President 1994-2002 created, among other things, a new Board of Trustees and RTS Chair 1989-1992 Advisory Council. Again, this was far from straightforward Fellow of the Royal Television Society and needed Bob’s advocacy and interpersonal skills to deliver the changes. Sir Robert Phillis, who died in December 2009, was an ‘Few people have served the Society better and more indefatigable champion of the RTS, whose committed consistently over nearly 30 years. Even fewer have leadership reshaped the Society. engendered such affection and respect in equal measure,’ It was thanks to Bob Phillis’s vision and determination that said Sarah Thane in the obituary carried in Television. the Society appointed its first director, Michael Bunce, with The RTS owes Bob Phillis a tremendous debt. He will live Claire Price as his deputy. As a result, the Society was able on in the reforms he led and in the positive impact he made to expand its activities significantly and serve its members, on many of us who had the privilege of knowing him.

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8of Red Production Company; Elaine Pyke, head of drama for Sky 1,2,3; and Ben Stephenson, controller, drama commissioning at the BBC. Unsurprisingly, the producers were more downbeat than the commissioners. BBC director-general Mark Thompson delivered a thought- ful analysis of the corporation’s public purpose that was well received even by delegates who are not natural supporters of the BBC. He then joined the former culture secretary, the Rt Hon James Purnell MP, to debate the principles that should inform the BBC’s governance and scale. In the light of the looming general election, the next speaker was the shadow culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt MP. He evinced an enthusiasm for local multimedia news consortia and a dislike of Ofcom, but gave away little more about Conservative broadcasting policy. 5 The convention’s international keynote speaker was Eric Schmidt, chair and CEO of Google, who joined the proceed- ings by video link from New York. As the man held responsible by many delegates for drain- ing several billion pounds out of UK media, Schmidt was grilled by several attendees on when Google would start commissioning some UK content. The answer sounded dis- appointingly close to never. The Government’s solution to the crisis afﬂ icting regional news – Independently Funded News Consortia (IFNCs) – stirred a great deal of debate. This was led off by four pitches from potential players: Mark Dodson of Guardian Media Group; ITN chief John Hardie; Rob Woodward of STV Group; 6 7 and (jointly) Ten Alps boss Alex Connock and Trevor Birney of Below the Radar. Will subs, ads or fees be ‘TV’s Next Top The ﬁ nal session saw the heads of the four biggest net- Model’? Contributors 5 Mike Darcey, COO, works, plus Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards, join a panel BSkyB, 6 Tony Cohen, CEO, FremantleMedia to tackle the big, unresolved questions for broadcasters. and 7 Tess Alps, CEO, Thinkbox, put their Perhaps the most apocalyptic perspective came from Andy case to an RTS Cambrdige Convention jury Duncan, outgoing CEO of Channel 4, who warned that “this

6 R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 RTS Cambridge Convention speakers: 1 Ben Bradshaw, secretary of state, DCMS; 2 Eric Schmidt, chair and CEO, Google; 3 Andy Harries, (left) CEO, Left Bank Pictures and Elaine Pyke, head of drama, Sky 1,2,3, BSkyB; and 4 Jeremy Hunt MP, shadow secretary of state, culture, media and sport

3 whole industry remains in denial about the scale of change that is still coming.” The RTS is extremely grateful to the conference’s principal sponsors, the BBC and BBC Trust. The Society is only able to stage the range and calibre of events that it does through the generous support of all its Patrons. RTS Futures The RTS is very pleased with the continued success of this initiative, which was launched in 2007 to engage a younger audience in the Society’s educational activities. Registra- tion as a member of RTS Futures is free, and gives access to online discussion forums. Five well-attended events were held in the course of the year, the ﬁ rst of which examined “The art of the interview”. Political heavyweights Nick Robinson and Michael Brunson OBE were joined by documentary maker Jon Ron- son and 4Music presenter Miquita Oliver in a panel chaired by news anchor Alastair Stewart OBE. Their top tips included: “Preparation is vital; don’t bluff” (Brunson); and “It’s about connecting with someone on a human level, even if you hate what they do” (Ronson). “From script to screen” saw two veteran screen writers, Tony Jordan and Alice Nutter, offer their advice on how to get scripts accepted. Both agreed that writing is a collaborative process but, at the same time, it is essential for writers to have faith in their own voice. In May, Big Brother host Davina McCall and her producer, Phil Edgar-Jones, discussed the lessons of their working rela- tionship. McCall said that “as a presenter, one of the most important things is to feel that you’re in a safe pair of hands.” She said presenters should “always try and take constructive advice on the chin”. Edgar-Jones’s advice to newbie producers was to learn to “make a really nice cup of tea and be nice, 4 cheerful, happy and enthusiastic”.8

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8The October event looked at BBC multi-platform com- accountancy firm Grant Thornton each offered the evening’s missioning, concentrating on children’s, comedy and current chair, David Elstein, their take on the threats and opportuni- affairs content. Simon Lupton, executive editor for comedy, ties presented by the crisis. said the corporation’s online services provide “a very good, Those best placed to ride out the recession, most panel- low-risk playground for existing talent… [out of] the glare of lists agreed, were companies – particularly “super indies” primetime”. – with channel-defining formats, strong cost control and Martin Wilson, head of multi-platform development for international sales. The losers were likely to be non-consoli- BBC current affairs and also a BBC Three executive producer, dated indies and any company (but particularly broadcast- explained that getting good video into the right places can ers) saddled with an “it’ll be alright” mentality or an inflexible create “a huge buzz” around issues. For Richard Deverell, approach to business. controller of BBC Children’s and chief operating officer of Johnson (also a director of a private equity fund, Risk Capi- BBC North, the key thing was to “Test, test and test again… tal Partners) argued that the downturn was a good time to It’s only through repeated user testing that you can get [multi- launch a new venture: talented people who are normally platform content] right.” unavailable can be recruited, while established rivals might The final RTS Futures event was “How to get ahead in com- be gravely distracted. edy”. The panel comprised comedian Katie Brand, former BBC Sir Michael Lyons, chair of the BBC Trust, used the plat- head of comedy Jon Plowman and Benidorm writer Derren form of the May e-event to make six promises to licence-fee Litten. Plowman, now the executive producer of BBC Two’s payers: the corporation would work to the highest editorial Beautiful People and Psychoville, said: “If you’re a writer, never standards; it would serve the population outside the M25 send anything to anybody until it’s absolutely the best it can better; it would deliver distinctive content; it would provide be.” Litten’s advice was: “Always read your scripts aloud.” assistance to other PSBs; it would deliver value for money; The Society is grateful for the hard work of the RTS Futures and it would preserve its independence. Committee chaired by Peter Bazalgette. In June optimists and pessimists clashed on the prospects for 3DTV. It was not so much the event’s title – “3DTV Early-evening events – a glimpse into the future?” – that was contentious, as the The Society’s early-evening events in central London con- timescale: would it take off in two years or in 10? BSkyB’s tinue to provide an accessible and low-cost forum for the Gerry O’Sullivan and Bob Mayson of 3D technology company public to hear and question television practitioners on a wide RealD Europe were evangelists, with indie producer Nineteen- range of issues. Fifteen’s Vicki Betihavas closer to them than the doubters In the first of six e-events a broadly based panel of media – ITV’s Colin Smith and Tom Morrod of Screen Digest. Morrod company bosses and investors and a financial advisor con- suggested the transition to 3D would be “more complicated fronted the biggest question of the year: “The credit crunch than from [black and white] to colour, digital or high defini- and how to survive it”. Shed Productions boss Eileen Gal- tion”. lagher, Channel 4 chair Luke Johnson, media consultant Later that month the communications minister, Stephen and digital investor Peter Bazalgette and Thomas Dey from Carter, addressed a standing-room only event the day after

8 R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 RTS Futures: 1 Audience at the Futures event, ‘From script to screen’; 2 Presenter Davina McCall and producer Phil Edgar-Jones at the Futures event, ‘Me and my producer’. 3 BBC Blast interviewing students at the RTS Student Television Awards and Masterclasses; 2 3 Panellists at the Futures event, ‘The art of the interview’: 4 Jon Ronson, documentary maker; 5 Miquita Oliver, 4Music presenter; 6 Nick Robinson, BBC political editor; 7 Michael Brunson, writer 4 5 6 7 and broadcaster he delivered the Government’s Digital Britain White Paper. could lobby for new rules that would allow them to reduce This was the first opportunity for senior broadcasters to get the supply of advertising airtime and thus raise prices and direct clarification of what the report would mean for them: their revenues. most of the evening was devoted to a very illuminating ques- In November the new head of Channel 4, Julian Bellamy, tion and answer session. said “multichannel schedules are dominated by a blizzard of In October the question was “Sport on TV: we’ve never undemanding entertainment choices” and “television as a had it so good?” In terms of quality and quantity, the answer whole is becoming more averse to deliberate acts of cultural from the panel was a unanimous yes. But Sky Sport managing provocation… there is less surprise and variety than there director Barney Francis, BBC director of sport Barbara Slater, should be.” Premier League director of public policy Bill Bush and IMG Only Channel 4 stands against conformity, Bellamy senior vice-president Andrew Wildblood found other issues claimed, and he outlined his commissioning plans in the light on which they profoundly disagreed. At the heart of the debate of axing long-running reality shows, such as Big Brother, Wife was the ability of pay channels to deny many events to free-to- Swap and How Clean Is Your House? air broadcasters (and, by extension, poorer fans), set against the limited PSB airtime available for sports coverage. RTS lectures The final e-event had the rather mischievous title, “ITV The prestigious RTS lectures provide another platform for and Channel 4 – the next CEOs?”, in which a panel of experts addressing major issues in public policy, programme making offered unsolicited advice to the boards of the two broadcast- and broadcasting technology. ers on the kind of person they should be trying to recruit. Dig- The first of two RTS Huw Wheldon Memorial Lectures was ital investor Peter Bazalgette, All3Media’s Steve Morrison and given in January, by comedian Sue Perkins. The theme of her Maggie Brown from the Guardian also outlined what they saw lecture, “Wit’s end: British comedy at a crossroads”, was that as the key tasks for the soon-to-be announced new CEOs. there is a growing danger that broadcasters and writers will be so “cowed by the climate of complaint hysteria” that the RTS dinners quality of television entertainment will fall. The Society’s regular public forums – the RTS dinners, lectures, Perkins argued that that there had been a growing ten- early-evening events and RTS Veterans’ lunches – continue dency for people to complain about programmes either to engage significant audiences. The dinners are planned to before or long after they aired – without actually watching introduce new thoughts and ideas into the public domain, the offending shows in between – conditions she labelled leading to wider debate. They provide an opportunity to hear “retrospective outrage” and “ psychic complaining”. and question those at the top of the broadcasting profession. This perception that broadcasters might be giving too In March Dawn Airey, chair and CEO of Five, made a robust much weight to complaints resurfaced in the two RTS Vet- defence of her channel’s financial prospects as an independ- erans events. ent UK player, but said she was still committed to a mar- Professor Phil Redmond gave the second Wheldon lecture, riage with Channel 4 if the terms were right. She stirred con- “Whose children, whose television?”. He contended that troversy with the suggestion that commercial broadcasters scrapping children’s programming to save money was8

R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 9 Television proﬁ les: 1 Richard Klein, controller of BBC Four; 2 Angela Jain, head of E4; 3 Oona King, head of diversity, Channel 4; 4 Aardman Animation; and RTS Veterans guests 5 Sir Terry Wogan; and 6 Michael Palin

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8a short-sighted strategy for public service broadcasters that could imperil their own future. If kids lose interest in TV, Redmond said, the country as a whole would be the poorer and “lose a brilliant tool for cultural and social cohesion”. He also suggested that public service broadcasters could make their resources go further and revitalise their output by merging Channel 4 and the BBC. RTS Veterans In the ﬁ rst of the year’s two RTS Veterans lunches, Sir Terry Wogan’s reminiscences were mingled with forceful opinions on the state of the BBC. He said that the print media had used the “Sachsgate scandal to beat the BBC, they hoped, to death”. A much more vulnerable BBC must recover some of its assertiveness, he argued, or face being further undermined. 5 The second Veterans speaker, Michael Palin, also had criti- cal things to say about the corporation’s response to viewers’ complaints – but even more astringent than Wogan’s. In a wide-ranging discussion with interviewer Raymond Snoddy, Palin said he felt he had been “very let down” by the BBC sid- ing with a “serial complainer” who had accused him of bias. BBC managers, said Palin, had become much more timid and less willing to back their creative talent – a new Monty Python’s Flying Circus would not get a commission today, he feared. Television magazine/Publications The Society’s monthly magazine, Television, is very highly regarded for its topical and incisive coverage of key broadcasting debates. Two special supplements were published: the ﬁ rst analysed the interim Digital Britain report; the second was 4 aimed at students and young people interested in television. Digital Britain carried detailed analysis of the Govern- 6 ment’s proposals by the Ingenious Consulting Network and

10 R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 3 an edited version of a heavyweight roundtable examination of the issues involving Sir Christopher Bland, Robin Foster and Steve Hewlett. The publication received a great deal of praise in broadcasting circles. The student supplement, headlined “How to make it to the top”, packaged reports from a number of RTS Futures events, write-ups of the RTS Masterclasses and details of the RTS Student Television Awards winners and nominees. Four thousand copies were distributed by the RTS Centres, concentrating on colleges with media-related courses. Television’s coverage of the issues around Digital Britain provided a ﬁ ne example of how the RTS can enhance public understanding of complex debates that often happen out of public view. In addition to the aforementioned supplement, Television carried a succession of articles looking at aspects of the developing digital economy, such as the prospects for programme makers selling shows directly to viewers online. The July issue concentrated on analysis, and reaction to the publication, of the ﬁ nal Digital Britain report. Television’s carefully researched assessment of Britain’s overall place in the digital world order was widely admired. Much of Television’s May issue was devoted to the challenges facing broadcasters and producers in the nations and regions of the UK; October’s issue carried full coverage of the RTS Cambridge Convention debates. In addition to penetrating book reviews, “think pieces” by invited guests and regular analysis of trends in technology, Television carried reports of RTS events, including those organised by many of its Centres. Articles examined organisations and trends as diverse as: campaigner-funded factual programmes, pay-walls, Fox Television and special supplement covers News, the European Broadcasting Union, outsourcing of TV post production to India, sport’s pioneering of broadcasting technologies, Shed Media, 3DTV, Hulu, broadcasting in China, NBC Universal International, DCD Media, Aard-8

R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 11 RTS awards: 1 RTS Craft & Design Awards winner – The X Factor; 2 RTS Educational Television Awards winner, Can’t Read, Can’t Write, with host Professor Tanya Byron (left); 3 RTS Student Television Awards winner for Postgraduate Factual

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8man Animation, Top Up TV and the funding crisis that is activities, the RTS has adapted the presentation and reduced hitting TV training courses. ticket prices by up to a third in response to the economic Diarists included: Dan Brooke, Mike Darcey, Steve Mor- climate. The Society recognises the fi nancial pressures on rison, Stewart Purvis CBE, Mark Thompson and Richard producers and broadcasters and has sought to balance these Woolfe; and there were profi les of Tony Ball, Colette Bowe, against the relatively infl exible costs of providing public Tony Cohen, Alex Connock, Richard Holloway, Eric Huggers, opportunities to celebrate the highest standards of achieve- Angela Jain, Oona King, Richard Klein and Stuart Murphy. ment in broadcasting.. The RTS Television Journalism Awards 2007-08 were pre- Website sented at the London Hilton in February and hosted by Anna An average of 15,900 people used the RTS website each Botting. The Judges’ Award was presented to Zimbabwean month, although there was considerable seasonal variation: news teams collectively: “several extraordinary, brave peo- in November the site had over 25,400 visitors. The most pop- ple have taken great risks to work with western journalists ular pages related to the Society’s events and awards. and broadcasters because of their passionate belief that the The full text of all Television articles is put on the web- real story of Zimbabwe must reach a wider world,” said the site one month after the print publication date. Search term Awards jury. analysis suggests that several dozen visitors, even in a quiet The BBC’s business correspondent Robert Peston was the month, are using the site for research purposes. For most man of the moment, bagging both Television Journalist of the months the most frequent country of origin for visitors, after Year and Specialist Journalist of the Year, and a large share of the UK and US, was China, followed by Germany. Scoop of the Year (for the BBC News Channel’s coverage of The RTS Futures website attracted 14,212 visitors in the the HBOS/Lloyds merger). The Gold Medal was presented to course of the year, of whom 10,700 were unique. Given that the former ITN chief and academic and now regulator, Stew- a quarter of all visits were direct (that is, not via a reference art Purvis CBE. link or a search engine) those who visited more than once The RTS Programme Awards 2008 were presented at the were almost certainly members. Each visitor viewed an aver- Grosvenor House Hotel in March by RTS Chair Wayne Gar- age of 3.4 pages. vie. The evening was hosted by Rory Bremner. The award for Actor – Male went to Ben Whishaw for his role in Crimi- RTS Awards nal Justice; Andrea Riseborough won Actor – Female for The The RTS’s awards provide the gold standard of peer recogni- Devil’s Whore, which also secured the Writer Award for Peter tion. The ceremonies, produced by RTS Enterprises, continue Flannery and the Drama Serial Award. Richard Holloway won to be well attended thanks to the unparalleled integrity of the the Judges’ Award and Bruce Forsyth was given the Lifetime judging process, the continual refi nement of awardaward catego- Achievement Award. Twenty-seven Awards were made in all. ries to match emerging technologies and new areas of crea- The RTS Student Television Awards 2008 were presented tive expertise, and the level of professionalism with which in May at the Barbican Centre. The ceremony, which was they are mounted. hosted by comedian Jack Whitehall, was preceded by a morn- 3 Although these events help fund the Society’s charitable ing of masterclasses covering drama, lifestyle, factual,8

12 R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 RTS awards: 1 RTS Craft & Design Awards Lifetime Achievement – Bobby Warans; 2 RTS Television Journalism Awards winner Robert Peston; 3 RTS Innovation Awards Judges’ Award – BBC iPlayer; 4 RTS Programme Awards winner Harry Hill’s TV Burp; 5 RTS Young Technologist of the Year, Jon Block

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1 The audience at the RTS early-evening event, ‘3D: A glimpse into the future’ and panellists: 2 Bob Mayson; 3 Tom Morrod; 4 Vicki Betihavas; 5 Gerry O’Sullivan; and 6 Colin Wilson. RTS Dinner speakers: 7 Julian Bellamy, head of Channel 4 and 7 Dawn Airey, chair and CEO, Five; and 8 RTS Huw Wheldon Memorial Lecturer Professor Phil Redmond

14 R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 2

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8entertainment, presenting and comedy, each led by high- “Greg Dyke Speaks.” Dyke announced that it was his valedic- 1 Sue Perkins proﬁle practitioners. The Awards were presented by Peter tory address and used his speech to criticise the BBC Trust and gave an RTS Salmon, director of BBC North. suggested that responsibility for regulation be handed over to Huw Wheldon The RTS Educational Television Awards 2008 were hosted Ofcom, while a new BBC Board, with its own non-executive Memorial Lecture by professor Tanya Byron and the awards were presented by chairman and both executive and non-executive members, on the dangers RTS Honorary Secretary David Lowen. The Innovation Award would take on the role of running the organisation. of censoring TV went to BBC News School Report and the Campaigns and Sea- Despite agreeing that executive salaries are too high at comedy. An RTS sons – RTS/NIACE Award was won by Jamie’s Ministry of Food. the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, Dyke took the opportunity to early-evening At the RTS Craft & Design Awards 2008-09 the Lifetime encourage industry support for the BBC, referring to it as “the event in December Achievement Award went to Bobby Warans. The Judges’ most reliable, durable and perpetual guarantor of journalistic gave the boards Award was given to Florian Wieder and Dave Davey for their independence in Britain today”. of ITV and set design and lighting contribution to The X Factor. The He welcomed the appointment of a “credible chairman” Channel 4 some Awards, which were made in 25 categories, were presented in Archie Norman at ITV and was also supportive of the unsolicited advice at the Park Lane Hotel in London. The evening was hosted by appointment of Terry Burns as chair of Channel 4. on choosing their Justin Lee Collins. Bristol Centre’s programme included a behind-the-scenes new CEOs. The The RTS Innovation Awards were presented in November visit to the BBC’s Autumnwatch and the North West’s Anthony panellists were: at Bafta in London. The evening was hosted by Jeff Henry, H Wilson Lecture 2009 was presented by Gavin and Stacey 2 Steve Morrison, Brent Hoberman, Martha Lane Fox and David Lowen. The co-creators and co-stars, James Corden and Ruth Jones, who CEO, All3Media; Awards were sponsored by BBC, BSkyB, ITV, Microsoft and offered insights on the art and craft of comedy writing. 3 Maggie Brown, Virgin Media Television Thames Valley Centre continued to provide a rich pro- journalist; and 4 The Awards, which were made in seven categories, gramme of discussions on technology and engineering. Peter Bazalgette, emphasise the use of technology to empower what were Wales produced two Welsh-language events at the National digital investor once regarded as passive viewers or consumers. They explic- Eisteddfod in Bala. In partnership with Ofcom, the Centre itly recognise trends such as mobile content delivery, social debated the interaction between the Welsh language and networking and user-generated content. The Judges’ Award new media. And with ITV Wales the RTS honoured a televi- was made to the BBC iPlayer. sion phenomenon as Cefn Gwlad celebrated 25 years record- The Society is extremely grateful to our awards presenters, ing Welsh rural social history. all of whom donate their services. RTS awards are staged by Centres continued to stage a range of awards ceremonies RTS Enterprises. to promote and encourage the achievement of high standards of creativity. National and regional Centres The RTS Centres continued to organise an impressive range IBC of local events, which are considered in detail in the Centre The Society is a partner in the IBC, Europe’s premier broad- reports on pages 19-25. cast technology event, which is held in Amsterdam’s RAI Highlights include the London Centre Christmas Lecture, Centre in September.8

R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 15 RTS Futures speakers: 1 Alice Nutter; 2 Tony Jordan; 3 Katie Brand; 4 Jon Plowman; 5 Derren Litten; and 6 RTS Cambridge Convention chair Mark Thompson

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8Despite the dire economic climate, attendance for the conference and exhibition was down only 7% to 45,000. Fur- thermore, of the 1,300 exhibitors, more than 100 were new – and there was a new Chinese pavilion. The specialist zones for digital signage, IPTV and mobile TV attracted particular attention – almost as much as the stir around stereoscopic 3D fi lm and video production techniques. More than 60 sessions were held during the IBC conference, involving some 300 international speakers. 3 Governance The Board of Trustees met four times in the course of the year. The Trustees have complied with their obligation to have regard to the Commission’s guidance on public benefi t. The guidance is the benchmark against which the Society’s activities are measured. The Board of Trustees can have up to nine members. The Advisory Council usually meets twice during the year. The formal division of responsibilities between the two bodies makes best use of the expertise of a large Advisory Coun- cil, with a Board of Trustees of a size recommended by the Charity Commission. The Advisory Council can have up to 4 15 directly elected members serving three-year terms; and in recognition of the vital role played by the Centres, the 14 Centre Chairs; the four Honorary Offi cers; and up to six others who may be appointed or co-opted. The Advisory Council meetings receive reports from the Centres and review and advise on the Society’s activities. At the January meeting the guest speaker was Claire Powell, chief adviser, BBC editorial policy. She leads a team of 15 in the Editorial Policy Unit who give advice to content makers and those in the marketing and promotion departments. They specialise in identifying harm and offence, which used to be taste and decency. This 6 5 involves language, sexual content and violence and every-

16 R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 1 RTS Futures audience, and debating Independently Funded News Consortia with: 2 Ten Alps’s Alex Connock; 3 ITN’s John Hardie; 4 STV Group’s Rob Woodward; and 5 Guardian Media Group’s Mark Dodson

1 thing in between. She was also a member of the taste and standards task force created after the Ross and Brand affair and headed by Alan Yentob and Roly Keating. Powell said taste and decency were in the forefront of BBC thinking. Jana Bennett had briefed that distasteful language should be kept to a minimum and needed to be editorially jus- tified. Programme makers were worried and unsure and had lost their sense of sure-footedness. The BBC was under the media spotlight, the management was preoccupied and the Trust and the new Audience Councils were worried. 2 3 One of the key issues to do with artists and standards, she said, was the role of the BBC – “Do we reflect society or do we lead it?” Programme-makers are faced with different decisions by different overseeing bodies. Gwyneth Paltrow’s appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show in May 2008 appealed across the board. There was a flirtatious exchange and at the end of the interview he said “I’d like to fuck you”. The independent producer decided to leave it in. The BBC received 230 calls of complaint and three people took the matter further to the Complaints Unit, where the complaints weren’t upheld. They then complained to the 4 5 Trust, which overturned the decision and decided the remark had “exceeded the audience’s expectations”. However, Ofcom did not even entertain the complaints made to it, judging that the programme was appropriately scheduled and signposted. The background to the Ross- Brand incident was also discussed. In April a Special Council Meeting was held to consider a report from Deloitte on expanding RTS activity outside London. The report was seen as a useful intervention and a wide range of views were expressed on its proposals. The proposal for tiering Centres in three categories did not find favour. A detailed note of the discussion was prepared for the Executive Committee.8

R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 17 1 2 3 4 5

6 7

10 9 8

RTS speakers: 8The June Advisory Council meeting received a report from sory Council Members and Offi cers for giving us so much of 1 RTL Group CEO David Lowen, the Honorary Secretary, on the fi rst proposed their time. In particular we are grateful to Justine Bower and Gerhard Zeiler; actions following the Deloitte report. The “tiering” proposal Mervyn Hall, whose terms of offi ce as members of the Advi- 2 ITV COO John was considered unhelpful and should be abandoned. All sory Council came to an end. Cresswell; Centres should have access to funds via head offi ce to sup- 3 Ofcom CEO Ed port their activities. RTS national events in 2009 Richards; 4 Eileen The appointment of a regional development director and 19 January RTS Huw Wheldon Memorial Lecture: Wit’s End? Gallagher, CEO, PA based at an offi ce in Salford should go ahead and an British comedy at a crossroads: Sue Perkins Shed productions; outside company should be commissioned to manage the 29 January RTS Futures event: The art of the interview 5 Luke Johnson, selection process, with a Centre representative to sit on the 26 February RTS Television Journalism Awards 2007-08 former chair selection panel. 17 March RTS Programme Awards 2008 of Channel 4; There was lively debate and the proposals were accepted 31 March RTS dinner: Dawn Airey 6 Television by the majority of members. (The impact of the adverse eco- 7 April RTS Futures event: From script to screen roundtable nomic climate on revenues has caused the appointment of 22 April E-event: The credit crunch and how to survive it participants (from the regional development director to be delayed until there 27 April RTS Veterans lunch: Sir Terry Wogan left) Robin Foster, are reliable indicators of economic recovery). There was also 8 May RTS Student Television Awards 2008 and RTS Sir Christopher discussion of a paper on health and safety and the introduc- Masterclasses Bland and Steve tion of new systems, templates and training days. 13 May RTS Futures event: Me and my producer Hewlett; 7 Sir The guest speaker was Claire Enders. After working in sen- 19 May E-event: Sir Michael Lyons Michael Lyons, ior corporate development and strategy roles in all sectors of 27 May RTS AGM chair, BBC Trust; the UK entertainment industry she started Enders Analysis 4 June E-event: 3DTV: a glimpse into the future 8 David Elstein, in 1997. It is one of the leading independent research com- 15 June RTS Educational Television Awards 2008 chair, DCD Media; panies in the UK and focuses on analysing signifi cant issues 17 June E-event: Stephen Carter 9 Stephen Carter, and companies in fi xed and mobile telecoms and in tradi- 30 June RTS Veterans lunch: Michael Palin former minister for tional and online media. 16 September RTS Huw Wheldon Memorial Lecture: Prof Phil communications, She presented some trenchant and sometimes controver- Redmond technology and sial views on digital Britain and said exactly what the BBC, 16-18 September RTS Cambridge Convention boadcasting; ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 needed to do. 19 October E-event: Sport on TV: we’ve never had it so and 10 Michael good? Bunce, former Recognition 27 October RTS Futures event: Multiplatform commissioning director of the RTS Fellowships were awarded in 2009 to Peter Bennett- 4 November RTS dinner: Julian Bellamy RTS, receiving the Jones, Dorothy Byrne, David Henshaw, Richard Holloway and 10 November RTS Innovation Awards 2009 RTS Gold Medal Jane Tranter. 23 November RTS Craft & Design Awards 2008-09 from the late Sir Once again we thank our Royal Patron, HRH The Prince of 30 November RTS Futures event: How to get ahead in comedy Bob Phillis Wales, the Trustees of the Society, all the RTS Chairs, Advi- 3 December E-event: ITV and Channel 4 – the next CEOs

18 R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 National and Regional Centres

Bristol London

Bristol Centre had a very busy year and, by making good use The London Centre has continued its policy of providing of contacts within broadcasting and other organisations, the events and activities aimed at the whole of the capital’s televi- Centre increased both the number of public meetings and the sion community to complement the Society’s centrally organ- spread of subjects covered by them. ised activities. This strategy has been increasingly effective. Attendance at meetings also rose compared with last year The highlights of the year were the London Student Awards, but this did not translate into increased membership. Con- a visit to the revived Ealing Studios, and a headline-making tinuing efforts will be made in this area. London Centre Christmas Lecture from Greg Dyke. Highlights from the events schedule included: The London Student Awards were presented during an ■ A fascinating look at collaborative documentaries, intro- evening ceremony at the London Television Centre in March. duced by radical programme maker Mandy Rose The judges reported a healthy improvement in the quality of ■ A site visit behind the scenes of the BBC’s Autumnwatch. entries. With more colleges involved now, the nominees and Members and guests were able to meet presenters and pro- winners demonstrated a wide range of student work. duction staff Three winners were nominated for the national RTS Stu- ■ A scriptwriting workshop with Lisa Holdsworth, which was dent Television Awards, and one of them won the Drama well attended by freelance writers and producers category. ■ Things we forgot we knew – a look at imaging principles Thanks to the ongoing support of ITV, the Events Com- with international expert Dave Roberts. mittee was able to continue using the facilities of the Lon- The Centre continues to draw support from the broadcast- don Television Centre on the South Bank. The majority of the ers and production companies in the region but has not been fortnightly events in the spring and autumn seasons were able to attract sponsorship revenue for its Annual Awards held there. and Student Awards. As a result, these events have been Over the course of the year 14 events explored different designed with limited budgets in mind. aspects of the creativity, business and technology of television, The Centre Committee is very grateful for the efforts of ranging from an examination of Digital Britain to the making the hard-working volunteers who organise the events pro- of The Diary of Anne Frank, and from the manufacturers’ view gramme. of IBC to Sky News’s coverage of the Afghan elections. Denis Lomax, Chair Events have regularly attracted up to 70 people. BBC director of archive content Roly Keating’s “Unlocking the BBC archive” was heavily oversubscribed even when capacity was increased to more than 120. Devon & Cornwall The London Centre played an active role in Ravensbourne College’s annual live student television event by holding a The Centre’s “Breaking into the media” event at Plymouth televised conference on interactivity followed by a tour of the University in November attracted a record number of stu- college’s facilities. dents. More than 300 took part in a day of lectures, seminars In early December the Centre organised a visit for members and demonstrations. and guests to Ealing Studios. This was the first group to be The day also included the Devon and Cornwall RTS Stu- invited to tour the studio centre following its change of own- dent Television Awards, which this year featured entries from ership. The tour, together with a very frank discussion with more colleges than ever before. James Spring, Ealing Studios’ managing director, gave a real The Centre has been gathering feedback from the students insight into the company’s plans. The aim is to rebuild the stu- and tutors who attended, with a view to extending its 2010 dios as a major centre for the British film and television indus- calendar of events. try with a community of related organisations on site. The Centre Committee Chair has been actively seeking To round off the year, the 21st London Centre Christmas new, younger members for the committee and has recruited Lecture was “Greg Dyke speaks”. This made national head- industry professionals in the region to a “pool” of speakers lines as Dyke presented his valedictory address. His thought- prepared to impart their programme-making knowledge provoking critique of many aspects of broadcast television every so often to anyone interested to hear what they have was followed by almost an hour of questioning from an audi- to say. ence of more than 200 people. The annual Programme Awards were moved from Novem- David Thomas, Chair ber 2009 to January 2010 because of the hospitalisation at short notice of the jury chair. UTV managing director Michael Wilson stood in and appointed an impressive panel. The awards secured a healthy crop of entries, despite the Midlands difficult year that television practitioners faced in the region. The redesigned, less formal awards ceremony was a sell This was a year of consultation and change as the Midlands out. Centre took stock of its activities to ensure both their rele- Jeremy Hibbard, Chair vance to members and to reflect television developments.8

R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 19 2

1 4

20 R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 8A consultation involved current and prospective members. Wayne Garvie, managing director of BBC Worldwide, 1 Greg Dyke October’s Annual Awards were completely refocused, and delivered the Centre’s annual Keynote Lecture in Newcastle made his embraced the theme of “Evolution”; awards categories were in April. “A world to win” explored international opportuni- valedictory changed and judging was done online. ties for formats and co-productions. The audience of stu- address in the Screen West Midlands and Advantage West Midlands dents, RTS members and industry professionals were urged London Centre became major new sponsors for the awards, which were to “think bigger” when developing ideas and projects from Christmas held at Birmingham’s prestigious Town Hall. Other sponsors the region. Lecture; 2 Devon included Birmingham City Council and the BBC. Other events included the annual Review of the Year, & Cornwall Derbyshire-born actor Robert Lindsay was awarded the which was held at Live Theatre in Newcastle in December. Centre’s ‘Breaking Baird Medal in recognition of his contribution to the region. Graeme Thompson, Chair into broadcasting’ Several Midlands RTS Futures events were staged to event at Plymouth packed and appreciative audiences. University; The annual Breaking into Broadcasting event, held in 3 London Centre November for students and young people, was as popular North West presentation on as ever. the making of Rather appropriately, John Logie-Baird’s grandson was the Highlights and new initiatives from the RTS North West Cen- The Diary of Anne speaker at this year’s Baird Lecture. tre in 2009 included the following. Frank; and The year end saw a number of significant personnel The Centre’s first RTS Futures Masterclass was hosted 4 London Centre changes. These included the retirement of Gerry King, after by Lime Pictures in Liverpool; creative director Tony Wood visit to Ealing 25 years as Honorary Secretary, and of former Chair and spoke about creating and sustaining multi-platform series. Studios long-standing Centre Committee member John Ross-Bar- The prestigious Anthony H Wilson Lecture 2009 was pre- nard, both of whom had contributed so much to the Centre. sented by Gavin and Stacey co-creators and co-stars, James Janet Wootton also retired as Chair and from the Committee. Corden and Ruth Jones. The duo offered a 300-strong audi- Janet Wootton, Chair ence insights on the the art and craft of comedy writing. The lecture was hosted by local broadcaster Becky Want. The RTS North West Student Awards attracted a wide range of entries in Drama, Factual and Animation. The ceremony North East and Border to announce the winners was hosted by local broadcaster Ranvir Singh and also featured John Griffin from Skins and The year got off to a spectacular start when more than 500 Shameless, interviewed by Ed Pugh on the opportunities and media professionals, sponsors and guests gathered at the challenges of drama producing. Sage, Gateshead for the Centre’s Annual Awards. The cer- More than 400 of the region’s television community emony – hosted by Nicholas Owen of BBC News – recognised attended the RTS North West Awards in November. Winners the achievements of the region’s production teams in televi- included The Street, Panorama, Shameless, Michael McIntyre’s sion, multimedia and online. Roadshow and Dragons’ Den. It also showcased the work of students, with awards for Helen Bullough, Chair Animation, Factual and Drama. The Centre’s long-serving Honorary Secretary, Tony Edwards, received the prestigious Tony Pilgrim Award from RTS chief executive Simon Albury. The Centre Award went to Republic of Ireland David Baillie of Wildcat Films in Cumbria for his innovative work on projects such as Planet Earth for the BBC. In March the Centre organised a visit to the recently rebuilt In March, more than 50 videos made by young people Wexford Opera House; the tour concentrated on the facilities across the North East and Cumbria were celebrated at the for television and radio broadcasting. 21st annual RTS Young People’s Digital Video Showcase. The Committee put a lot of effort in the early part of the The event was held at the University of Teesside and included year into encouraging students in third-level institutes to animations, dramas, sci-fi adventures, documentaries and enter the Student Awards. Members also attended the major news reports. Nearly 400 young people took part in making the institutes’ open days and distributed the Television student entries, which came from schools and youth groups. supplement. The young people, aged between seven and 19, were able This paid off with an increase in entries, including, for the to get feedback about their work from media professionals first time, in the Undergraduate Animation category. The tim- and gain insights into opportunities in higher education and ing of the Student Awards has been brought into line with the creative industries. that of other RTS Centres.8

R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 21 1 The RTS Midland Awards saw winners of the Centre’s earlier Next Big Presenter competition take part in the Awards ceremony. Birmingham City University School of Media student Charlote Percival (left) interviewed Award winner Selina Chilton 1 2

8A memorable presentation in June, “OB From the top of a mountain”, described the unique outside broadcast by Kairos Communications for RTÉ of the 2008 “Reek” Sunday Mass for pilgrims held atop Croagh Patrick Mountain. In July members and guests toured RTÉ’s new digital news production studio and facilities at Donnybrook and sat in on the production of RTÉ 9:00pm news bulletin. The Centre also arranged a tour of Croke Park Stadium and the headquarters and media arm of the Gaelic Athletic Asso- ciation (Ireland’s biggest sporting organisation) in September. A November presentation on the design, management and control of television lighting and multimedia systems attracted a large audience. The speaker was Peter Canning, director of High Resolution Lighting. Later that month members of the Centre were invited to “The Last Picture Show”, a farewell event for John Kelleher on his retirement as director of the Film Classiﬁ cation Ofﬁ ce. Charles Byrne, Chair

Scotland

The annual Student Awards were presented in January. Standards in all three categories, Animation, Drama and Factual, were high, with the entries in Animation particularly strong. RTS Scotland is grateful to STV for providing ofﬁ ce facilities and equipment for the judging of the Awards, and to the University of Glasgow for the use of the Gilmorehill 3 Centre for the ceremony. In a new initiative, all three category winners were entered for the Celtic Media Festival. This process will be repeated in 2010. In December STV’s director of broadcasting and regulatory affairs, Bobby Hain, addressed an audience of more than 100 RTS members, media professionals and members of the public, on “STV’s programme policy in a digital age”. Hain made a robust defence of STV’s policy of dropping some network programmes in favour of locally sourced shows, saying it made the schedule more diverse, affordable and relevant at a time of radical change in broadcasting. Henry Eagles, Chair 4

2 RTS Midlands Centre Honorary Secretary Gerry King (left) Southern retired after 21 years in the role. John Ross-Barnard, a Midlands Centre Committee member for 25 years and former Chair, also The Centre’s ﬁ rst event of the year, the Annual Awards Din- retired, as did the current Centre Chair, Janet Wootton (second ner, which included the Student Awards, received a record right). RTS Centres liaison ofﬁ cer Maggie Greenhalgh also number of entries from professional programme makers and attended the Centre’s Christmas supper. 3 RTS Southern Centre’s universities alike. The standard of the students’ work was ‘In conversation with… Alastair Stewart OBE; 4 RTS Republic of particularly high and the winner in each of the categories Ireland Centre Student Awards winners competed in the national RTS Student Television Awards.

22 R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 1

March saw a demonstration of 3DTV at Arqiva’s headquarters in Winchester. The event, which was organised jointly with North Hampshire branch of the IET, was well attended. As anticipated, there was a mixed response to the amount of progress being made in the area of 3DTV. At the Centre’s AGM in April every member of the Com- mittee agreed to stand for another year and a new member, from the Bournemouth Media School at Bournemouth Uni- versity, boosted the strength of the Committee to 12. The Centre repeated the collaboration with Southamp- ton Solent University and the Wessex Media Group to hold another “In conversation with…” evening, this time with Esther Rantzen. The subject was “Reality television – what reality?” and the audience comprised students, teaching staff, members of the public and RTS members. In the ﬁrst of three site visits, members and guests visited the Chilbolton Observatory near Winchester, which is oper- ated by the Science and Technology Facilities Council and supports UK and international research. The second visit was to Sky’s HD facility at Isleworth and also involved Arqiva staff and members of the North Hamp- shire branch of the IET. The third, a tour of Pinewood Studios, 2 was for students from Southampton Solent and Bourne- mouth Universities. The annual IBC Review was held in October at Arqiva’s headquarters. The panel consisted of industry professionals and two students from Southampton Solent University who were supported by the RTS to attended IBC in Amsterdam. The ﬁnal event was the very well attended “In conversation with… Alastair Stewart OBE”. He was interviewed by television and radio presenter Debbie Thrower. The evening was organised in association with Southampton Solent Univer- sity and the Wessex Media Group. The Centre Committee thanks Arqiva for continuing to host technical events and Southampton Solent University, which continues to host production events. Their co-operation and contribution is very much appreciated. Jan Beal, Chair

Thames Valley Centre 3 The Centre continued to mount a range of free monthly educational talks, panel sessions and visits. Many diverse subjects were covered, from how television will be funded in the 1 North East and the Border Centre’s 21st annual RTS Young future to IPTV and the next generation of video effects for People’s Digital Video Showcase; 2 Southern Centre’s ‘In film and TV. conversation with… Ester Rantzen CBE; 3 RTS North West Visits were arranged to the BSkyB news and HD studios Centre’s Anthony H Wilson Lecturers James Corden and Ruth and to the National Physical Laboratory. Jones flank the event’s chair, ITV News presenter Lucy Meacock Two presentations, the first on TwoFour54, the Abu Dhabi Media Zone, the second on 3DTV developments at BSkyB, proved to be big attractions.8

R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 23 1

1 Unforgiven 8An “Interview with Ian Baird”, grandson of John Logie forward their student award winners to a specially convened won Best Baird, shed an interesting light on the formation of the RTS. jury. The new awards were presented at the Festival in Caer- Drama Series at Reports on these evening events were posted in the narfon and will now become a permanent ﬁxture at the Celtic Yorkshire Centre’s Thames Valley section of the RTS website. Media Festival. Programme The Centre held its 19th annual fund-raising Dinner Dance Two Welsh-language events were held at the National Awards, which in November. This took place at the Beaumont House Hotel, Eisteddfod in Bala. In partnership with Ofcom, the Centre were presented by Old Windsor, where 428 guests had an excellent evening and debated the interaction between the Welsh language and Barry Cryer OBE which raised funds for the Centre’s educational activities. All new media. And with ITV Wales the RTS honoured a televi- events have been well attended this year by members and sion phenomenon as Cefn Gwlad celebrated 25 years record- non-members from many walks of life. ing Welsh rural social history. The Thames Valley Centre gratefully acknowledges the Two technical visits were arranged during the year. Mem- support given by Snell Ltd in providing a venue to hold the bers and guests had a glimpse into the future from the inner monthly Committee meetings and all those other manufac- sanctum of BT’s exchange in Cardiff, and also visited Dragon turers and organisations that have supported the activities DI at Bridgend, a dedicated facility for the digital restoration of the Centre. of ﬁlm. Neil Dormand, Chair John Morgan, the award-winning promotions producer, entitled a talk to the Centre, “Jonny Wilkinson’s past his best” and showed the audience how to make a promo that grabs viewers’ attention. Wales The Centre Committee sweetened the pill of the AGM by sugar-coating it with nostalgia: presenter Roy Noble sought It was another year of partnerships, big and small, for the the advice of veteran broadcasters Teleri Bevan and Peter Wales Centre. Walker on where to begin writing his autobiography. They At the Llangwm Festival in rural Pembrokeshire the Centre have both published colourful memoirs. hosted a debate on whether “the UK television industry is The University of Glamorgan was the venue for an evening metro-centric, unrepresentative and ignores rural communi- arranged in conjunction with Skillset and Screen Academy ties to their detriment.” Wales. More than 90 students had the opportunity to ques- The Centre collaborated with the Celtic Media Festival to tion a panel of television practitioners in an event entitled, honour student talent across the Celtic countries. Centres put “So you want to get into television?”

24 R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 2 3

5 4

Wales Centre’s year: 2 One of the winners of the inaugural joint RTS/Celtic Media Festival Student Awards, Andrew Grindle; 3 Dai Jones, presenter of Cefn Gwlad; 4 RTS Wales 6 7 8 Centre Student Awards winners; Again in conjunction with Ofcom, the Centre hosted a discus- a night club in Leeds. The evening was hosted by Alex Zane. 5 The Society sion on the future of news media in Wales. “Have we got news This year the Committee decided to enlist the help of a published an for you?” saw Ofcom’s Stewart Purvis CBE set out the issues for local PR and marketing company, which devised a brand and issue of Television the Independently Funded News Consortium for Wales. built a website for the event that enabled students to register devoted to TV Tim Hartley, Chair online for their free tickets. production in This generated a database that the Centre could use to fol- the UK’s nations low up with invitations to other RTS events in Yorkshire. and regions; After the success of the 2008 Careers Day aimed at career 6 RTS/Celtic Yorkshire advisors, the Centre held two more events at Doncaster and Media Festival Hull this year. The events lasted all day, with lunch provided, Student Awards The Big Debate was again held in Leeds at the beginning and involved presentations and workshops to give the advi- winner Fiona of the year, and attracted an audience of members, media sors a better understanding of the potential careers oppor- Hay; 7 Llangwm professionals and students. This year the subject was: “What tunities and difficulties their clients will face getting into Festival RTS does the future hold for sport on TV?” the media. This was organised in collaboration with Screen debaters, the The panel comprised: Brian Barwick, former head of ITV Yorkshire. Reverand Jane and BBC sport as well as former chief executive of the Foot- In February the Centre held a joint event with Pro Vision, Goupillon and ball Association; Paul Duffen, chair of Hull FC; Damian John- a local equipment-hire company and film lab, to discuss the Simon Hart; son, a veteran sports reporter who has covered many World increasing use of HDTV. Panasonic gave a presentation of the and 8 John Cups; Martin Kelner of the Guardian and BBC’s Fighting Talk; latest kit and techniques, followed by a hands-on opportunity Morgan (left) and Nigel Wood, head of the Rugby League. and question and answer session. of JM Creative The second big event was the Programme Awards dinner, The Centre has developed another annual event in Shef- with Wales held in June. It attracted more than 300 guests and show- field in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University. A panel Centre Chair, Tim cased the best of media production in Yorkshire. that included Simon Shaps, Austin Mitchell MP and Sally Hartley (right) The Awards were presented by Barry Cryer OBE and the Joynson, CEO of Screen Yorkshire, discussed the future of at the Centre’s evening was a celebration of all that had been achieved in production in Yorkshire after the demise of ITV Yorkshire. event, ‘Jonny Yorkshire (even though many guests had just been made Partnerships continue with Screen Yorkshire, the regional Wilkinson’s past redundant as ITV closed its production centre in Leeds). film agency, Skillset, Sheffield Hallam, the Yorkshire Society, his best’ The RTS Yorkshire Centre Student Awards attracted over the BBC and the National Media Museum. 400 students and guests to the glamorous surroundings of Terry Mounsey, Chairman

R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 25 ± One person elected by the Advisory Council; Volunteers ± One person elected by the Centre Chairs; ± One person elected by the Principal Patrons Group; The Society is supported by a team of up to 13 full-time staff, ± No more than one additional person co-opted by the Board but the success of its activities is dependent on the expertise of Trustees; and and dedication of the many volunteers who plan and deliver ± The Chair of the Board of Trustees different aspects of its programme Trustees receive a briefing document that includes rules and background on the governance of the Society. The Society ensures that trustees are fully aware of their duties and responsibilities to the charity and these are dis- Fundraising activities cussed at the regular meetings of the Board of Trustees and the Centre Officers. The Society’s two wholly owned subsidiaries, RTS Enter- prises Ltd, which organises awards events and conferences, and RTS (IBC) Ltd, continued to generate surpluses which have been covenanted back to the charity during the year to Risk management fund charitable activities. RTS Enterprises Ltd held a number of awards events and a The major risks to which the Society is exposed as identified conference during the year. RTS (IBC) Ltd holds an 18% inter- by the Board of Trustees are and will continue to be regularly est in the IBC conference and exhibition. reviewed and systems have been and will be established, and, where appropriate, professional advisors have been or will be appointed to mitigate those risks.

2 Structure, governance and management 3 Objectives and activities

Constitution The Society’s objects and its principal activity are the advancement of public education in the science, practice, Royal Television Society is a company limited by guarantee technology and art of television; and the advancement of the and a registered charity governed by its Memorandum and arts and culture, in particular by promoting and encouraging Articles of Association. the achievement of high standards of creativity in television and allied fields. The Society seeks to maintain and strengthen its position as the leading impartial platform for delivering these Organisational structure objects through events organised nationally and through its 14 regional Centres. The Society is UK based with its head office in London. It has The wider public can access and contribute to the charity’s Centres in Bristol, Devon & Cornwall, East Anglia, London, activities though its magazine, website and open events. The Midlands, North East and the Border, North West, Northern Trustees meet four times a year to consider the strategy for Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Southern Counties, delivering public benefit and specialist committees are estab- Thames Valley, Wales and Yorkshire. lished to organise events. The Society has two trading subsidiaries, RTS Enterprises Limited and RTS (IBC) Limited, whose principal activities are the organising and staging of courses, exhibitions and other events related to television and broadcasting. Activities 2009 The Society’s governing body is the Board of Trustees, which comprises: In 2009 the Society has produced a large number of events ± The Honorary Officers from time to time of the Society; to fulfil its strategic and charitable objects. Some of the most

26 R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 significant events are detailed in other parts of this report. The Society is fortunate to be able to call on leading special- Funding sources ists from the television community and allied fields to work together on planning and delivering its programme. The principal funding sources during the year continued to be the profits gifted by the charity’s subsidiaries, patron donations and membership fees. The charity’s wholly owned subsidiaries, RTS Enterprises Limited and RTS (IBC) Limited, gifted profits of £131,034 (2008: £33,374) and £852,877 (2008: £983,651), respectively. 4 Financial review The funds gifted are used by the charity to meet its charitable expenditure. The Trustees are satisfied with the current performance of both subsidiaries, which provide sufficient additional funds for the charity to meet its charitable objectives. Reserves policy Voluntary income remains an invaluable source of income for the charity. During the year income from patrons was In line with Charity Commission guidance, the Board of Trus- £308,545 (2008: £480,675) and membership fees raised were tees has adopted a formal reserves policy. £134,086 (2008: £146,844). This recognises that the income of the society does not arise evenly year on year, or across the year, and so it is prudent to hold appropriate reserves to enable the Society to properly plan its activities. Investment powers, policy The policy also recognises that the reserves that represent the fixed assets and the restricted and designated funds of and performance the Society are not freely available and thus need to be dis- tinguished from free reserves. Under the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Furthermore, the ease of digital transport and copying, Society has the power to make any investment that the Board and the proliferation of new delivery channels and reception of Trustees sees fit. devices, has continued to lead to greater uncertainties about The Board of Trustees’ policy typically favours low-risk the future structure of television, broadcasting and related investments to ensure that a reasonable return is generated audio-visual enterprises. For the Society, as for the industry, while securing charity funds. the past no longer provides a useful compass for charting As can be seen from the balance sheet, investments are the future. held in bank deposits, which also ensures that funds are The recession is having a negative impact in television and available as and when required to facilitate the charity’s related areas and on the organisations that are currently our reserves policy as detailed below. main funders. This will impact on our major sources of rev- As at the year-end the charity had cash balances of enue. £5,296,550 of which £5,116,033 was held on deposit, gener- We plan to maintain annual expenditure during a period in ating interest income of £81,394 over the course of the year. which revenues will be insecure and falling. In the consolidated balance sheet an investment of £54,000 It is therefore the intention of the Board of Trustees to hold is shown representing an 18% interest in the International general reserves representing no more than four years’ aver- Broadcasting Convention. age annual expenditure. This investment generated income of £867,055 during the The Board has taken account of the subsidiaries’ reserves year and the Board of Trustees is happy with the continued when determining this figure. return on this investment. Based on the results for the two years ended 31 Decem- ber 2009, the Society’s reserves policy would stipulate an amount of general reserves of no more than £7m. The level of free reserves as at 31 December 2009 is £5.3m and it is the Board of Trustees’ anticipation that general reserves will fall in the coming years. 5 Plans for future periods The Board of Trustees reviews the reserves policy and the level of reserves at least once a year in the light of current and anticipated levels of income and of the Society’s planned The Society will be maintaining the full range of its activities activities. and reviewing its strategy for the Nations and Regions.

R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 27 6 Administrative details

The Board of Trustees presents its report and consolidated accounts for the year ended 31 December 2009. The ﬁnancial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the Memorandum and Articles of Association and the Statement of Recommended Practice – Accounting and Reporting by Charities (March 2005).

Legal details

Legal entity Governing instrument Date of incorporation Charity number Company limited by guarantee Memorandum and Articles of 12 July 1930 313728 and registered charity Association Company number 00249462

Administrative details

Registered ofﬁce and Bankers Solicitors Auditors principal address National Westminster Bank Plc Farrer & Co Arram Berlyn Gardner 5th Floor Kildare House PO Box 11302 66 Lincoln’s Inn Fields 30 City Road 3 Dorset Rise 332 High Holborn London London EC1Y 2AB London EC4Y 8EN London WC1V 7PD WC2A 3LH

Patron Vice Presidents Chair HRH The Prince of Wales Dawn Airey Iona Jones Wayne Garvie Sir David Attenborough OM Jane Lighting CH CVO CBE FRS David Lynn Vice-Chair Peter Bazalgette Sir Trevor McDonald OBE Carolyn Fairbairn Andy Duncan Ken MacQuarrie Greg Dyke Trevor Phillips OBE John Hardie John Smith Lorraine Heggessey Sir Howard Stringer Ashley Highﬁeld Mark Thompson

28 R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 Directors and Trustees Trustees’ responsibilities

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report The Trustees of the charitable company (“the charity”) are its and the financial statements in accordance with applicable Trustees for the purposes of charity law and throughout this law and regulations. report are collectively referred to as the Board of Trustees. As Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial set out in the Articles of Association the Chair of the Board statements for each financial year. Under that law the Trustees of Trustees is elected by the Board of Trustees for a two-year have elected to prepare the financial statements in accord- term. The Trustees serving during the period of the report are ance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting as follows: Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). The financial statements are required by law to Chair of the Board of Trustees give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Society Sir Robert Phillis at the year end and of its incoming resources and resources expended during that year. In preparing those financial state- Chair ments, the Trustees are required: Wayne Garvie ± To select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; Vice-Chair ± To make judgements and estimates that are reasonable Carolyn Fairbairn and prudent; ± To prepare the financial statements on the going concern Honorary Secretary basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Society David Lowen will continue in business. The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting Honorary Treasurer records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time Grant Murray the financial position of the Society and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act Paul Corley (Elected by the Advisory Council) 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of Mike Darcey (Elected by the Principal Patrons Group) the Society and hence for taking reasonable steps for the pre- Jane Lighting (Co-opted by the Board of Trustees) vention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Graeme Thompson (Elected by the Centre Chairs) The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included Chief Executive on the Society’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom Simon Albury governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. Deputy Chief Executive Claire Price Statement of disclosure to auditor 1 So far as the Trustees are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Society’s auditors are unaware, Audit Committee and Mike Darcey (Chair) 2 They have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken Jane Lighting as Trustees in order to make themselves aware of any rel- Paul Corley evant audit information and to establish that the Society’s Wayne Garvie auditors are aware of that information. Approval Remuneration Committee This Report was approved by the Board of Trustees on Paul Corley (Chair) 24 March 2010 and signed on its behalf by: Wayne Garvie David Lowen Grant Murray Mike Darcey, Chair of the Board of Trustees

R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 29 Consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2009

Independent auditors’ report to the Members of the RTS

We have audited the financial statements of Royal Television Basis of audit opinion Society for the year ended 31 December 2009, which comprise We conducted our audit in accordance with International the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities/Income Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) issued by the Audit- and Expenditure Account, the Group and Charity’s Balance ing Practices Board. An audit includes examination, on a test Sheet and the related notes. These financial statements have basis, of evidence relevant to the amounts and disclosures been prepared under the accounting policies set out therein. in the financial statements. It also includes an assessment of This report is made solely to the charitable company’s the significant estimates and judgements made by the Trus- Members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 tees in the preparation of the financial statements, and of of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been under- whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the chari- taken so that we might state to the charitable company’s table company’s circumstances, consistently applied and Members those matters we are required to state to them in adequately disclosed. an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest We planned and performed our audit so as to obtain all the extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume respon- information and explanations that we consider necessary in sibility to anyone other than the charitable company and its order to provide us with sufficient evidence to give reason- Members as a body for our audit work, for this report, or for able assurance that the financial statements are free from the opinions we have formed. material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or other irregularity or error. In forming our opinion we also evalu- Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and Auditors ated the overall adequacy of the presentation of information The responsibilities of the Trustees (who are also the direc- in the financial statements. tors of the Royal Television Society for the purposes of company law) for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the Opinion financial statements in accordance with applicable law and In our opinion: United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom ± The financial statements give a true and fair view of the Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and for being satis- state of the group’s and the charitable company’s affairs as at fied that the financial statements give a true and fair view are 31 December 2009 and of its incoming resources and appli- set out in the Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities. cation of resources, including its income and expenditure, for Our responsibility is to audit the financial statements in the year then ended; and accordance with relevant legal and regulatory requirements ± The financial statements have been properly prepared and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted We report to you our opinion as to whether the financial Accounting Principles; and statements give a true and fair view, have been properly pre- ± The financial statements have been prepared in accord- pared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted ance with the Companies Act 2006; and Accounting Practice and have been prepared in accordance ± The information provided in the Trustees’ Annual Report is with the Companies Act 2006. We also report to you whether, consistent with the financial statements. in our opinion, the information given in the Trustees’ Annual Report is consistent with the financial statements. In addition, we report to you if, in our opinion, the char- Date: 20 April 2010 ity has not kept adequate accounting records, if the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records Paul Berlyn (Senior Statutory Auditor) and returns, if we have not received all the information and For and behalf of explanations we require for our audit, or if certain disclosure Arram Berlyn Gardner of Trustees’ remuneration specified by law are not made. Chartered Accountants We read the Trustees’ Annual Report and consider the Statutory Auditor implications for our report if we become aware of any appar- 30 City Road ent misstatements within it. London EC1Y 2AB

30 R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 Consolidated statement of financial activities/ income and expenditure account for the year ended 31 December 2009

Notes 2009 2009 2009 2008 Restricted Unrestricted Total Total £ £ £ £ Incoming resources Incoming resources from generated funds: Voluntary income 3 – 442,631 442,631 627,519 Activities for generating funds 10 – 1,646,755 1,646,755 1,636,918 Investment income 4 1,606 79,788 81,394 262,371

Incoming resources from charitable activities: Events, conferences and awards 5 – 309,276 309,276 407,760 Magazine sales 5 – 5,236 5,236 8,209

Total incoming resources 1,606 2,483,686 2,485,292 2,942,777

Resources Expended Costs of generating funds: Fundraising costs of generating 6 – 122,684 122,684 140,417 voluntary income Fundraising trading; cost of goods sold and other costs 6 – 856,055 856,055 805,382

Charitable activities: Events, conferences and awards 6 3,671 1,098,105 1,101,776 1,230,428 Magazine publications 6 – 162,693 162,693 143,297

Governance costs 6 – 41,307 41,307 40,596

Total resources expended 3,671 2,280,844 2,284,515 2,360,120

Net incoming (outgoing) resources before transfers (2,065) 202,842 200,777 582,657 Gross transfers between funds – – – –

Net movements in funds (2,065) 202,842 200,777 582,657 Total funds brought forward 102,820 5,417,550 5,520,370 4,937,713

Total Funds carried forward 13,14 100,755 5,620,392 5,721,147 5,520,370

The statement of ﬁnancial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities.

R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 31 Consolidated balance sheet as at 31 December 2009

Notes 2009 2008

£ £ £ £

Fixed assets Tangible assets 9 6,196 57,470 Investments 10 54,018 54,018

60,214 111,488 Current assets Debtors 11 665,316 867,153 Cash at bank 5,296,550 4,867,132

5,961,866 5,734,285 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 12 (300,933) (325,403)

Net current assets 5,660,933 5,408,882

Net assets 5,721,147 5,520,370

Funds Restricted Memorial funds 13 100,755 102,820

Unrestricted General fund 14 5,233,340 5,001,824

Designated Property fund 14 204,162 232,836 Other funds 14 182,890 182,890

Funds 15 5,721,147 5,520,370

Approved by the Board of Trustees on 24 March 2010 and signed on its behalf by

Mike Darcey, Chair of the Board of Trustees

32 R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 Society balance sheet as at 31 December 2009

Notes 2009 2008

£ £ £ £

Fixed assets Tangible assets 9 6,196 57,470 Investments 10 4 4

6,200 57,474 Current assets Debtors 11 704,334 893,607 Cash at bank and in hand 5,223,828 4,784,553

5,928,162 5,678,160 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 12 (213,215) (215,264)

Net current assets 5,714,947 5,462,896

Net assets 5,721,147 5,520,370

Funds Restricted Memorial funds 13 100,755 102,820

Unrestricted General fund 14 5,233,340 5,001,824

Designated Property fund 14 204,162 232,836 Other funds 14 182,890 182,890

Funds 15 5,721,147 5,520,370

Approved by the Board of Trustees on 24 March 2010 and signed on its behalf by

Mike Darcey, Chair of the Board of Trustees

R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 33 Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2009

apportionment of general overheads. 1 Accounting Policies ± Governance costs include those incurred in the governance of the charity and its assets and are primarily associated with constitutional and statutory requirements. 1.1 Accounting convention ± Support costs, which include central office functions, have The financial statements are prepared under the historical been allocated across the categories of charitable expendi- cost convention and in accordance with applicable account- ture, governance costs and the costs of generating funds. The ing standards. The financial statements have been prepared basis of the cost allocation has been explained in the notes in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice, to the accounts. Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2005) issued in March 2005, applicable UK Accounting Standards and the 1.5 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation Companies Act 2006. Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. The Society has taken advantage of the exemption in Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the Financial Reporting Standard No. 1 from the requirement to cost less estimated residual value of each asset over its produce a cash flow statement on the grounds that it is a expected useful life, as follows: small group. Leasehold improvements Straight line over the life of 1.2 Group financial statements the lease These financial statements consolidate the results of the Computer equipment Three years straight line Society, its centres and its wholly-owned trading subsidiar- Fixtures, fittings and equipment Five years straight line ies, RTS Enterprises Limited and RTS (IBC) Limited, on a line by line basis. 1.6 Investments A separate Statement of Financial Activities and Income Fixed asset investments are stated at cost in accordance with and Expenditure account are not presented for the charity paragraph 297(b) of the SORP 2005. itself following the exemptions permitted by section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and paragraph 397 of the SORP. The 1.7 Centres total incoming resources for the charity for the year ended Centres’ income and expenditure is recognised in the period 31 December 2009 were £1,967,764 (2008: £2,450,817) with in which the group is entitled to receipt and the amount can the positive net movements in funds being £200,777 (2008: be measured with reasonable certainty. Income is deferred £582,657). only when the Society has to fulfil conditions before becoming entitled to it. 1.3 Incoming resources Voluntary income is recognised upon receipt and is deferred 1.8 Funds accounting only when the Society has to fulfil conditions before becom- Funds held by the Society are: ing entitled to it or when the donor has specified that the Unrestricted general funds – these are funds that can be income is to be expended in a future period. No amounts are used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discre- included in the financial statements for services donated by tion of the Board of Trustees. volunteers. Designated funds – these are funds set aside by the Board of Income from trading activities is recognised as earned (as Trustees out of unrestricted general funds for specific future the related goods and services are provided). purposes or projects. Investment income is recognised on a receivable basis. Restricted funds – these are funds that can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the Soci- 1.4 Resources expended ety. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when Expenditure is recognised in the period in which it is incurred. funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. A designated fund is established for expenditure which has Further explanations of the nature and purpose of each been committed to projects but remains unspent at the year- fund is included in the notes to the accounts. end. ± Costs of generating funds are those costs incurred in attract- 1.9 Foreign currency translation ing voluntary income, and those incurred in trading activities Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign cur- that raise funds. rencies are translated into sterling at the rates of exchange ± Costs of charitable activities comprise all expenditure ruling at the balance sheet date. Transactions in foreign cur- identified as wholly or mainly attributable to achieving the rencies are recorded at the rate ruling at the date of the trans- charitable objectives of the charity. These costs include staff action. All differences are taken to the income and expendi- costs, wholly or mainly attributable support costs and an ture account.

34 R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 2 Surplus for the year 4 Investment income

Surplus for the year is stated and interest after charging: 2009 2008 2009 2008 £ £ £ £ Group Bank interest receivable 81,394 262,371 Depreciation of tangible assets 57,439 57,958 Auditors’ remuneration 81,394 262,371 Audit 16,600 15,900 Non audit 1,710 1,755

Company 5 Incoming resources Depreciation of tangible assets 57,439 57,958 Auditors’ remuneration Audit 11,000 10,500 from charitable activities Non audit 900 800 The income was primarily from the Royal Television Society’s charitable activities 2009 2008 £ £ 3 Voluntary income Events, conferences and awards 309,276 407,760 Magazine sales 5,236 8,209

2009 2008 314,512 415,969 £ £ Patrons 308,545 480,675 Members 134,086 146,844

442,631 627,519

6 Total resources expended

Direct Support 2009 2008 costs costs total total £ £ £ £ Costs of generating funds: Fundraising costs of generating voluntary income – 122,684 122,684 140,417 Fundraising trading; cost of goods sold and other costs 508,280 347,775 856,055 805,382

508,280 470,459 978,739 945,799

Charitable activites: Events, conferences and awards 402,772 699,004 1,101,776 1,230,428 Magazine publications 162,693 – 162,693 143,297

565,465 699,004 1,264,469 1,373,725

Governance costs 9,249 32,058 41,307 40,596

Total resources expended 1,082,994 1,201,521 2,284,515 2,360,120

R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 35 7 Allocation of support costs

The charity allocates its support costs as shown in the table below.

Cost of Charitable Governance generating funds activities costs Total £ £ £ £ Support costs Management and other costs 54,472 124,887 6,079 185,438 Premises costs 108,683 155,857 – 264,540 Employee costs 281,546 334,312 – 615,858 Finance, legal and professional and IT costs 25,758 83,948 25,979 135,685

470,459 699,004 32,058 1,201,521

Support costs included within expenditure in the SOFA have been allocated on the basis of salary percentage or on the proportion of ﬂoor area occupied by the activity. The cost allocation includes an area of judgement and the charity has had to consider the cost beneﬁt of detailed workings and record keeping.

8 Taxation

The company is a registered charity and no provision is considered necessary for taxation. In the accounts of RTS Enterprises Limited there was no tax charge (2008: £nil) and for RTS (IBC) Limited there was a tax charge of £2,600 (2008: £2,618).

9 Tangible assets

Land and buildings Fixtures, leasehold ﬁttings and (short) equipment Total £ £ £ Group and Society Cost At 1 January 2009 143,370 159,599 302,969 Additions – 6,165 6,165 Disposals – (4,929) (4,929)

At 31 December 2009 143,370 160,835 304,205

Depreciation At 1 January 2009 114,695 130,804 245,499 Charge for year 28,675 28,764 57,439 Disposals - (4,929) (4,929)

At 31 December 2009 143,370 154,639 298,009

Net Book Values At 31 December 2009 – 6,196 6,196

At 31 December 2008 28,675 28,795 57,470

36 R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 10 Fixed Asset Investments

Group Society

2009 2008 2009 2008 £ £ £ £ Shares in subsidiary undertakings – – 4 4 Other unlisted investments (at cost) 18 18 – – Other investments 54,000 54,000 – –

54,018 54,018 4 4

All the ﬁxed asset investments are held in the UK. The Board of Trustees considers it appropriate to state the ﬁxed asset investments at cost. At 31 December 2009, the Society owned all of the ordinary share capital of RTS Enterprises Limited and RTS (IBC) Limited, which organise and stage courses, exhibitions and other events related to the television industry. At 31 December 2009, the aggregate amount of these companies’ assets, liabilities, share capital and reserves was:

RTS Enterprises Limited RTS (IBC) Limited

2009 2008 2009 2008 £ £ £ £ Total Assets 241,671 211,999 437,064 507,470 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (241,669) (211,997) (437,062) (507,468) 2 2 2 2 Represented by: Share capital and reserves 2 2 2 2

As at the year-end £66,260 (2008: £73,025) of incoming resources had been deferred in the accounts of RTS Enterprises Limited, with £73,025 (2008: £74,360) being released to the proﬁt and loss account. RTS Enterprises Limited and RTS (IBC) Limited pay their proﬁts to the charity by a deed of covenant. A summary of the trading results of each subsidiary is shown below:

RTS Enterprises RTS Limited (IBC) Limited Total 2009 2009 2009 2008 £ £ £ £

Turnover 779,700 867,055 1,646,755 1,636,918 Cost of sales (505,043) – (505,043) (481,448)

Gross proﬁt 274,657 867,055 1,141,712 1,155,470 Administration expenses (145,854) (9,819) (155,673) (143,494)

Operating proﬁt 128,803 857,236 986,039 1,011,976 Other interest receivable and similar income 2,231 209 2,440 11,821 Interest payable – (1,968) (1,968) (4,154) Taxation – (2,600) (2,600) (2,618)

Proﬁt on ordinary activities after taxation 131,034 852,877 983,911 1,017,025 Payment under deed of covenant (131,034) (852,877) (983,911) (1,017,025)

Retained proﬁt for the year – – – –

R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 37 11 Debtors

Group Society

2009 2008 2009 2008 £ £ £ £ Trade debtors 172,396 170,867 65,495 108,206 Amounts due from subsidiary undertakings – – 28,002 73,301 Other debtors 492,920 696,286 610,837 712,100

665,316 867,153 704,334 893,607

12 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

Group Society

2009 2008 2009 2008 £ £ £ £ Trade creditors 61,034 44,255 52,594 31,321 Taxes and social security costs 33,284 29,666 30,784 27,049 Other creditors 97,909 129,947 87,391 108,384 Deferred income 108,706 121,535 42,446 48,510

300,933 325,403 213,215 215,264

13 Restricted Funds

London Awards Shiers Memorial Beresford-Cooke Fund Fund Fund Total Group and Society £ £ £ £ At 1 January 2009 3,260 69,652 29,908 102,820 Interest received 99 1,054 453 1,606 Expenditure – (3,500) (171) (3,671)

At 31 December 2009 3,359 67,206 30,190 100,755

The Society received a bequest from the estate of the late Mrs F Shiers to establish the George and May F Shiers Memorial Fund. The income of the fund that is under the control of the Society’s Board of Trustees is to be devoted to the study, collection and presentation of material concerning the history of television.

The Society received a bequest from the estate of the late Mrs Beresford-Cooke to establish the RTS Young Television Engineer Award. The income of the fund is under the control of the Society’s Board of Trustees and is to be used to assist the recipient of the Award to attend the IBC Conference in Amsterdam.

The London Awards Fund has been set up so as to recognise excellence in a young technologist.

38 R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 14 Unrestricted funds

General Property Other Fund Fund Funds Total Group and Society £ £ £ £ At 1 January 2009 5,001,824 232,836 182,890 5,417,550 Expenditure 28,674 (28,674) – – Surplus for the year 202,842 – – 202,842

At 31 December 2009 5,233,340 204,162 182,890 5,620,392

The designated Property Fund represents the amount committed by the Board of Trustees to the costs of relocation.

Other funds comprise £60,000 representing a New Projects fund, committed by the Board of Trustees to speciﬁc charitable projects at the year-end, and £122,890 representing an IT fund. The IT fund is designated to the furtherance of the Society’s objectives through the use of new technologies. Following a review of the other funds in 2009, it was agreed that the funds previously included in the Regulation Fund of £100,000 were no longer required and these were transferred to the IT fund.

15 Reconciliation of 17 Liability of members movement in funds The Society is limited by guarantee without any share capital. In the event of the Society being wound up, each member is liable to £ contribute for the payment of the debts and liabilities of the Society Group and Society such amount as may be required, but not exceeding £1. Surplus for the year 200,777 Funds at 1 January 2009 5,520,370

Funds at 31 December 2009 5,721,147

16 Analysis of net assets between funds

Fund balances at 31 December 2009 are represented by:

Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Funds Funds £ £ £ Tangible ﬁxed assets 6,196 – 6,196 Investments 54,018 – 54,018 Net current assets 5,560,178 100,755 5,660,933

Total net assets 5,620,392 100,755 5,721,147

R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 39 18 Employees 19 Financial commitments

The average number of employees of the Society during the As at 31 December 2009, the Society had annual commit- year was as follows: ments under non-cancellable operating leases as follows:

2009 2008 2009 2008 £ £ Management and other 2 2 Expiry date: Membership 2 2 Within one year – – Events and conferences 8 7 Between one and two years 116,280 116,280 Finance and IT 1 1 Between two and ﬁve years – –

13 12 116,280 116,280

2009 2008 £ £ Employment Costs Wages and salaries 515,558 515,990 Social security costs 54,270 52,351 Other pension costs 28,172 20,754

598,000 589,095

The number of employees who received emoluments in excess of £60,000 was as follows:

2009 2008

£60,001–£70,000 – – £70,001–£80,000 – – £80,001–£90,000 – – £90,001–£100,000 1 1 £100,001–£110,000 – – £110,001–£120,000 1 1

The total contributions in the year to money purchase pension schemes for higher paid employees were £20,484 (2008: £17,306). The number of higher paid employees to whom retirement beneﬁts are accruing under such schemes is 2 (2008: 2). No members of the Board of Trustees received any remuneration in the year. Certain members of the Board of Trustees are reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred by them in carrying out their duties for the Society. The total expenses incurred by the trustees during the year was £385 (2008: £785).

40 R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 Royal Television Society

Annual General Meeting 2010

26 May 2010, 6:00pm

R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 41 Notice of AGM: 26 May 2010 AGM

The 81st Annual General Meeting of the Royal Television Agenda Society will be held on Wednesday 26 May 2009 at: 1 To approve the minutes of the previous Annual General Kildare House Meeting held on 27 May 2009. 3 Dorset Rise 2 To approve the 2009 Annual Report. London EC4Y 8EN 3 To receive the Financial Report, Balance Sheet and at 6:00pm. Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2009. 4 To elect Fiona Chesterton, Tony Edwards, Mars Elkins Voting by proxy and Emma Scott as Members of Council. Under Article 24, members of the Society are empowered to 5 To appoint Arram Berlyn Gardner as auditors for appoint a proxy to attend and vote at the AGM. The completed 20010/11 and to authorise the Board of Trustees to ﬁx proxy form, on page 41, should reach Head Ofﬁce no less their remuneration. than 48 hours before the meeting. 6 Any other business.

42 Form of proxy

If you wish to I, ...... appoint another member please of ...... insert the name of your proxy here. being a member of the above named Society and entitled to vote hereby appoint You may delete reference to the ...... , Honorary Treasurer and Chair. Initial or, failing him, the Honorary Treasurer, or, failing him, the Chair of the meeting, as my proxy to vote for the alteration me and on my behalf at the AGM of the Society to be held on 26 May 2010 at 6:00pm and at any adjourn- ment thereof. In respect of the resolutions referred to in the Notice of the Meeting, I desire my proxy to vote as indicated: For Against Abstain

Please insert ‘x’ 1.0 Approve minutes of the previous meeting held on in the appropriate 27 May 2009: box if you wish to instruct your proxy AGM on how to vote 2.0 Approve the 2009 Annual Report:

3.0 To receive and adopt Financial Report, Balance Sheet and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2009:

4.1 To elect as a member of the Advisory Council Fiona Chesterton:

4.2 To elect as a member of the Advisory Council Tony Edwards:

4.3 To elect as a member of the Advisory Council Mars Elkins:

4.4 To elect as a member of the Advisory Council Emma Scott:

6.0 To appoint Arram Berlyn Gardner as auditors for 2010/11 and to authorise the Board of Trustees to ﬁx their remuneration:

(If this form is signed without any indication as to how the proxy shall vote, the proxy will exercise his or her discretion both as to how he or she votes or abstains from voting)

Signature ...... Date ......

Form of proxy 1 Under Article 24, members of the Society are empowered to vote at the AGM by proxy. To notes be valid, this form of proxy must be deposited at the Royal Television Society, Kildare House, 3 Dorset Rise, London EC4Y 8EN not less than 48 hours before the meeting. 2 The proxy, who must be a member of the Society, must attend the meeting in person to represent you. 3 Unless otherwise directed, the proxy will vote or abstain as he or she sees ﬁt.

R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 43 RTS Advisory Council election manifestos 2010 AGM Fiona Chesterton Tony Edwards

>Sponsors: Jan Beal, Mike Flood-Page, >Sponsors: Mike Hairsine, Olwyn Hocking, Nick Pollard, Lea Sellers, Kath Worrall Garth Jeffery, Gary Stubbs, Graeme Firstly, I am proud to support an organi- Thompson sation with Television – pure and sim- I have been a member of the RTS for ple – in its title. I believe that, despite many years. When I joined, I was inter- the many predictions of its imminent viewed by a panel for suitability (I was demise, TV is alive and well, and that deemed suitable)! During these years I the RTS’s commitment to maintain and have been Honorary Secretary for the promote high standards and debate RTS North East and the Border Centre, among practitioners will remain as important as ever in the Chair of the Regional Student Awards – which I inaugurated coming decade. some 21 years ago – and producer of many events, including What I bring to the table of the RTS Advisory Council is a rare Keynote Lectures and the Annual Review. combination of experience: not just 30 years-plus of TV, but Currently, and in addition, I am Chair of the Young Persons also a range of trusteeships and non-executive roles in other Media Festival, which is promoting the RTS brand of excel- charities and public bodies outside of broadcasting. The past lence to pupils from ﬁ ve to 16 years of age. I have won awards two years have been almost uniquely challenging for charities from the RTS for production and service to education and last large and small and anyone involved as a Trustee has had to year was honoured to receive the Tony Pilgrim Award. learn a lot to see them survive through to better times. I believe in the promotion of the RTS brand as a standard I am committed to improving training and development of professionalism and excellence in all areas of our indus- opportunities for people joining and making their way in the try. Further, I support any opportunity to fulﬁ l that aim with industry, and keep contacts in the broader education world. young people. I also believe that the regional Centres are key I am also keen to see the Society’s activities outside London to promoting and supporting the role of the RTS in future. develop – and as one who lives well outside the M25, I walk I look forward to receiving your support for my nomination the walk as well as talk the talk of non-metropolitanism. to the Advisory Council.

Mars Elkins Emma Scott

Development producer and new media Managing director, Freesat offi cer >Sponsors: Dawn Airey, Greg Dyke, Carolyn >Sponsors: Isabel Clarke, Sean Gilroy, Fairbairn, Wayne Garvie, Caroline Thomson Dorothy Hobson, Alex Hryniewicz, Dan I have been a member of the RTS for Lawson seven years. I am keen to support the It is my intention, if voted into the Advi- organisation by standing for election to sory Council, to play an active part in the Advisory Council. developing RTS Futures. I was respon- As a past executive producer of the sible for rolling it out in the Midlands (fi rst out-of-London RTS Cambridge Convention, I know the important infl uenc- Centre to do so) and it has been well received. I fi rmly believe ing role that the RTS has in the broadcasting industry. The that investing in younger professionals through this venture RTS draws together a broad range of individuals and encour- will help strengthen future RTS membership. ages lively discourse and debate, which I hugely enjoy. Also, in this current economic climate, collaborative work Yet, the RTS, like many media organisations, faces chal- seems key to fresh thinking. Stepping up RTS events by giv- lenges in terms of purpose, future direction and fi nancing. ing them a 360° concept could further strengthen the Socie- As the managing director of Freesat, a small business itself, I ty’s role in providing various platforms in which members are recognise these challenges. able to discuss, debate, educate and innovate. Harnessing The RTS needs to continue to embrace the ever-changing TV the power of digital and social media could also help archive world. The arrival of new forms of TV delivery and consump- past events, leading to a bank of legacy work from the RTS. I tion must be brought into the mainstream to ensure there is no would like to be involved in developing this, too. divide between “old” and “new” media. Above all, it is vital that I have been a committed Midlands Centre Committee mem- the RTS continues to champion production and creative values ber and have had success in producing “sold-out” events with – which ultimately underpin the success of the UK TV industry. the support of Dorothy Hobson and the rest of the Committee. Having spent time in the commercial sector and at the BBC, I would like to think that my general contribution towards the including leading the launch of Freeview, I believe I will bring RTS, on top of my role as RTS Futures Midlands Chair, does a dynamic mix of skills that refl ect the fast-moving nature of not stop regionally but extends nationally as well. the TV industry today.

44 R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 Minutes of AGM 2009

Minutes of the 80th Annual General Meeting of the Royal including Jeff Zucker, president and CEO of NBC Universal, Television Society, held on Wednesday 27 May 2009 at the and the Rt Hon Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Culture, Royal Television Society, Kildare House, 3 Dorset Rise, Lon- Media and Sport. RTL was the principal sponsors of this con- don EC4Y 8EN ference, which alternated with the Cambridge Convention. There had been an emphasis on questions of diversity, in Present particular in the Early Evening Events. In February Lenny Henry Sir Robert Phillis (in the chair); David Lowen, Honorary Sec- led a lively session on television’s failure to reflect the diversity retary; Simon Albury, Chief Executive; Claire Price, Deputy of Britain’s people both on and behind the screen. This event Chief Executive; Charles Byrne; Paul Corley; Fiona Chester- was very well attended and received a lot of coverage. ton; Denis Lomax; Bill McMahon; Arthur Piggott; Sue Robert- This was followed up by Samir Shah, chief executive of son; Paul Berlyn, Arram Berlyn Gardner, Auditors; Juniper and a non-executive director of the BBC in his RTS Fleming Memorial Lecture, “Equal opportunity-itis: A suit- Apologies able case for treatment”, which again was widely reported in Keith Clement the national press. Television magazine had been called “the Economist of Sir Robert Phillis welcomed everyone to the Annual General broadcasting”. It was a journal of record covering major Meeting and asked all present to introduce themselves. issues, debates and discussions – a credit to the Society. AGM It was also to the credit of the Society that the Early Evening Events Committee chaired by Kate Bulkley had mounted 1.0 Approval of minutes of previous meeting held on events with Lenny Henry, Ed Richard, Sir Martin Sorrell and 27 May 2008 Jana Bennett in addition to the more expensive RTS dinners with Peter Bazalgette, Jeremy Darroch and Rupert Howell. Matters Arising: Michael Grade had spoken at a Patron Breakfast event on the Sir Robert Phillis said Keith Clement had raised the ques- difficulties involved in supporting and funding regional news tion of the appointment to the Board of an additional Trus- in terms of the ITV brief. tee. During the year Jane Lighting had been appointed to the The Charity Commission review three years ago had led Board and had already contributed particularly from her area to reconsideration of the role of the Advisory Council. The of interest in social affairs. Advisory Council was designed to provide more time for Arthur Piggott said he had asked last year about publish- detailed debate and discussion on matters of concern to the ing a list of members in the Annual Report. Simon Albury RTS. It had taken a little time to bed down but since then had followed this up by seeking legal advice on data protec- there had been several guest speakers, including Tim Suter tion issues. There had been a further long delay following the on “Viewer trust in television” and a presentation by Howard death of the Membership Manager, Deborah Halls. Davies, head of Deloitte’s media strategy team, on “Employ- The membership information had been very difficult to ment trends outside London”. The Advisory Council had also access but only 384 members had agreed that details could discussed the RTS’s response to the Charity Commission’s be published. The vast majority had not given permission for consultation on educational charities and public benefit. their data to be circulated to third parties. David Lowen said he had attended several meetings of the The Society was considering questions of value for mem- Advisory Council in its new format. At first there had been bership and looking at new web-based systems for getting suspicions that individual members would have less influence information from members and distributing it to other mem- over the activities of the Society but the meetings had proved bers. With a new system we would encourage people to give interesting, with valuable discussions. The most recent one their permission. (May 2009) on the report on enhancing activities outside Sir Robert Phillis added that if an individual member is not London had been the best RTS meeting he had attended. prepared to agree we have to respect this. Charles Byrne agreed that the new structure was proving The minutes of the Annual Report 2008 were approved very successful. unanimously. Eight proxy votes were cast – all in favour. Paul Corley said that once the system had bedded down it had become a really constructive part of the Society. The previous Council had been too large and unwieldy. The Advisory 2.0 Approval of the 2008 Annual Report Council was more effective. Sir Robert Phillis said he would take the Annual Report and Bill McMahon asked if there were still only two meetings the Adoption of the Accounts as one item for approval. a year. Sir Robert Phillis said there were two meetings plus He thought the Annual Report well presented and high- ad-hoc meetings with single-item agendas. He thanked all lighted the astounding success of the RTS Futures initiative, the contributors and hoped that the momentum could be which was targeted at a younger group of people who did maintained. not wish to be full members. The Board had to cap member- The activities of the national and regional Centres had ship at 600 because there was a danger of the free events been diverse and of a high calibre. He did not wish to omit being oversubscribed. Membership was now free and stood any of the events but highlighted the North West Centre’s at more than a thousand and the paid-for events were very inaugural Andrew Wilson Memorial Lecture given by Russell well attended. T Davies, Scotland’s Campbell Swinton Lecture with the Rt The International Conference, chaired by Gerhard Zeiler, Hon Alex Salmond MSP, Wales Centre’s two very success- chief executive of RTL Group, had a good slate of speakers ful Welsh language events at the Eisteddfod and Thames8

R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 45 Minutes of AGM 2009 AGM

8Valley Centre’s highly respected annual Technical Collo- – it was the sum of income from RTS Enterprises (£638,451) quium. These illustrated the considerable range and diversity and IBC (£998,467). of events around the UK and were a credit to the volunteer The 2008 Annual Report and Financial Report and Accounts nature of the Society. were approved. Eight proxy votes were cast – all in favour. He put on record his thanks to all national and regional Proposed by: Bill McMahon chairs and committees who give so willingly of their time and Seconded by: Denis Lomax expertise. He also thanked all the other volunteers and the full-time staff of the Society who supported the events. The minutes of the RTS Board of Trustees were available 4.0 Election of Members of Advisory Council online. Sir Robert Phillis said that as there were 10 members present the meeting was quorate. Claire Price had received some apologies and proxy votes. The meeting would vote by a 3 Financial Report, Balance Sheet and Accounts for the show of hands plus the proxy votes. year ended 31 December 2008 Sir Robert Phillis moved the proposals: In the absence of Grant Murray, the Honorary Treasurer, David Lowen read the financial report. The accounts had been circu- 4.1 Elect as a Member of Advisory Council: Paul Corley lated in the Annual Report – pages 32-42. It had been another Elected unanimously. Eight proxy votes were cast – all in excellent year for the RTS, due in particular to the extraordi- favour. narily successful contribution from IBC. The outlook for this year with the economic downturn was far tougher 4.2 Elect as a Member of Advisory Council: John Mair The RTS has noted the changes in UK economy and reduced Six votes in favour, two abstentions. Eight proxy votes were prices for RTS Enterprises events. Costs are highly controlled cast – three in favour, three against, two abstentions. by Simon Albury and Claire Price and this will continue. Arthur Piggott drew the meeting’s attention to page 37, 4.3 Elect as a Member of Advisory Council: Lucy note 3, Voluntary Income – Patrons 76% Members 23%. He Pilkington did not think this a healthy state of affairs because the Soci- Elected unanimously. Eight proxy votes were cast – six in ety was in the hands of the sponsors. favour, two abstentions. David Lowen said that voluntary income was not the only source of income. There were other forms such as the 4.4 Elect as a Member of Advisory Council: Sue income from IBC and RTS Enterprises events. There was no Robertson reason to think that patrons had any control or influence over Elected unanimously. Eight proxy votes were cast – seven in the activities of the Society. favour, one abstention. Sir Robert Phillis said that if the RTS were to forego patron income it would diminish and reduce the Society’s capac- Sir Robert Phillis congratulated all four and welcomed them ity to put on a range of events. The RTS was very jealous to the Advisory Council. of its independence in mounting events and awards. There was no question of its integrity being affected by this important source of income. It was necessary to keep this range of 5.0 Approval of the Special Resolution to amend activities, and patrons provided both money and sponsorship Clause 2 of the Society’s Memorandum of Association in kind. Sir Robert Phillis drew the meetings attention to his note on Bill McMahon said patron income had always been greater page 4 of the Annual Report explaining the reasons for the than that from the membership. There had been a 10% drop proposed amendment to Clause 2 of the Society’s Memoran- in both membership and patrons in 2008. It could be worse dum of Association covering advancement of arts and cul- this year. David Lowen said there were 60 patrons, ranging ture alongside the existing education objective of the RTS. across the whole industry. Simon Albury explained that this change was enabled by Arthur Piggott pointed out that there were very few events the Charities Act 2006. Previously, the advancement of arts that ordinary members could afford to attend. Sir Robert Phil- and culture could not be a charitable activity, now it could. lis said that Early Evening and Centre Events were important It was untested waters but it should give greater flexibility to for members. It was impossible for the Society to subsidise the Society. individual members to come to events such as Cambridge Sir Robert Phillis put the resolution. It was carried unani- but that a wide range of events were free. mously. Eleven proxy votes were cast – all in favour. Arthur Piggott was concerned that Television magazine was mainly about awards events, it should be a technical journal. David Lowen pointed out that engineering has changed. The 6.0 Appointment of Auditors RTS Innovation Awards cover areas of technical innovation. Arram Berlyn Gardner were appointed as auditors for Two editions ago Television was devoted to digital matters. 2009/10 and the Board of Trustees authorised to fix their Sir Robert Phillis said the Society had evolved as evidenced remuneration. in the wide range of activities Proposed by: David Lowen Arthur Piggott asked how the figure of £1.636 million on Seconded by: Sue Robertson page 33 of the balance sheet had been arrived at. Paul Berlyn, Arram Berlyn Gardner, drew his attention to page 39, note 10 Eight proxy votes were cast – all in favour.

46 R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 7.0 Any other business Arthur Piggott asked about the RTS Shoenberg Memorial Lecture. Simon Albury said efforts had been made to mount it last year but failed. However, the Shoenberg Lecture had not been abandoned. Charles Byrne said he regularly raised the issue at AGMs of whether the Society should consider investing in a building – was this something the Trustees could consider doing with the £1.5 million reserves? The Irish Committee was very keen on the proposal. Sir Robert Phillis said he didn’t believe the Trustees should be in the business of property speculation. In the current circumstances there were various economic pressures on this charity and others. We may be grateful for the reserves to fund the activities of the Society and the Centres. However, this was duly noted and would be drawn to the attention of the Trustees. AGM Simon Albury wanted to put on record how grateful he was to Sir Robert Phillis both for his chairing of the meeting and his wisdom and guidance as Chair of the Board of Trustees. He thanked him for his great generosity of time to discuss all the issues. Sir Robert Phillis regarded it a great privilege to be part of the Royal Television Society. It was very rewarding to serve an organisation committed to such high standards and quality. He drew the meeting to a close at 7pm.

R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 47 Who’s who at the RTS

PATRON BOARD OF TRUSTEES HRH The Prince of Wales Mike Darcey (Chair) Paul Corley Carolyn Fairbairn VICE PRESIDENTS Wayne Garvie Dawn Airey Jane Lighting Sir David Attenborough OM CH CVO CBE FRS David Lowen Peter Bazalgette Grant Murray Andy Duncan Graeme Thompson Greg Dyke Lorraine Heggessey John Hardie ADVISORY COUNCIL Ashley Highﬁeld Mark Bradford Iona Jones Helen Bullough Jane Lighting Charles Byrne David Lynn Fiona Chesterton Sir Trevor McDonald OBE Gordon Cooper Ken MacQuarrie Paul Corley Trevor Phillips OBE Neil Dormand John Smith Henry Eagles Sir Howard Stringer Jennie Evans Mark Thompson Carolyn Fairbairn Wayne Garvie Tim Hartley OFFICERS Jeremy Hibbard Chair Sophie Jones Wayne Garvie Jonathan Levi Jane Lighting Vice Chair Denis Lomax Carolyn Fairbairn David Lowen Honorary Secretary John Mair David Lowen Terry Mounsey Honorary Treasurer Grant Murray Grant Murray Lucy Pilkington Sue Robertson Andrew Shaw Raj Sittampalam David Thomas Graeme Thompson Denis Wolinski

48 R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 COMMITTEE CHAIRS CENTRE CHAIRS (Also Members of RTS Advisory Council) Awards Policy and Fellowship Bristol Denis Lomax David Lowen Devon and Cornwall Jeremy Hibbard Communications London David Thomas Sophie Jones Midlands Isabel Clarke Craft & Design Awards North East and the Border Graeme Thompson Paul Jackson Northern Ireland Denis Wolinski North West Helen Bullough Diversity Republic of Ireland Charles Byrne Lucy Pilkington Scotland Henry Eagles Early Evening Events Southern Gordon Cooper Kate Bulkley Thames Valley Neil Dormand Educational Television Awards Wales Tim Hartley George Entwistle Yorkshire Terry Mounsey History and Archives John Trenouth HEAD OFFICE Chief executive IBC Conference Liaison Simon Albury Deputy chief executive Terry Marsh Claire Price Personal assistant/ofﬁce manager Sarah Ramsay RTS Futures (National Chair) Accountant Breda O’Donoghue Andy Duncan Ofﬁce administrator/receptionist Lucy Martin RTS Futures (London Chair) Archivist Clare Colvin (part-time) Camilla Lewis Centre liaison Maggie Greenhalgh (part-time) Television Journalism Awards Events Nick Pollard Events manager Lindsey Cran Events manager Jo Mitchell News and Current Affairs Events assistant Sophie Finch Jim Gray Events assistant Jamie O’Neill Programme Awards Events assistant Victoria Pinner Lorraine Heggessey Membership Student Television Awards Membership administrator Yessra Nawaz Peter Salmon Information technology Innovation Awards Web communities manager Sophie Goodwin Jeff Henry Publications Television Sports Awards Television editor Steve Clarke (freelance) John Rowlinson Television, production and design Gordon Jamieson (freelance) RTS Veterans Roy Addison A company limited by guarantee. Registered in London 249462 Registered charity 313728 Founded 1927

R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 49 50 R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 Picture credits

Page 4: Paul Hampartsoumian Page 5: Simon Albury Page 6: Paul Hampartsoumian Page 7: Paul Hampartsoumian Page 8: Simon Albury Page 9: 2-3 Paul Hampartsoumian; 4-7 Simon Albury Page 10: 1 BBC; 2 Channel 4; 3 Rex Features; 4 Aardman Animation; 5 BBC; 6 Simon Albury Page 12: 1 ITV; 2-3 Richard Kendal Page 13: 1 Richard Kendal; 2 BBC; 3 Richard Kendal; 4 ITV; 5 Richard Kendal Page 14: 1-7 Simon Albury; 8-9 Paul Hampartsoumian Page 15: 1 Paul Hampartsoumian; 2-4 Simon Albury; Page 16: 1-5 Simon Albury; 6 Paul Hampartsoumian Page 17: 1 Simon Albury; 2-5 Paul Hampartsoumian Page 18: 1-3 Paul Hampartsoumian; 4-8 Simon Albury; 9 Paul Hampartsoumian; 10 Simon Albury Page 20: 1 Paul Hampartsoumian; 2 Denis Gartside; 3 BBC; 4 David Thomas Page 22: 3 Simon Albury Page 23: 2 ITV Page 24: 1 Simon Dewhurst Page 25: 2-4 Mari Grifﬁth; 5 Gordon Jamieson; 6-8 Mari Grifﬁth

R O YA L T E L E V I S I O N S O C I E T Y REPORT 2009 51 R OYA L T E L E V I S I O N S OCIETY

Kildare House, 3 Dorset Rise, London EC4Y 8EN Tel: 020 7822 2810 www.rts.org.uk