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Edinburgh TV Festival 2023
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8:30 am - 9:30 am - 24 August 2023

Sky Arts Breakfast

- Social/Networking - Sky Arts Stand
Happy Thursday! Join us for a bacon, scrambled egg or a grilled portobello mushroom roll.

9:00 am - 4:00 pm - 24 August 2023

ConnectED Speed Meetings

- ConnectED - ConnectED Lounge
ConnectED speed meetings are back for 2023, giving Festival pass holders direct one on one access to commissioners, distributors, producers and TV specialists from across the industry. Available exclusively to delegates, these speed meetings give creators the chance at the pitch of a lifetime. Browse the ConnectED Host Line-Up to find out more about our hosts and the types of projects they’re interested in and why.

9:30 am - 10:30 am - 24 August 2023

European Public Service Media: In Demand but Under Threat

- Session, BSL - Fintry
Join European broadcasting leaders in a dynamic panel discussion on public service media. Delve into the challenges confronting the sector, such as digital transformation, funding constraints, and evolving audience preferences. And explore the opportunities for growth through innovation, collaborative content creation, and embracing emerging technologies. Hear from the Directors General of Latvian, Irish and Swedish television, along with the European Broadcasting Union, as they share their experiences in protecting editorial independence, fostering inclusivity, and nurturing creativity. At a time when there is a pressing need for strong independent media, discover how broadcasters are meeting the challenges from commercial and political forces to safeguard and champion European homegrown content.

9:30 am - 10:30 am - 24 August 2023

Louis Theroux: The Post-MacTaggart Interview

- Keynote, BSL - Moorfoot
The morning after the night before. Join Louis Theroux in a sit down with Mobeen Azhar to reflect and answer all the questions emerging from last night’s MacTaggart Lecture.

9:30 am - 10:30 am - 24 August 2023

Spotlight On... Sky

- Spotlight On..., BSL - Pentland
Join the Sky team as they dissect why it is more important than ever to put yourself in the shoes of the TV audience. Being part of Comcast, and as one of Europe’s leading media and entertainment companies, the team will be talking about how they sift through content ideas, and the ways they support producers to create great stories. With new and exciting projects across the full slate and the launch of its new linear Kids channel earlier this year, we’ll hear from Zai Bennett and the team about Sky’s commissioning strategy and future focus across its diverse portfolio.

Come and meet the Commissioners from the BBC Scripted and Children's commissioning team. Drop in session - no need to book!

- Keynote, BSL - Sidlaw
Sometimes the people with the most compelling personal stories are in the best position to identify the gems in a pitch. Join Journalist and writer Afua Hirsch in conversation with Universal Studio Group (USG) Chairman Pearlena Igbokwe as they discuss Pearlena’s inspirational journey from a seminal pivot in her early life to earning her seat at the table. USG produces over 3,000 hours of programming currently airing or streaming around the globe. This fireside chat will explore how Pearlena navigated her career with notes on trusting your own instincts, identifying the connective tissue between a good story and the global audience, and what the future may hold for storytellers.

Session Partner: Universal Studio Group

11:15 am - 12:15 pm - 24 August 2023

Spotlight On... Channel 4

- Spotlight On..., BSL - Pentland
Having escaped the threat of privatisation, launched a clutch of new hits including The Piano and Late Night Lycett, and negotiated a downturn in the advertising market, Channel 4 is looking to the future. Ian Katz, Chief Content Officer, joins us alongside a panel of his key commissioning heads to discuss the current challenges and opportunities, as well as what’s next for the UK’s most provocative PSB.

11:15 am - 12:15 pm - 24 August 2023

The 6.5% Club: TAP’s All-Star Gameshow Mash-Up

- Session, BSL - Moorfoot
The TV Access Project (TAP) presents a panel show mashup highlighting how, according to Diamond data, a mere 6.5% of us in TV are Disabled, and what to do about it. Two teams of TV big wigs, comedy stars and creatives pit their wits against each other in a panel show that’s against stairs -and stares. And where the laughs are literally on TAP. Hosted by ex-Paralympian, broadcaster and production company boss, Ade Adepitan, this session will test our teams’ knowhow about the path to building a truly inclusive broadcasting industry by 2030 via rounds that we’ve, um, ‘borrowed’ (ie ‘nicked’) from existing hit shows. Expect 100% laughs, but also practical takeaways about TAP and how you can make your productions more disability-inclusive.

Session Partner: Warner Bros. Discovery
These meetings are for indies and new talent to make connections with commissioners they don’t usually work with to expand their commissioner network. Pre-booked 10 minute slots only.

12:15 pm - 1:00 pm - 24 August 2023

The Network/ MultiStory Media/ Channel 4.0 Live Pitch

- Session - Tinto
Looking for the freshest ideas to appeal to 16-24s 16-34s? Come and hear them straight from the horse’s mouth at The Network Live Pitch. For the last 48 hours, delegates on our entry-level talent scheme The Network have been learning the secrets of development with a team from MultiStory Media. Now they get to pitch their ideas for a Channel 4.0 format fronted by Love Island and Scared of the Dark star Chloe Burrows direct to Chloe and Channel 4.0 commissioner Channel 4’s Head of Digital Commissioning Sacha Khari. Talk about nerve wracking!

Session Partner: MultiStory Media

12:45 pm - 1:45 pm - 24 August 2023

Dating Formats: Never Enough

- Session - Moorfoot
Dating formats are everywhere and beloved by millions - but are we at saturation point? Or are dating show themes so universal, so relatable, that this sub-genre will dominate for years to come?

12:45 pm - 1:45 pm - 24 August 2023

Secrets Of Scheduling: How To Build a TV Channel

- Session - Sidlaw
Scheduling has often been called a dark art and its practitioners seen as mysterious creatures we have to entrust our programmes to. We are going to bring four schedulers into the light and give them a chance to tell us what it is that they do, how they make their decisions, how they work together and what the future holds for linear scheduling in a world where audiences are moving to streaming.

12:45 pm - 1:45 pm - 24 August 2023

Spotlight On... Prime Video UK

- Spotlight On..., BSL - Pentland
Prime Video’s Spotlight session will reflect on recent local successes such as The Rig, Clarkson’s Farm, All or Nothing and The Devil’s Hour, and delve into upcoming UK Originals including twisted love story and revenge drama Wilderness starring Jenna Coleman and the first ever Bond TV format 007’s Road to a Million, a reality gameshow with Brian Cox at the helm as “The Controller”. The panel will include Dan Grabiner, Head of Originals for UK and Northern Europe, Fozia Khan (Head of Unscripted, UK), Johnny Lewsley (Head of Scripted, UK) and the wider UK team.
These meetings are for indies and new talent to make connections with commissioners they don’t usually work with to expand their commissioner network. Pre-booked 10 minute slots only.

Love a cliffhanger? For the last 48 hours, delegates on The Festival’s entry-level talent scheme The Network have been learning the art of script and story with the team behind BBC Studios’ multi-award-winning continuing drama EastEnders. Now it’s the moment of truth as cast members Rudolph Walker (who plays Patrick Trueman) and Scott Maslen (who plays Jack Branning) bring to life their scripts and stories in a live read-through event.

Session Partner: BBC Studios Continuing Drama Productions

2:15 pm - 3:15 pm - 24 August 2023

Secrets Behind The Crown

- Session, BSL - Fintry
The team behind one of the UKs greatest international successes discuss the untold story and creative processes that go into making the award-winning series.

Session Partner: Netflix

2:15 pm - 3:15 pm - 24 August 2023

Spotlight On... BBC

- Spotlight On..., BSL - Pentland
In this year’s Spotlight on the BBC session, we’ll be hearing from Charlotte Moore about how BBC Content is delivering value for all audiences. She will be joined by new Director of Drama Lindsay Salt, Director of Comedy Jon Petrie and Director of Unscripted Kate Phillips who will delve into their commissioning strategies. The panel will talk about commissioning opportunities, challenges and recent successes.

2:15 pm - 3:15 pm - 24 August 2023

The Edinburgh TV FAILSTIVAL!

- Session - Sidlaw
What can we learn from TV's mistakes?

Welcome to Failstival! A new session dedicated to the discussion of failure and how its profound impact can be a catalyst for growth and success in the television industry. Hosted by journalist and author Rosamund Dean, the session will be a combination of a short presentation featuring some alarming statistics, a discussion with an incredible panel of esteemed industry figures including Karl Warner (C4), Joe Mace (ITV), Richard McKerrow (Love Productions), amd Samuel Kissous (Pernel Media), and an interactive game 'Why did this fail?' which will allow the audience and the panel to discover why some ideas never made it to screen. In an industry that often focuses on success stories, Failstival will break the mould and delve into the realm of failure to learn from its lessons, and evolve.

2:30 pm - 3:15 pm - 24 August 2023

The Network/ ITV Daytime Live Edinburgh Review Show

- Session - Moorfoot
See all the talking points from this year’s Festival filtered through the eyes of the next generation of TV talent. These Network delegates have had just 48 hours to put together a magazine show for you with the support of the ITV daytime team. See the best of the Festival so far, hosted by GMB's Polly Bartlett with top guests, new formats and VTs from around the EICC. This is a talent-spotting opportunity not to be missed!

Session Partner: ITV Studios Daytime

MEET GABY HORNSBY: BBC CONTENT’S EDITORIAL LEAD FOR SUSTAINABILITY Want to incorporate sustainability into your editorial but not sure where to start? Come and explore different ways to approach the topic, drawing on insights on what works with audiences, from the lightest of touches to fundamentally aligning your idea with a sustainable future. Top tip: the content doesn’t need to be ‘about’ climate change.

MEET NICHOLA GARDE: BBC CREATIVE DIVERSITY, DISABILITY LEAD, CONTENT Come and explore Elevate, the BBC scheme which aims to support the progression of industry wide disabled production talent. Nichola will be able to guide you through how to seek and include deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent talent within your production teams and create inclusive production spaces.

3:45 pm - 4:45 pm - 24 August 2023

Ben Winston on Pursuing the American Dream

- Session, BSL - Moorfoot
From revolutionising “The Grammys," to modernising "The Kardashians”; co-creating "The Late Late Show,” to getting the cast back together for the most anticipated special of all time “Friends: The Reunion,” Fulwell 73 co-founder Ben Winston has been behind some of TV’s most talked about moments. The 12-time Emmy winner, 33 time nominee, will talk to Richard Bacon (founder of Yes Yes Media) about his career, benefits of being an English producer in Hollywood, and the future of our business.
- Keynote, BSL - Sidlaw
This year’s Outstanding Achievement Award recipient at the Edinburgh TV Awards is none other than presenter, broadcaster and journalist, Claudia Winkleman. Winkleman has presented some of TV’s most popular shows which, most recently, include two of the biggest non-scripted hits of the last 12 months; Channel 4’s much talked about The Piano and BBC’s breakout hit of 2022, The Traitors, and of course, the BBC’s Saturday night juggernaut, Strictly Come Dancing. She sits down in an exclusive interview to discuss her career and highlights of the last three decades, with renowned broadcaster, Kirsty Young ahead of the TV Awards.

3:45 pm - 4:45 pm - 24 August 2023

Spotlight On... UKTV

- Spotlight On..., BSL - Fintry
Never one to rest on its laurels, UKTV continues to expand its original output across its portfolio of channels and streaming service UKTV Play, with its biggest channel Drama set to premiere scripted originations for the first time and a number of exciting new commissions debuting across the network. Join CEO Marcus Arthur, Chief Creative Officer Richard Watsham, and Director of Commissioning Hilary Rosen as they unpack UKTV’s business strategy, provide an exclusive look at new content, and deep dive into what they want from producers.

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm - 24 August 2023

Meet the Future of TV

- Social/Networking - Lammermuir Suite
Join The TV Foundation for a pre-awards drink with all the talent benefitting from this year's charitable programmes, from entry level to emerging leaders, across every genre and role, here you'll find Ones to Watch, The Network, TV PhD, ReConnect, the All3Media New Writers Collective and New Voice Award Winners.

4:30 pm - 5:15 pm - 24 August 2023

Sky Arts Drinks

- Social/Networking - Sky Arts Stand
Join us for a Festival cocktail.

5:15 pm - 7:15 pm - 24 August 2023

Edinburgh TV Awards

- TV Awards, BSL - Pentland
Hosted by comedian and singer Jordan Gray, the TV Awards are now in their 22nd year and a highlight of the Festival calendar. With the addition of new categories honouring the creative output visible in production and the impact of climate storytelling, this year’s TV awards celebrate the breadth of creativity both on and off screen. The shortlists were voted for by over 170 industry professionals, and the second round of judging involved 8 independent juries made up of experts from across the TV landscape.

Sponsored by: Cast & Crew

8:30 pm - 12:00 am - 24 August 2023

Fremantle Thursday Night Party

- Social/Networking - Greyfriars Hall and Eve Restaurant, Virgin Hotel
After the annual Edinburgh TV Awards at the EICC, come along to the Fremantle Thursday Night Party at the Virgin Hotel, the party will bring all delegates together to network after the second day of the Edinburgh TV Festival. Virgin Hotel, Greyfriars Hall and Eve Restaurant, 2 Cowgate, Edinburgh, EH1 1JR

Event Partner: Fremantle