Content LA 2023 Agenda
Go to:
THURSDAY 18TH MAYFRIDAY 19TH MAY
THURSDAY 18TH MAY
8am
REGISTRATION AND NETWORKING BREAKFAST
9am
CONTENT TRENDS REPORT
In this opening Content LA session, a panel of leading industry analysts will dissect the latest data coming out of North America, highlighting the defining shows, trends and genres and look ahead to the key drivers for change for the domestic and international business over the next 12 months and beyond.
Moderator: David Jenkinson, editor-in-chief & managing director, C21Media
9.45am
THE FRAPA SESSIONS: Formats for the world
A guide for independent creators, producers and distributors on creating, selling and protecting their IP internationally.
Moderator: Michael Schmidt, advisory board member, FRAPA
10.20am
CONTENT STRATEGIES: MGM+
Chris Brearton is vice president, corporate strategy, Prime Video & Studios and head of MGM unscripted & MGM+. In this role, Brearton oversees MGM’s global business operations, as well as the legendary studio’s business development and strategic growth initiatives. Michael Wright serves as head of MGM+ (formerly EPIX), a commercial-free premium linear channel and streaming service delivering a broad lineup of content, including quality original series and docuseries. In this content strategies session, Brearton and Wright will discuss the MGM+ domestic rebrand, international relaunch, their content strategies, opportunities for international partnerships, and the future vision for the service.
Moderator: Jordan Pinto, North American editor, C21Media
10.55am
International scripted format adaptations
In this session we explore success in adapting scripted formats for the US and international markets. Leading creatives and producers discuss their creative and business approaches in making this work, and lessons learnt along the way.
Moderator: Carrie Stein, president, global scripted television, Dynamic Television
11.30am
CONTENT STRATEGIES: Toby Gorman, Universal Television Alternative
Toby Gorman is president of Universal Television Alternative Studio (UTAS), a division of Universal Studio Group. The studio develops and produces gameshows, competition programmes, true crime, documentaries and docuseries. Gorman has oversight over all aspects of the studio, including development, production, business and creative affairs. In this Content LA Content Strategies conversation he will discuss his vision and the approach driving opportunities for partnerships and coproduction as well as key titles from his upcoming slate.
Moderator: Claire Atkinson, chief media correspondent, Business Insider
12.00pm
Future of unscripted
Leading US executives discuss what the future for the unscripted business holds. Is the drama boom over and is now the age of the premium doc? What are the global ambitions for US producers and how do they realise them?
Moderator: Jordan Pinto, North American editor, C21Media
12.30pm
SPONSORED PRESENTATION: OM-MA
In this short presentation OM-MA will outline regional finance & tax incentives available for international producers.
OM-MA consultancy provides strategic advice on tax incentive structures, production hub development support and raising private funding for film, TV, live events/streaming.
12:30pm
LUNCH BREAK
Lunch is not included, but there is an extended break in the conference programme and links to a number of recommended nearby places to book for lunch is below.
2pm
KEYNOTE INTERVIEW: Media Res
Media Res founder and chairman, Michael Ellenberg leads the motion picture production and finance company and television studio, developing, producing and financing premium content for global markets. He is joined in this keynote interview by Lars Blomgren, who recently joined Media Res to launch an international TV unit, to develop premium TV series from a range of genres by combining talent and material from outside the US. The pair will set out their future vision for Media Res and discuss opportunities for international collaboration.
Moderator: Carrie Stein, president, global scripted television, Dynamic Television
2.40pm
CONTENT STRATEGIES: Universal Studios Group scripted
Key executives responsible for scripted development across Universal Studios Group, Margaret Schatzel, Vivian Cannon and Marc Velez, will discuss their content strategies for the next 12 months and the opportunities for partnerships.
Moderator: Jordan Pinto, North American editor, C21Media
3.20pm
FAST FORWARD: FAST, the fastest growing streaming sector
With the exponential growth in FAST we hear from some of the major studios and players about why this is the business model to back, what their strategies and approaches are to FAST and what FAST will look like in 12 to 18 months time.
Moderator: Guy Bisson, executive director, Ampere Analysis
4pm
FUNDAMENTALS: Indie distributors – where’s the money?
Leading independent US distributors will discuss how the domestic and global landscape is changing and how they are adapting their business models, to take advantage of new opportunities. They will also discuss what they are looking to back and how and when they are investing.
More speakers to be announced.
Moderator: Hayley Babcock, founder and CEO, Hayley Babcock Media Consulting
4.45pm
CONTENT STRATEGIES: CBS Studios
Key CBS Studios executives, Bryan Seabury, EVP of drama development, Lindsey Martin, head of international co-productions, Kate Adler, head of comedy development and Alec Botnick, EVP of comedy development and head of animation and alternative, discuss their content strategies, areas for partnership and collaboration, and key new titles.
Moderator: Pippa Lambert, producer and founder, Hellcat
5.30pm
CONTENT STRATEGIES: Ad-supported streaming platforms
Executives from leading international platforms, AVoDs and FAST channels discuss their content strategies, opportunities for collaboration and the key titles from their new slates.
Moderator: Mary Ann Halford, partner, Altman Solon
6pm
NETWORKING COCKTAIL
FRIDAY 19TH MAY
8am
REGISTRATION AND NETWORKING BREAKFAST
9am
State of the scripted nation
With budgets under further pressure, the US writers’ strike, changing studio landscape and demand for more global content, how is the US scripted business preparing for the next 12 months? Leading executives working across the scripted space dissect the latest challenges and opportunities facing an ever evolving business.
Moderator: Pat Quinn, partner, manager, Quinn Media Management
9.50am
KEYNOTE INTERVIEW: Meredith Gertler, HBO and Warner Bros. Discovery
Meredith Gertler, executive VP, global content strategy, planning and analysis works across HBO and Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming products, including HBO Max and Discovery+. In this keynote interview, Gertler will discuss the Max platform, launching May 23, and how it will assemble and showcase the best in category content across genres to serve as the leading global streaming destination for quality content for everyone in the household. She’ll also delve into Max’s merchandising and curation strategies, offering insights into how the streamer will couple human curation and machine learning to deepen viewer engagement across a variety of genres. And lastly, Gertler will explain how Max is tapping into data to strengthen its programming offering.
Moderator: Jordan Pinto, North American editor, C21Media
10.30am
FUNDAMENTALS: International coproduction renaissance
As the walls come crumbling down, leading international studios discuss the new opportunities for coproductions and partnerships between the US and global business.
Moderator: Ed Waller, editorial director, C21Media
11.10pm
KEYNOTE SESSION: Amazon Studios
Lauren Anderson is the head of AVoD original content and programming for Amazon Studios, overseeing all programming, including creative development, production, licensing, scheduling, research, and strategy for Amazon Freevee and Prime Video’s ad-supported FAST linear channels. Additionally, Anderson oversees the unscripted programming strategy across all of studios, including SVoD and AVoD programming. Lauren Anderson is the head of AVoD original content and programming for Amazon Studios, overseeing all programming, including creative development, production, licensing, scheduling, research, and strategy for Amazon Freevee and Prime Video’s ad-supported FAST linear channels. Additionally, Anderson oversees the unscripted programming strategy across all of studios, including SVoD and AVoD programming. Lauren Anderson is the head of AVoD original content and programming for Amazon Studios, overseeing all programming, including creative development, production, licensing, scheduling, research, and strategy for Amazon Freevee and Prime Video’s ad-supported FAST linear channels. Additionally, Anderson oversees the unscripted programming strategy across all of studios, including SVoD and AVoD programming.
In this keynote session, Anderson will be joined by Amazon Freevee’s Jenny Falkoff to discuss their unscripted strategy approach, how they look at projects as a whole and how they evaluate which project is best for SVoD, AVoD or both.
Moderator: Jordan Pinto, North American editor, C21Media
12pm
KEYNOTE INTERVIEW: Allison Wallach, Fox Entertainment
Allison Wallach is president, unscripted programming, Fox Entertainment, responsible for overseeing Fox’s unscripted programming, specials and alternative development slate; Gordon Ramsay’s production entity, Studio Ramsay Global; the entertainment brand TMZ; and the in-house unscripted studio, Fox Alternative Entertainment (FAE). In this Keynote Interview, Wallach will discuss her vision for Fox Entertainment and how her content strategy is impacting partnership opportunities.
Moderator: Claire Atkinson, chief media correspondent, Business Insider
12.30pm
LUNCH BREAK
Lunch is not included, but there is an extended break in the conference programme and links to a number of recommended nearby places to book for lunch is below.
2pm
CONTENT STRATEGIES: Roku
David Eilenberg is VP and head of content for Roku Media, leading the charge to establish Roku’s free ad-supported streaming service The Roku Channel as a destination for both scripted and unscripted original content. In this Content Strategies session, Eilenberg is joined by Brian Tannenbaum, head of originals, who leads all aspects of original programming and Jennifer Vaux, who oversees content strategy, acquisition, programming and scheduling, to discuss how Roku content is evolving and the partnership opportunities this opens up to the business.
Moderator: Hayley Babcock, founder and CEO, Hayley Babcock Media Consulting
2.40pm
CONTENT STRATEGIES: David Madden, Wattpad Webtoon
David Madden is head of global entertainment for Wattpad Webtoon Studios, the fan-driven global entertainment and publishing arm for Webtoon and Wattpad. He oversees development, production, and sales for the company’s global TV, feature film, and animation businesses. In this conversation Madden will discuss the content strategy leading his decision making and areas he’s looking to partner in.
Moderator: Jordan Pinto, North American editor, C21Media
3.20pm
CONTENT TRENDS: The changing streaming landscape
As the global streamers change their positions and international and local windows start to open up again, what opportunities and challenges does this create? How do producers and content makers put together deals with global streamers and local platforms and broadcasters?
Moderator: Mary Ann Halford, partner, Altman Solon
4.00pm
BIG PICTURE: Next-generation storytelling for global audiences
Leading creatives and executives discuss how they are finding new ways to tell stories on screen that speak to and reflect both audiences around the world as well as local and niche communities.
Moderator: Diana Mogollon, senior entertainment business leader and cross-cultural catalyst
5pm
ITV STUDIOS SCREENING
Join us for the exclusive world premiere screening of Fifteen-Love, from the producers behind global hits Vigil and Line of Duty. If that wasn’t enough, the ITV Studios team will also be giving you an exclusive look ahead at what else is coming up.
6pm