May 2016 Poldark’s pulling power RTS STUDENT TELEVISION AWARDS 2016 3 JUNE 1:00pm BFI Southbank, London SE1 8XT www.rts.org.uk Journal of The Royal Television Society May 2016 l Volume 53/5 From the CEO I am delighted to one of 2015’s breakout hits, Poldark, insights into the growing importance announce the head- featured as the latest subject of the of analytics in television. I think it’s line speakers at our RTS’s “Anatomy of a hit” strand. fair to say that everyone who attended London Conference The evening was a great success as will have returned to their desks the on 27 September. the four panellists each gave their next day armed with some informa- Steve Burke, CEO of own, unique insight into how the tion that they could act on. NBCUniversal, is our series was brought to the small screen. Thanks to all of those who partici- keynote speaker, and is joined by: I’d like to thank each one of them pated and to the producers of an RTS President Sir Peter Bazalgette; and I am very grateful to Boyd Hilton impressive event, and to Torin Doug- Ofcom CEO Sharon White; Kevin for being such an informed chair. las for chairing with such professional MacLellan, Chair of NBCUniversal Quite a lot of Poldark fans stayed after- poise. International; Tom Mockridge, CEO wards to talk to the panel privately. Inside there is lots to read, but don’t of Virgin Media and David Abraham, It was a genuinely inspiring evening miss Stuart Kemp’s piece on Chan- CEO of Channel 4. and is this month’s cover story. I hope nel 4’s strategy to develop a critically The focus of the conference, enti- you enjoy Philip Bannister’s charming successful and financially robust slate tled “Full stream ahead”, is on com- cover illustration of Ross and Demelza of films for Film4. missioning, developing and producing as much as I did. Poldark returns to Maggie Brown’s inside track on the TV content in the on-demand age. our screens later this year. vexed issue of sound quality in TV Booking is now open and we have a The RTS’s other big event in April drama is another must-read. very enticing early-bird rate that you was “Big data or smart data? Data and won’t want to miss. the impact on TV advertising, com- We all know that drama continues missioning and content”. It could not to drive TV schedules. So it was espe- have been more different. cially heartening last month to have A capacity crowd was given valuable Theresa Wise Contents Will Sharpe’s TV Diary Why big data is changing TV The jet-lagged creator of Flowers, Will Sharpe, goes walk- Netflix is not alone in using analytics to understand how 5 about in New York – and gets mistaken for an Uber driver 18 audiences respond to video content. Matthew Bell reports The power of Poldark: Anatomy of a hit Book review: A television giant The scythes, sex and sunsets fired viewers’ imaginations. Roger Mosey hopes Huw Wheldon’s story will inspire 6 Steve Clarke hears from an RTS panel how Poldark was 22 today’s programme-makers to aim higher rebooted Culture on demand Sounding off about the unheard Phil Edgar-Jones convinces Tara Conlan that Sky Arts is Difficulty hearing dialogue in TV drama is a recurring 24 making a bigger splash as it scales up across Europe 10 irritation for audiences. Is there a simple solution, asks Maggie Brown NAB: Net TV sets the pace Streaming services are pushing ahead of broadcasters Film4 ups the stakes 26 to supply bigger, better pictures, says Adrian Pennington Can the new boss of Channel 4’s Oscar-winning movie 13 arm deliver a profit? Stuart Kemp investigates Our Friend in the Big Apple Celebrity soaps, ice hockey, Bruce Springsteen and Who should keep the BBC honest? 28 Donald Trump. Dawn Airey is embracing New York life Do Government proposals for BBC governance threaten 16 its independence? Raymond Snoddy takes soundings Cover picture: Philip Bannister Editor Production, design, advertising Royal Television Society Subscription rates Printing Legal notice Steve Clarke Vernon Adams 3 Dorset Rise UK £115 ISSN 0308-454X © Royal Television Society 2016. [email protected] [email protected] London EC4Y 8EN Overseas (surface) £146.11 Printer: FE Burman, The views expressed in Television 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 2016 3 Your guide to upcoming national and RTS NEWS regional events RTS MASTERCLASS DAY National events Monday 14 November Royal Television Society RTS Student Programme RTS AGM Masterclasses Tuesday 24 May Venue: BFI Southbank, London Annual General Meeting SE1 8XT 6:00pm start Annual Venue: RTS, 3 Dorset Rise, RTS MASTERCLASS DAY London EC4Y 8EN Tuesday 15 November RTS Craft Skills Masterclasses General RTS AWARDS Venue: BFI Southbank, London Friday 3 June SE1 8XT RTS Student Television Meeting Awards 2016 Venue: BFI Southbank, Local events London SE1 8XT BRISTOL 2016 RTS CONFERENCE Thursday 26 May Tuesday 27 September Life in the air: Why Bristol The 87th Annual General Meeting of the RTS will be held on RTS London Conference 2016 leads the world in natural- at Full stream ahead: history film-making Tuesday 24 May 2016 6:00pm Commissioning, developing Panellists: BBC NHU Executive in the Board Room, RTS, 3 Dorset Rise, London EC4Y 8EN and producing TV content in Producer Tim Scoones; Series the age of on-demand Producer James Brickell; and Principal sponsor: NBCUniversal Producer Simon Bell. MIDLANDS SCOTLAND International Joint event with RTS Wales. Thursday 7 July ■ James Wilson 07899 761167 Keynote speaker: Steve Burke, 6:30pm for 7:00pm RTS Midlands Conference 2016 ■ james.wilson@cityofglasgow- CEO of NBCUniversal. He is Venue: BBC Bristol, Whiteladies More details soon college.ac.uk joined by: RTS President Sir Road, Bristol BS8 2LR Venue: Spring Grove House, West Peter Bazalgette; Ofcom CEO ■ Belinda Biggam Midlands Safari Park DY12 1LF SOUTHERN Sharon White; Kevin MacLellan, ■ [email protected] ■ Jayne Greene 07792 776585 ■ Gordon Cooper Chair of NBCUniversal ■ [email protected] ■ [email protected] International; Tom Mockridge, DEVON & CORNWALL CEO of Virgin Media; and David ■ Kingsley Marshall NORTH EAST & THE BORDER THAMES VALLEY Abraham, CEO of Channel 4. ■ Kingsley.Marshall@falmouth. Wednesday 25 May Wednesday 15 June With burgeoning new models co.uk Networking evenings Summer BBQ and lecture of TV consumption, opportunities The last Wednesday of the month, More details soon for content creators and distribu- EAST ANGLIA for anyone working in TV, film, Venue: Pincents Manor, Calcot, tors are both incredibly exciting ■ Contact TBC computer games or digital Reading RG31 4UQ and potentially hazardous. production. 6:00pm onwards. ■ Penny Westlake How is the emergence LONDON Venue: Tyneside Bar Café, Tyne- ■ [email protected] of myriad new distribution Wednesday 18 May side Cinema, 10 Pilgrim St, New- platforms impacting on the London Assembly elections castle upon Tyne NE1 6QG WALES commissioning and production Steven Barnett, Professor of ■ Jill Graham ■ Hywel Wiliam 07980 007841 landscape? Communications, School of ■ [email protected] ■ [email protected] With new, entrepreneurial Media, Arts and Design, University approaches to production, of Westminster, chairs an industry NORTH WEST YORKSHIRE access to global funding and panel including Jim Grice, Head of ■ Rachel Pinkney 07966 230639 Friday 24 June emerging trends in consumer News and Current Affairs, London ■ [email protected] RTS Yorkshire Programme behaviour – what are the real Live. How well did the industry Awards 2016 opportunities and challenges of cover the London election and is NORTHERN IRELAND Hosted by Emmerdale stars creating programming for mul- the capital well served for news ■ John Mitchell Laura Norton and Mark tiple platforms? and current affairs? 6:30pm for ■ mitch.mvbroadcast@btinter- Charnock Venue: Kings Place, 90 York Way, 7:00pm net.com Venue: New Dock Hall, The Royal London N1 9AG Venue: ITV London Studios, Armouries, Leeds LS10 1LE Upper Ground, London SE1 9LT REPUBLIC OF IRELAND ■ Lisa Holdsworth 07790 145280 ■ Daniel Cherowbrier ■ Charles Byrne (353) 87251 3092 ■ lisa@allonewordproductions. ■ [email protected] ■ [email protected] co.uk 4 May 2016 www.rts.org.uk Television TV diary The jet-lagged creator of Flowers, Will Sharpe, goes walkabout in New York – and gets mistaken for an Uber driver his is not a normal nonsense. Why did I talk about an I wonder whether hiding in an over- week for me. In fact, irrational belief that there could be head locker increases the chances of it’s a positively weird sharks in the pool when I’m swim- survival. Maybe if I wrapped myself one. Three and a half ming? I do a phone interview. in the blanket? years of work are The Seeso rep asks why I didn’t culminating in a one- mention the positive reviews in the ■ I go to the Picturehouse to check week TX of my sit- UK. I say that I thought it would be The Darkest Universe DCP with Tom com Flowers and the premiere of the weird for me to talk about it. She Kingsley and our DOP, Will Hanke. Tfeature film The Darkest Universe, a says: “Next time, just talk about it.” I We catch up. We all have black coffee. second venture with my friend Tom go to Schnippers and order a chicken It makes me nostalgic for the shoot.