The Royal Television Society 2023 Cambridge Convention Announced

10 May 2023

CHANNEL 4’S ALEX MAHON TO CHAIR CONVENTION

FIRST HIGH-PROFILE SPEAKERS UNVEILED

FOR PRESTIGIOUS BIENNIAL EVENT

London, 9 May 2023 – The Royal Television Society (RTS), Britain’s leading TV and entertainment forum, today announced its 2023 convention, taking place on Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st September 2023 at King’s College, Cambridge. The agenda-setting programme, titled Too Much to Watch, will bring together influential thought leaders and prominent executives to debate the opportunities and impact of changing consumption habits reshaping global television. 

Alex Mahon, CEO of Channel 4 and Convention Chair, said: “I’m delighted Channel 4 is this year’s RTS headline partner. The brilliant Advisory Committee and I look forward to welcoming an outstanding line-up of international speakers.

“A dizzying array of channels and platforms, social forums and threads, TikToks and Tweets has given rise to an explosion of creativity offering infinite choice. For the consumer it is delightfully overwhelming. But for the industry, the competition for people’s attention has never been fiercer. Today, a winning strategy now demands more than just great content; it also requires a mastery of distribution and marketing. The Convention will provide an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of this rapidly changing landscape, and to forge greater connections with audiences, empowering us to succeed now and in the future.”

The initial line-up of industry leaders who will speak at the two-day convention includes:

• Mike Fries, CEO and Vice Chairman, Liberty Global
• Shay Segev, CEO, DAZN
• Bryan Lourd, Co-Chairman, Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
• Linda Yaccarino, Chairman, Global Advertising & Partnerships, NBC Universal
• Debbie Weinstein, VP & MD, Google UK & Ireland
• Evan Shapiro, Media Cartographer
• Ajaz Ahmed, CEO, AKQA
• Jordan Schwarzenberger, Co-Founder, Arcade Media, The Sidemen

Returning speakers include:

• Tim Davie, Director-General, BBC
• Carolyn McCall, CEO, ITV
• Dana Strong, Group CEO, Sky
• Maria Kyriacou, President, Broadcast & Studios, International Markets, Paramount Global
• Stephen Van Rooyen, CEO, Sky UK & Ireland and Chief Commercial Officer, Sky Group

Further high-profile speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

Theresa Wise, CEO of the Royal Television Society, said: “With an impressive selection of leaders in the entertainment industry already confirmed to speak in Cambridge this year, we are set to have a valuable, thought-provoking programme with many more exciting sessions to be announced over the coming months. RTS conventions provide a tentpole moment in the calendar for the industry to come together, and we are delighted to be working with Alex as Chair and the Channel 4 team to help shape the event, and provide delegates with important discussions focused around our timely theme.”

Other confirmed convention sponsors include Accenture, All3Media, Pinewood Studios and Roku.

An early bird rate of £1,500 excluding VAT is available for the first 75 bookings. The full ticket price will then be £2,000 excluding VAT. For more information or to book your place visit: https://rts.org.uk/event/rts-cambridge-convention-2023

For further information please contact:

rts@ddapr.com

+44 20 7932 9800

About The Royal Television Society:

From glamorous award ceremonies to lively debates, the RTS embraces all aspects of television, and is open to anyone with an interest in the medium.

As an educational charity, we encourage and celebrate work in television and its related fields, from finding out how the nation’s favourite shows are made in our Anatomy of a Hit series, to celebrating burgeoning talent at our annual Student Awards.

The industry’s most talented individuals give us an insight into the work that goes into making cutting edge contemporary TV. From Government ministers and CEOs to workshops with great runners, our events look at every part of the business.

Our annual Television Journalism, Programme, Craft and Design, and Student Awards celebrate achievements across the broadcasting industry.

Each year, we offer Television Production and Technology bursaries to help those from less affluent backgrounds get a foothold in the industry, and Masterclass sessions bring together students, academics and industry heads.

Global television leaders gather to discuss what the future holds for television at our London and Cambridge Conventions.

Alongside our engaged community of around 3,800 full members, the Society is supported by Britain and the world's biggest broadcasters, producers and consultants, including Principal Patrons BBC, Channel 4, ITV and Sky.

Originally founded as the Television Society in 1927, the Society was granted its Royal title in 1966 and the former Prince of Wales became Patron of the RTS in 1997.

Today, 15 regional and national groups curate lively events and awards around the UK and Ireland, from Glasgow to Galway.

RTS Futures, which is aimed at those in their first two years of employment, organises an exciting roster of discussion, training, and social occasions. Recent events have included workshops on learning how to format shows and how to survive as a freelancer, and expert panels explaining how to be the best researcher and how to make it on-screen.

About Channel 4:

Channel 4 exists to create change through entertainment. Publicly owned yet commercially funded, Channel 4 generates significant and sustainable cultural, economic and social impact across the UK – at no cost to the taxpayer.

The broadcaster’s distinctive remit is set by Parliament, and it has a role to represent unheard voices, challenge with purpose and reinvent entertainment. For over 40 years, it has been a British success story, engaging generation after generation of young people.

Through a unique publisher-broadcaster model, Channel 4 commissions its content from the UK independent production sector. Working with around 300 creative companies every year, Channel 4 makes a major contribution to the local, regional and national economy, creating and supporting thousands of jobs and businesses across the country.

In 2020, Channel 4 launched its Future4 strategy to become a digital-first public service media company and to continue to deliver significant impact for UK audiences and investment into the UK creative economy.

Across its bases in London, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol and Glasgow, Channel 4 is turbocharging its efforts to find, nurture and develop talent across the UK. Through its training and development initiative 4Skills, Channel 4 is opening up opportunities in broadcasting, with a particular focus on disadvantaged young people, and addressing skills gaps across the Nations and Regions.

Channel 4 has the UK’s biggest free streaming service plus 11 television channels including: Channel 4, E4, E4 Extra, More4, Film4, 4Seven and The Box Plus Network. Through Film4 Productions, Channel 4 also invests in British filmmakers to huge critical acclaim, producing 37 Oscar wins and 88 BAFTA wins in its history.

https://www.channel4.com/