Video Panel: Format Strategies: Adapting to the Times

Executives from BBC Studios, ViacomCBS International Studios, ITV Studios and Banijay Rights took part in a virtual panel session about navigating the challenges and opportunities facing the formats business, moderated via video conference by Kristin Brzoznowski, World Screen’s executive editor.

Held under the theme Format Strategies: Adapting to the Times, the panel featured Sumi Connock, creative director of formats for BBC Studios; Laura Burrell, global head of formats at ViacomCBS International Studios; Maarten Meijs, president of global entertainment at ITV Studios; and Andrew Sime, VP of formats at Banijay Rights. In part one of this panel session, the group weighed in on how entertainment has fared relative to other genres amid production shutdowns and how each of their companies has adapted accordingly.

Next week, in part two, the conversation focuses on innovative production strategies for everything from dating shows to shiny-floor competitions and the panelists share how some of the biggest format brands in the business have been able to push forward amid new protocols.