Children’s Media Conference to Feature Delegations from China & Argentina

LONDON: Taking place July 6 to 8 in Sheffield, this year’s Children’s Media Conference, which features the theme of "Thinking Differently," is set to host a delegation of media companies from China and Argentina as first-time representatives.

Organized by UKTI, the delegations will take part in one-on-one meetings along with taking part in the conferences. Greg Childs, the editorial director at The Children’s Media Conference, said: “The Chinese and Argentinian delegations are a first for us and it’s also a major first for the children’s content community in the U.K. It’s a unique opportunity for U.K. companies to get a head start in building new business relationships in key developing markets.”

Also slated to speak at this year’s event are Michael Acton Smith, the managing director of Mind Candy and creator of the hit web-based Moshi Monsters property, and Rory Sutherland, the executive creative director of OgilvyOne and president of the IPA. Joe Godwin, director of BBC Children’s, is to take part in the session Salford Key, discussing the BBC’s move to Salford. Michael De Souza and Genevieve Webster, co-creators of Rastamouse, will take part of Our Survey Said.., an opening quiz that will feature team leaders Damian Kavanagh (CBBC) and Jonathan Boseley (Disney). Jamie Rix (Grizzly Tales for Gruesome Kids) and Horrid Henry movie producer Lucinda Whiteley will host masterclasses on making productions work.

Other highlights include Richard Hollis, the head of U.K. licensing at BBC Worldwide, taking part in the session Do You Need a Licence for That?; Beth Gardiner, the VP, of development and programming at Disney Junior, participating in Invented Here, a session that will explore how European broadcasters are sourcing, selling-in, producing and adapting content to serve a global audience; Kiaran Saunders, the VP and commercial director of Nickelodeon UK & Ireland, as part of the Meet the Commissioners session.