Big TV Festival grows for 2019
November 9, 2018
After the success of the inaugural Big TV Festival – which showcases commercial TV’s cultural influence and power as a business partner for brands – earlier in 2018, UK broadcasters Channel 4, ITV and Sky are joining forces again to bring to life the power of TV advertising for the brand builders of tomorrow.
Co-produced with Thinkbox, the marketing body for commercial TV in the UK, The Big TV Festival 2019 will take place March 7th-March 8th 2019 on a bespoke set created in Sherwood Forest, Nottingham – a new venue that enables the broadcasters to increase the number of attendees from 150 to over 200 to cater for the interest generated by the first Festival.
The return of The Big TV Festival follows a year of unprecedented collaboration between the UK’s commercial broadcasters, marked by the first Festival in February; the launch of ‘Broadcaster VOD: The Bigger Picture’ in April, joint research which demonstrated BVOD’s premium status in the video world; and a series of joint events with agencies and advertisers.
On stage at the 2019 Festival will be a host of advertising and media’s most entertaining and inspirational speakers drawn from all sides of commercial TV – producers, writers, media and creative agencies, and advertisers. The line-up will be revealed in the new year.
Its organisers say the Festival is a unique chance to explore, network and celebrate all that TV can do. It will examine trends in TV viewing and production; look at the latest insights into advertising effectiveness, trust and brand safety; show how TV advertising is a force for social and economic good; and showcase the rapidly evolving technological and data-driven advancements that are helping to make TV an even more valuable business partner for brands. There will also be live entertainment.
Media agencies and advertisers are being invited to nominate members of their teams to attend the exclusive two-day event and immerse themselves in the world of commercial TV. Over 200 planners and marketers from across the UK’s media agencies and major advertisers will see how TV is transforming itself for the future.
“It is vital that the TV industry works together to show key decision makers in client and agency organisations how brilliant TV is,” declared Jonathan Allan, Chief Commercial Officer, Channel 4. “So we’re thrilled to be back to build on the success of this year’s Big TV Festival, working with Thinkbox and other UK broadcasters to demonstrate the creativity and innovation that’s going on in TV.”
“The first Big TV Festival was a huge success and I’m excited that we’re growing and building on that success in 2019,” added Kelly Williams, Managing Director, Commercial, ITV. “We know that TV has the ability to grow brands and deliver real results for business partners, and working with Channel 4, Sky and Thinkbox we can share the power of TV with the next generation of commercial decision makers.”
“TV continues to unite for the benefit of the industry and is keen to build on the success of The Big TV Festival earlier this year,” commented John Litster, Managing Director, Sky Media. “The gathering will help the younger generation of advertisers and media agencies better understand the position of trust, creativity and advertising effectiveness TV still holds for engaging UK households.”
“The first Festival went even better than we had hoped,” admitted Lindsey Clay, Chief Executive, Thinkbox. “It was so well received that we had to do it again – but bigger. It is great to see the commercial TV industry working together so successfully.”