BBC Directors to Keynote Children’s Media Conference

Organizers of the 2017 Children’s Media Conference (July 4-6 in Sheffield, UK) announce that two senior BBC brass will deliver this year’s Opening Keynote. On day one, Director of BBC Children’s & BBC North Alice Webb and Director of BBC Radio & Education James Purnell — former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport — will take the stage at the Crucible Theatre to discuss the national broadcaster’s strategy and their perspective on the future of the kids’ media industry.

“In the current world climate our theme that looks at how we can remain ‘open’ is even more urgent – Britain open for business, the industry open to new ways of working and reaching the kids’ audience, and the audience being encouraged to maintain an open-hearted and open-eyed perspective by the content we create and distribute,” said CMC Editorial Director Greg Childs. “At CMC we have the best and brightest of the UK and international children’s media industry to discuss how we can best serve young audiences in this rapidly shifting landscape.”

Other high-profile speakers on the docket are Baroness Kidron, Founder of the 5Rights online security campaign; writer/showrunners Foz Allan and Phil Ford; Kay Benbow and Cheryl Taylor from the BBC; Sarah Muller in her new role as Head of Children’s at Channel 5; Lucy Murphy, Head of Kids Content at Sky; Paul Mortimer, Head of Digital Channels & Acquisitions at ITV, discussing their commissioning plans, And on the performance side there will be appearances from Pui Fan Lee, Sid Sloane, Cel Spellman and, a veritable mega-star, Zippy from Rainbow.

The 2017 CMC will also focus on the UK’s opportunities in the global kids’ media market at the CMC International Exchange on July 4. Over 60 commissioners, buyers and co-producers — including senior execs such as Julien Borde, Terry Kalagian, Natalie Osborne and Christopher Keenan — will meet with UK delegates to hear pitches, along with a number of key Chinese animation producers seeking IP and talent.

Learn more at www.thechildrensmediaconference.com.

James Purnell and Alice Webb