September 2015 Eurosport breaks from the pack RTS/IET JOINT PUBLIC LECTURE Wednesday 4 November 6:30pm for 6:45pm Demis Hassabis Founder of Deep Mind, artificial intelligence researcher, neuroscientist and computer game designer Venue: British Museum, London WC1B 3DG Booking: www.rts.org.uk Journal of The Royal Television Society September 2015 l Volume 52/8 From the CEO It’s been a productive Brooke and Sue Robertson. Thanks, Cambridge participants, we have Tom summer at the RTS. too, to the brilliant Anne McElvoy, Mockridge, Stuart Murphy and Jane The big news is that who chaired the occasion. Tranter on stage. our new website went I was pleased to see at least one Accenture has kindly helped develop live in July. The feed- member of the BBC Trust in the audi- a special Cambridge app. This will back that I’ve received ence. Also present was Stewart Purvis, provide details of speakers, sessions, so far has been very one of the eight-strong panel advising schedules, any supporting research positive. We hope that everyone finds John Whittingdale on his post-green and the opportunity to vote live on the site intuitive to use. As our Digital paper Charter renewal review. some big industry issues. Editor, Tim Dickens, explains in this The culture secretary is a keynote Finally, I’d like to draw attention to issue of Television, we have added a lot speaker at the RTS Cambridge Con- September’s cover story, written by of new, training-related resources. vention, which is almost upon us. If The Guardian’s Owen Gibson. He pro- The debate over the future of the you haven’t booked, there is still time vides an incisive analysis of Discov- BBC is generating a wide range of but places are going fast. ery’s plans for Eurosport and reflects views across the creative industries. We have assembled a stunning on the consequences of the channel’s In July, Chris Bryant, the Shadow line- up of domestic and international recent Olympics rights deal. Secretary of State for Culture, Media players. One of the speakers is and Sport, spoke at an RTS early- All3Media CEO Jane Turton, profiled evening event where the BBC was in this issue. centre stage. I am thrilled that Emily Bell is flying I’d like to thank all those who over from New York to join a confer- attended and our producers, Dan ence session and that, among other Theresa Wise Contents Dan Brooke’s TV Diary Eighteen months to save the BBC On holiday with his kids, Dan Brooke is subjected to Shadow culture secretary Chris Bryant warns that 5 some urban slang. It’s not the kind of language he hears 16 reducing the scale and scope of the BBC would severely back home, at the House of Lords for dinner damage the UK’s thriving creative industries Eurosport discovers a new playbook The business brain who rose to the top Now owned outright by Discovery, the pan-European Maggie Brown meets All3Media’s CEO Jane Turton, who 6 sports channel that recently bagged the Olympics is 20 knows the company inside out looking to a turbocharged future. Owen Gibson reports Our Friend in the capital A tough job in tough times Daunted by the digital disruption of TV? Then check out Controller of BBC Two Kim Shillinglaw tells Andrew Billen 23 one of London’s regular Meetups, says Terry Marsh 9 why she believes the health of her channel is vital to securing the corporation’s future ‘You’re hired!’ Apprenticeships in television and radio are expanding. The hands-on hit maker 24 Pippa Shawley hears why on-the-job training makes From Game of Thrones to True Detective and Girls, HBO sense 12 is riding high. Kate Bulkley talks to Michael Lombardo, the man who helped the US cable station rekindle its mojo IBC preview: The age of disruption Adrian Pennington looks at the big technology BT dials up a zombie invasion 26 trends that will dominate September’s International BT TV is opening up a new front in the battle with Broadcasting Convention 14 Sky by launching the first AMC-branded UK channel. Stuart Kemp investigates Cover picture: Jeff Pachoud/AFP/Getty Images 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 September 2015 3 Your guide to upcoming national and RTS NEWS regional events Coventry Rd, Solihull, West Mid- ■ Charles Byrne (353) 87251 3092 National events Local events lands B92 0EJ ■ [email protected] ■ Jayne Greene 07792 776585 RTS CONVENTION BRISTOL ■ [email protected] SCOTLAND 16-18 September Wednesday 16 September ■ James Wilson 07899 761167 RTS Cambridge Convention Boom Bust Boom NORTH EAST & THE BORDER ■ james.wilson@cityofglasgow- 2015: Happy Valley or House Film screening followed by dis- Wednesday 30 September college.ac.uk of Cards – Television in 2020 cussion with the directors Terry Networking evenings Venue: West Road Concert Hall, Jones and Ben Timlett. Organ- The last Wednesday of the month, SOUTHERN Cambridge CB3 9DP and King’s ised jointly with Encounters for anyone working in TV, film, Wednesday 14 October College, Cambridge CB2 1ST Short Film & Animation Festival. computer games or digital Ulltra-HDTV in UK TV ■ Book online at www.rts.org.uk 8:00pm production. 6:00pm onwards. With Richard Salmon, BBC Venue: Watershed, 1 Canon’s Next event: ■ 28 October Research & Development. 7:30pm RTS EARLY EVENING EVENT Road, Bristol BS1 5TX Venue: Tyneside Bar Café, Tyne- Venue: Queen Mary College, Monday 28 September side Cinema, 10 Pilgrim St, New- Cliddesden Road, Basingstoke, In conversation with Mike Wednesday 23 September castle upon Tyne NE1 6QG RG21 3HF Darcey, CEO, News UK In conversation with Philip ■ Gordon Cooper 6:30pm for 6:45pm Edgar-Jones, Director, Sky Arts Thursday 15 October ■ [email protected] Venue: The Hospital Club, 24 Commissioning strategy and the Keynote Lecture: Julian Bellamy, Endell Street, London WC2H 9HQ Amplify initiative. 7:00pm Managing Director of ITV Studios THAMES VALLEY ■ Book online at www.rts.org.uk Venue: TBC Venue: TBC Friday 27 November 25th Anniversary Dinner Dance JOINT PUBLIC LECTURE October – date TBC Tuesday 3 November Venue: Beaumont House Hotel, Wednesday 4 November Breaking into TV Digital guru: Stephen Whitelaw Burfield Rd, Old Windsor SL4 2JJ Joint RTS/IET public lecture Student event, preceded by a Venue: TBC ■ Penny Westlake with Demis Hassabis facilities tour. 2:00pm-4:00pm ■ Jill Graham ■ [email protected] Demis Hassabis is founder of Venue: Bath Spa University, ■ [email protected] Deep Mind and an artificial Newton St Loe, Bath BA2 9BN WALES intelligence researcher, neuro- ■ Belinda Biggam NORTH WEST September – date TBC scientist and computer game ■ [email protected] Thursday 1 October ‘Challenges and opportunities designer. 6:30pm for 6:45pm Awards launch for television in small nations’ Venue: British Museum, Great DEVON & CORNWALL Venue: Compass Rooms, Lowry A joint event with the University Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG ■ Contact TBC Centre, Salford Quays M50 3AZ of South Wales ■ Book online at www.rts.org.uk Venue: The ATRiuM, University of EAST ANGLIA Saturday 14 November South Wales, 86-88 Adam St, RTS MASTERCLASSES ■ Contact TBC Annual Awards Cardiff CF24 2FN Tuesday 10 November Venue: Hilton Deansgate, 303 RTS Student Programme LONDON Deansgate, Manchester M3 4LQ Thursday 22 October Masterclasses Wednesday 23 September ■ Rachel Pinkney 07966 230639 IWA and RTS Wales ‘Coffee Venue: BFI Southbank, London IBC review ■ [email protected] Shop Debate’: The future of SE1 8XT 6:30 for 7:00pm Welsh broadcasting ■ Booking opening soon Venue: Riverside Bar, ITV Studios, NORTHERN IRELAND With Ken Skates AM, Deputy Upper Ground, London SE1 9LT Thursday 5 November Minister for Culture, Sport and RTS MASTERCLASSES ■ Daniel Cherowbrier Inaugural Northern Ireland Tourism Wednesday 11 November ■ [email protected] Programme Awards Venue: Glyndwr University Wrex- RTS Craft Skills Masterclasses The centrepiece of the Belfast ham – TBC Venue: BFI Southbank, London MIDLANDS Media Festival ■ Hywel Wiliam 07980 007841 SE1 8XT Tuesday 1 September – TBC Venue: The MAC, 10 Exchange ■ [email protected] ■ Booking opening soon RTS Legends lunch with David Street West, Belfast BT1 2NJ Jennings, Head of Regional and ■ John Mitchell YORKSHIRE RTS AWARDS Local Programmes, BBC West ■ mitch.mvbroadcast@btinter- Thursday 15 October Monday 30 November Midlands net.com An evening with Barry Cryer RTS Craft & Design Awards Venue: BBC Birmingham, The Chair: Louis Barfe. 7:30pm 2014-2015 Mailbox, Birmingham B1 1RF REPUBLIC OF IRELAND Venue: Trinity Arts Centre, Boar The closing date for awards September – date TBC Lane, Leeds LS1 6HW entries is Tuesday 1 September Thursday 12 November Visit to the Vikings set. ■ Lisa Holdsworth 07790 145280 Venue: The London Hilton, Park Awards/Student Awards Venue: Ashford Studios, Bally- ■ lisa@allonewordproductions. Lane, London W1K 1BE Venue: Motorcycle Museum, henry, Ashford, Co Wicklow co.uk 4 September 2015 www.rts.org.uk Television TV diary On holiday with his kids, Dan Brooke is subjected to some urban slang. It’s not the kind of language he hears back home, at the House of Lords for dinner ack to work for a no less, after those WWE-organised tolerate my presence as the Exec break after a week tag-team bouts.