Article Overview

London Chosen to Host First Global Broadcast Summit

Broadcast leaders, regulators and government officials to address critical media and television issues around business plans

London has been chosen as the host city for the first Global Broadcast Summit to take place on 15-16 May 2012. The Summit will bring together, by invitation only, Chief Executives of the world’s leading broadcasters, as well as regulators and government officials to debate and discuss the global broadcast industry from a strategic economic, technological and regulatory perspective. Moreover, against a backdrop of media crisis and uncertainty, the summit will look at television and its changing role in society, in both the public and private broadcasting arenas.

In the past 20 years conventional TV has gone from a position of overwhelming dominance to one of many competing entertainment and information choices. Faster broadband access, increased internet penetration, mobile devices and new digital technologies have enabled consumers to choose TV services that offer better quality, more choice, flexibility and mobility. As a result, social behaviour and the way audiences interact with television have changed. Until now there has not been a forum for the world’s broadcast leaders to come together and debate and discuss how these changes are impacting their organisations and how they are shaping their future business, creation of content, distribution platforms and changing the national and international context by which broadcasters are regulated and mandated.

Michael McEwen, Global Broadcast Summit Chair said, “Digital innovation, changing social policy and the evolution of consumer behaviour have revolutionized television broadcasting and in turn impacted content development, production, delivery and how audiences access and utilize their TV. The Global Broadcast Summit provides a much needed opportunity for broadcast leaders from across the world, to meet in a peer environment to debate, assess and collaborate on the needs and opportunities for the future".

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Chaired by Michael McEwen, the Global Broadcast Summit will be made up of three key elements – a worldwide survey a strategy paper prepared by each participating CEO and a CEO forum. The agenda for the Summit will be based on the research findings from an industry stakeholder survey of the global leaders attending the summit. Each CEO will also submit a strategic paper outlining their individual company view of the media landscape, their strategies for success and defining their future requirements from legislators and regulators.

For the first time, the industry will derive substantial data about themselves and those issues which have been long talked about inside companies will be given the opportunity to be debated and tested in the context of hard evidence. These issues include the future sources of revenue, changing demographics, sources of programming, costs of programming and promotion, the role of public service broadcasters and audience building strategies.

The one and a half day forum will feature keynotes from broadcaster CEOs, and Government ministers (whose responsibility is broadcasting) to set the direction of the summit. This will be followed by presentations, debate and discussion of the survey results outlining the lessons learned to date, focusing on the challenges and defining the needs going forward.

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Global Broadcast Summit appoints Chief Executive Officer

The Global Broadcast Summit, which is to debut in London in May 2012, has today announced Saleha Williams to join as Chief Executive Officer.

Williams, has over 22 years global business and strategic marketing experience within the broadcast, Telco and IT sectors; she joins the Global Broadcast Summit from London2012, where she has been leading the Olympic & Paralympic Inspire Programme across the UK. Prior to London2012, Williams worked as a business and strategic marketing director across Europe, USA and Asia, on behalf of companies including BBCTechnology, News Corp, BT, Siemens and One Caribbean Media Group. She has extensive experience in the media space, working with both public and private broadcasters, VC funded digital media and ICT companies, on a global basis, across the entire convergent media value chain.

Williams will be responsible for the leadership and management of the Global Broadcast Summit which will debut ahead of the Olympics in London, May 2012.  The summit which already has the support of Boris Johnson Mayor of London, will bring together, by invitation only, Chief Executives of the world’s leading broadcasters, as well as regulators and government officials to debate and discuss the global broadcast industry from a strategic economic, technological and regulatory perspective. Moreover, against a backdrop of a rapidly changing media environment, the summit will look at television, its business future, regulatory environment and its role in society, in both the public and private broadcasting arenas.

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Michael McEwen, Global Broadcast Summit Chair said, “The GBS Board unanimously selected Saleha based on her extensive professional experience, management abilities, and knowledege of the broadcast industry. She has a track record of leading and delivering strategic media business programmes across the world and is uniquely qualified to lead and expand our support for the summit. Many within the industry will know Saleha for her passion for the industry, as well as her strong executive and personal qualities.

Saleha Williams commented, “In the past 20 years conventional TV has gone from a position of overwhelming dominance to one of many competing entertainment and information choices. Faster broadband access, increased internet penetration, mobile devices and new digital technologies have enabled consumers to choose TV services that offer better quality, more choice, flexibility and mobility. As a result, social behaviour and the way audiences interact with television have changed. Until now there has not been a forum for the world’s broadcast leaders to come together and debate and discuss how these changes are impacting their organisations and how they are shaping their future business, creation of content, distribution platforms and changing the national and international context by which broadcasters are regulated and mandated. The Global Broadcast Summit will provide the opportunity for the conventional broadcast industry to assess the impact of digital technology, social policy, regulation and changing consumer demands on their businesses – past, present and future: I am delighted to be given the responsibility for driving and leading the team that will make this happen”.

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About the Global Broadcast Summit
The Global Broadcast Summit, which will debut in London in May 2012, will bring together, by invitation only, Chief Executives of the world’s leading broadcasters as well as regulators and government officials to debate and discuss the global broadcast industry from a business strategy, economic, technology and regulatory perspective. The summit will create the opportunity for the conventional broadcast industry to assess the impact of digital technology, social policy, regulation and changing consumer demands on their businesses – past, present and future.