RTS Cambridge Lineup Features James Murdoch, Gary Davey

The Royal Television Society (RTS) has revealed the lineup for the RTS Cambridge Convention 2017: A World of Opportunity, which will feature 21st Century Fox’s James Murdoch, Ofcom’s Sharon White and Sky’s Gary Davey, among others.

The opening session, A World of Opportunity, is led by Sky’s group COO, Andrew Griffith, and managing director of content, Gary Davey. Bringing together the latest research with expert comments from Thinkbox CEO Lindsey Clay and David Rowan, editor-at-large for WIRED UK, the session will look at the future of the U.K. television industry post-Brexit.

Nancy Dubuc, the president and CEO of A+E Networks, will offer a global perspective on operating a media company in this fast-changing sector in her international keynote, which will be chaired by Jay Hunt, the chief creative officer of Channel 4.

Andy Harries, CEO of Left Bank Pictures, and Andy Wilman, executive producer of The Grand Tour, are then in conversation with Peter Fincham, co-CEO of Expectation, in Show Me The Money! They will discuss the opportunities and challenges of making big-budget shows such as The Crown and The Grand Tour and what it is like creating content for the new platforms.

Sir David Clementi, who was appointed as chairman of the BBC in February 2017, closes out the day with a keynote address, chaired by media analyst Lorna Tilbian.

James Murdoch, CEO of 21st Century Fox, will offer insight into the challenges of a shifting media landscape in a session chaired by Sarah Sands, the editor of BBC Radio Four’s Today program. Sharon White, the chief executive of Ofcom, will be in conversation with journalist and TV presenter Kirsty Wark.

Also on the roster, Sophie Turner Laing, CEO of Endemol Shine Group, will ask international leaders—including Cécile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of FremantleMedia Group; Michelle Guthrie, the managing director of ABC, and David Lynn, the president and CEO of Viacom International Media Networks—where the greatest opportunities lie for the U.K. production industry.

Further highlights include the session A World of Opportunity—For All?, which will look at class and social mobility, both on-screen and in the broadcast business. Greg Dyke, media executive and former chairman of the FA; Anne Mensah, the head of drama at Sky; Fraser Nelson, editor of The Spectator and James Purnell, the director of radio and education for the BBC, will provide their views in this session, chaired by Tim Hincks, co-CEO of Expectations.

The conference will wrap with senior figures—including Susanna Dinnage, the president and managing director of Discovery Networks UK and Ireland and chief content officer for international; Mai Fyfield, chief strategy officer at Sky and the BBC’s director-general, Tony Hall—discussing what opportunities the future holds.

Tom Mockridge, chair of the RTS Board of Trustees and CEO of Virgin Media, will open and close the convention. The biennial event will take place in Cambridge from September 13 to 15.