Has TV Eaten Itself? RTS STUDENT TELEVISION AWARDS 2014 5 JUNE 1:00Pm BFI Southbank, London SE1 8XT
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
May 2015 Has TV eaten itself? RTS STUDENT TELEVISION AWARDS 2014 5 JUNE 1:00pm BFI Southbank, London SE1 8XT Hosted by Romesh Ranganathan. Nominated films and highlights of the awards ceremony will be broadcast by Sky www.rts.org.uk Journal of The Royal Television Society May 2015 l Volume 52/5 From the CEO The general election are 16-18 September. I am very proud I’d like to thank everyone who has dominated the to say that we have assembled a made the recent, sold-out RTS Futures national news agenda world-class line-up of speakers. evening, “I made it in… digital”, such a for much of the year. They include: Michael Lombardo, success. A full report starts on page 23. This month, the RTS President of Programming at HBO; Are you a fan of Episodes, Googlebox hosts a debate in Sharon White, CEO of Ofcom; David or W1A? Well, who isn’t? This month’s which two of televi- Abraham, CEO at Channel 4; Viacom cover story by Stefan Stern takes a sion’s most experienced anchor men President and CEO Philippe Dauman; perceptive look at how television give an insider’s view of what really Josh Sapan, President and CEO of can’t stop making TV about TV. It’s happened in the political arena. AMC Networks; and David Zaslav, a must-read. Jeremy Paxman and Alastair Stew- President and CEO of Discovery So, too, is Richard Sambrook’s TV art are in conversation with Steve Communications. Diary, which provides some incisive Hewlett at a not-to-be missed Leg- Next month sees the 20th RTS and timely analysis of the election ends’ Lunch on 19 May. For more Student Awards. I am thrilled that coverage. details, please go to our website. comedian Romesh Ranganathan will I am delighted to say that registra- host the event at BFI Southbank in tion is now open for the biennial RTS London on 5 June. Cambridge Convention, chaired by In an exciting move, the work of this BBC Director-General Tony Hall. year’s nominees and highlights of the The dates of this year’s conference ceremony will be shown on Sky TV. Theresa Wise Contents Richard Sambrook’s TV Diary Why film is a good fit for the BBC Richard Sambrook reflects on an election campaign Head of BBC Films Christine Langan tells Steve Clarke 5 like no other – and hails a new approach to political 16 that the corporation is more serious than ever about interviewing pioneered by Evan Davis backing British movies TV’s narcissistic tendency From Macclesfield to Manhattan From W1A to Gogglebox, TV shows about telly are Michael Jackson has been an innovative indie and 6 everywhere. Stefan Stern provides a guide to some of 19 CEO of Channel 4. He also ran channels at the BBC the best and asks what they tell us about television’s and Universal. He still fervently supports committed view of itself programme-makers, hears Steve Clarke Easily bruised, easily enthused Our Friend in the West Ben Frow is bringing real passion to Channel 5. Mike Gunton discovers that even in America’s Midwest 8 Andrew Billen discovers a TV executive like no other 22 the Bristol-based NHU is part of the culture In the eye of the storm The age of the smart show Maggie Brown profiles Ken MacQuarrie, the tactful A group of digital pioneers explains how TV is evolving 11 Director of BBC Scotland, who needs to keep the 23 in an online content world dominated by YouTube. peace as the SNP surges Matthew Bell logs on Blurred signals from Brussels NAB: software is the new hardware Content owners are sceptical about the EU’s plans for Adrian Pennington surveys the latest tech trends on 14 a Digital Single Market. They want to protect the status 26 display at NAB in Las vegas quo on selling rights. Raymond Snoddy reports Cover picture: BBC Editor Production, design, advertising Royal Television Society Subscription rates Printing Legal notice Steve Clarke Gordon Jamieson 3 Dorset Rise, UK £115 ISSN 0308-454X © Royal Television Society 2015. [email protected] [email protected] London EC4Y 8EN Overseas (surface £146.11) Printer: FE Burman, The views expressed in Television Writer Sub-editor T: 020 7822 2810 Overseas (airmail £172.22) 20 Crimscott St, are not necessarily those of the RTS. Matthew Bell Sarah Bancroft E: [email protected] Enquiries: [email protected] London, SE1 5TP Registered Charity 313 728 [email protected] [email protected] W: www.rts.org.uk Television www.rts.org.uk May 2015 3 Your guide to upcoming national and RTS NEWS regional events RTS EARLY EVENING EVENT LONDON REPUBLIC OF IRELAND National events Monday 28 September Tuesday 19 May ■ Charles Byrne (353) 87251 3092 In conversation with Mike The Jane Mercer Memorial ■ [email protected] RTS LEGENDS Darcey, Chief Executive Lecture: Moving images Tuesday 19 May Officer, News UK Given by Raye Farr. Organised SCOTLAND General election 2015: Did TV 6:30pm for 6:45pm jointly by RTS London and Focal Wednesday 20 May come to the aid of the party? Venue: The Hospital Club, 24 En- International. 6:30pm for 7:00pm Annual Awards Jeremy Paxman and Alastair dell Street, London WC2H 9HQ Venue: Cavendish Conference 6:30pm. Tickets are free if you Stewart OBE in conversation. Centre, 22 Duchess Mews, join the RTS by direct debit dur- Just days after the conclusion of London W1G 9DT ing April, otherwise: members, the election, two of television’s ■ Daniel Cherowbrier £24 inc VAT plus booking fee; leading interviewers will share ■ [email protected] non-members, £48 plus booking their insiders’ views of exactly fee. Online booking at Eventbrite what happened. Tickets are MIDLANDS Venue: Oran Mor, Glasgow G12 8QX £69.60 inc VAT (£58+£11.60 VAT) May to June ■ James Wilson 07899 761167 per person and are inclusive of Education workshops in ■ james.wilson@ service but exclusive of alcoholic secondary schools cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk beverages. 12:30pm for 1:00pm These will give students in years Venue: London Hilton on Park 8 and 9 an insight into jobs in SOUTHERN Lane, London W1K 1BE the TV industry. ■ 17 May SCA ■ Gordon Cooper ■ Book online at www.rts.org.uk Academy, Walsall ■ [email protected] Demis Hassabis RTS industry update roadshows RTS AWARDS ■ 21 May BBC Nottingham ■ Friday 5 June JOINT PUBLIC LECTURE 4 June University of Birmingham. RTS Student Television Awards Wednesday 4 November Both 11:45-14:00, including lunch 2014 Joint RTS/IET public lecture ■ Jayne Greene 07792 776585 Venue: BFI Southbank, Belvedere with Demis Hassabis ■ [email protected] Road, London SE1 8XT Demis Hassabis is founder of ■ Book online at www.rts.org.uk Deep Mind and an artificial NORTH EAST & THE BORDER intelligence researcher, neuro- 19-20 May RTS FUTURES scientist and computer game Young People’s Video Festival Monday 8 June designer. 6:30pm for 6:45pm Venue: University of Sunderland THAMES VALLEY How to be the best... researcher Venue: TBC ■ Jill Graham Wednesday 1 July 6:30pm ■ [email protected] Summer BBQ – Drone fest Venue: 110 Rochester Row, 6:30pm-8:30pm approx London SW1P 1JP Local events NORTH WEST Venue: Pincents Manor, Calcot, ■ Book online at www.rts.org.uk ■ Rachel Pinkney 07966 230639 Reading RG31 4UQ BRISTOL ■ [email protected] ■ Penny Westlake RTS FUTURES Thursday 11 June ■ [email protected] Thursday 16 July Student Showcase screenings NORTHERN IRELAND Summer party 1:00pm-5:00pm Tuesday 9 June WALES Organised jointly by RTS Futures In conversation with Burrell Technology tour Thursday 18 June and Guardian Edinburgh Inter- Durrant Hifl Organised by RTS NI Futures AGM national Television Festival 6:00pm-7:00pm and hosted by BBC Northern Venue: TBC Talent Schemes. 6:30pm Venue for both: Watershed Ireland. This visit to BBC ■ Hywel Wiliam 07980 007841 Venue: Design Museum, 28 Shad Cinema 3, 1 Canon’s Road, Blackstaff will tour the New ■ [email protected] Thames, London SE1 2YD Harbourside Bristol BS1 5TX Technology Presentations and ■ Book online at www.rts.org.uk Tuesday 14 July Vision department. Camera and YORKSHIRE AGM audio supervisors will showcase Friday 19 June RTS CONVENTION Venue: TBC many aspects of BBC Northern Annual Awards 16-18 September ■ Belinda Biggam Ireland television production. Venue: Royal Armories, Leeds RTS Cambridge Convention 2015 ■ [email protected] 18:30pm-21:00pm. Register at: LS10 1LT Venue: West Road Concert Hall, www.eventbrite.co.uk ■ Lisa Holdsworth 07790 145280 Cambridge CB3 9DP and King’s DEVON & CORNWALL Venue: BBC Blackstaff House, ■ lisa@allonewordproductions. College, Cambridge CB2 1ST ■ Contact TBC Bruce Street, Belfast BT2 7GX co.uk ■ Book online at www.rts.org.uk ■ John Mitchell EAST ANGLIA ■ mitch.mvbroadcast@ ■ Contact TBC btinternet.com 4 May 2015 www.rts.org.uk Television TV diary Richard Sambrook reflects on an election campaign like no other – and hails a new approach to political interviewing pioneered by Evan Davis atching an vide electricity – both heat and light. debates and photo opportunities election The group hug of mutual support and the other in a ground war on the campaign between the three women leaders at doorstep, where it is suggested that from an the end of the BBC’s “no Cameron” Labour has invested more heavily. academic programme is revealing – with Ed perch is Miliband and Nigel Farage left ■ This campaign offers no less col- very dif- uncomfortably on either side. our than previous years. Early days ferent to organising coverage in the Perhaps a new kind of politics is are dominated by Joey Essex – whose Wnewsroom.