13th December 2016, Central London
THE CALEDONIAN CLUB, 9 HALKIN STREET, LONDON SW1X 7DR

Guests of Honour: James Heath, Director of Policy, BBC; Dan Brooke, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Channel 4; Magnus Brooke, Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs, ITV and Ben Frow, Director of Programmes, Channel 5

With the Government recently publishing the draft Royal Charter and the accompanying Framework Agreement which sets out the details of how the BBC will operate in the new Charter period, and as policymakers consider future funding options for Channel 4, this seminar will offer a timely opportunity for key stakeholders from across the audiovisual media sector to consider the future of UK public service media.

It is also timed to follow the publication of recommendations from the independent inquiry ‘A Future for Public Service Television’, chaired by Lord Puttnam, with recommendations on greater Ofcom scrutiny of PSBs, Channel 4 ownership, strengthened PSB commitments for ITV and Channel 5, and on copyright fees.

Delegates will consider the extent to which public service television and radio services across the UK are a vital resource and are delivering on their remits in the competitive multi-channel media market.

Sessions will particularly focus on:

• Levels of investment and ownership structures within the UK independent TV production sector;
• A devolved approach to funding and commissioning to reflect the changing constitutional shape of the UK;
• Systematic solutions for increasing diversity on and off screen and options for ring-fenced funding;
• Maximising employment and professional development opportunities;
• Priorities for supporting public service genres following the Government’s plans to pilot contestable funding over the next three years; and
• The development of on-demand services and digital-only channels to widen portfolios and meet the changing needs of audiences.

We are delighted that James Heath, Director of Policy, BBC; Dan Brooke, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Channel 4; Magnus Brooke, Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs, ITV and Ben Frow, Director of Programmes, Channel 5 have agreed to Guests of Honour and deliver keynote addresses at this seminar, together with Sir Colin Callender, Chief Executive Officer, Playground Entertainment; Toby Coffey, Head of Digital Development, National Theatre; Phil Critchlow, Chair, Radio Independents Group and Founder and Director, TBI Media; David Elstein, Chair, openDemocracy and Chairman, Broadcasting Policy Group; Professor Des Freedman, Professor of Media and Communications, Goldsmiths, University of London; Ian Jones, Chief Executive, S4C; Alistair Law, Head of UK Policy, Sky and John McVay, Chief Executive, Pact.

Lord Best, Chair, House of Lords Communications Committee and Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury, House of Lords Liberal Democrat Principal Spokesperson for Media and the Creative Industries have kindly agreed to chair this seminar.