Advanced Television

Digital Media Brexit: Car crash or creative opportunity?

June 14, 2018

The Rt Hon Sir Vince Cable MP, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats and former Business Secretary, will address a key summit this month assessing the likely consequences for the digital media and creative industries in a range of Brexit scenarios.

The UK is the leading international hub for global media groups and is home to more television channels than any other European country. Over 750 channels licensed in the UK are aimed at audiences in other countries.

Following a successful launch last November that raised the profile of the problems facing the media and creative sector, this Media Summits event returns to questions that still remain largely unanswered:

  • What are the implications of Brexit for international broadcasters based in Britain, delivering services to the rest of Europe?
  • What does Brexit mean for the workforce in the creative sector, the freedom of movement for talent, or practical production logistics?
  • How will Brexit affect funding, finance, incentives and investment, or local production quotas?
  • What will Brexit mean for the portability of content for consumers, with Britain outside the European Union Digital Single Market?

Two years after the referendum in the UK on membership of the European Union and just over nine months until the deadline for leaving, the picture appears to be no clearer. Media and entertainment companies cannot afford to wait and see what the impact will be.

On the eve of the European Council summit in Brussels at which leaders will discuss issues including Brexit, this evening event (June 27th) in central London will provide a forum for discussion and networking for media executives and advisors, including lawyers, accountants and consultants.

Dr David Docherty OBE, the Chair of the Digital Television Group, will moderate the discussion and invite questions from an audience of industry leaders to a panel of experts:

  • Adam Minns, the Executive Director of COBA, the Commercial Broadcasters Association, representing multichannel broadcasters, including A+E, Discovery, Fox, NBCUniversal, QVC, Scripps, Sky, Sony Pictures Television, Turner, and The Walt Disney Company.
  • John Kampfner, the Chief Executive of the Creative Industries Federation, the national organisation for creative industries, cultural education and arts in the United Kingdom.
  • Jill Rutter, Programme Director of the independent Institute for Government and a former senior civil servant, commenting on the process of policy making and preparations for Brexit.
  • Paul Hardy, Brexit Director for the international law firm DLA Piper, previously an adviser on European legislation to the House of Commons and the House of Lords, and before that at the European Commission in Brussels.

“Whatever you think about Brexit, it is a key concern for the media and creative sector,” says Dr William Cooper, co-founder and Executive Producer of Media Summits. “This summit provides a forum for media and communications executives and professional advisor partners to discuss what Brexit means for their business.”

You can secure a place at this limited capacity event on the evening of Wednesday June 27th from the Media Summits web site.

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