Report on the 2006 Conference

Background

The Television from the Nations and Regions Conference is a unique national event, now in its thirteenth year. It is a one-day conference, which this year returned to the Lowry at Salford Quays, and by popular request has changed its date from November to January. The intention is to start each New Year with a positive look at broadcasting outside London.

The Lowry from across the Quays

Organised jointly by the International Media Centre at Salford University and the Northwest Regional Development Agency, the conference highlights activities, issues and policy affecting television production in the Nations and Regions.

Steve Hewlett, Conference Chair; Pat Loughrey, BBC; Clive Jones, ITV; Stuart Cosgrove, Channel 4; Tim Suter Ofcom in the Opportunity Knocks panel debate.

The Conference was conceived by the International Media Centre in 1993. Since then the IMC has developed the format, widened the audience and annually underwrites the cost of staging the Conference.

During the life of the Conference, virtually every senior figure in UK broadcasting has appeared on the platform. It fills a unique niche in the broadcasting calendar and has become part of the fabric of the debate about the future of British broadcasting.

David Rushton, Institute for Local Television; Marilyn Hyndman, Northern Visions; Steve Hewlett; Mark Dodson, Channel M; Kevin Gooding, ITV; Andy Griffee, BBC – The Future is Here, the Future is Local.

Previous speakers have included Michael Grade, Sir Bob Phillis, David Plowright, Lord Puttnam, Chris Smith MP, Mark Thompson, Tim Gardam, Graham Allen MP, Peter Bazalgette, Wayne Garvie, Nicola Shindler, Richard Whitely, Lord Inglewood MEP, Peter Salmon, Stuart Prebble, David Liddiment, Phil Redmond, Stuart Cosgrove, Mark Byford, and Anthony Wilson.

Previous venues have included Peel Hall Salford, Salford Art Gallery, The Printworks in Manchester, BBC Manchester and Yorkshire Television.

Purpose

The Conference focuses on policy and practice, and looks at the challenges and opportunities facing those working in the television industry outside London.

It brings together senior broadcasters, commissioners, policy makers, independents, freelances, facilities houses, screen agencies and investors, academics and new entrants. It also increasingly attracts those who are committed to the development of broadcasting in the Nations and Regions.

The aim of the conference is to provide a national forum to explore and discuss the strengths of broadcasting and production in the Nations and Regions and the challenges they face. The day is also a celebration of the achievements of the Nations and Regions and provides a host of networking opportunities for delegates.

It remains the only national event with this focus and attendance over the last 12 years has grown from 150 to over 400 delegates at this year’s event.

In total 9 sessions with over 26 speakers attracted more than 400 delegates for the second year running.

Professor James Powell, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University of Salford; Professor Ron Cook, IMC, University of Salford; James Purnell MP; Helen France, NWDA; Richard Towell, Dean of Arts, Media, and Social Sciences, University of Salford.

Content

This year the Conference was titled The Promised Land – the Future of Television outside London.

The Conference took place the day after the Ofcom Interim Report on Television Production was published, making it the first chance for major figures in the industry to discuss Ofcom’s recommendations and implications for the industry in the Nations and Regions.

James Purnell, MP

The keynote speaker was James Purnell MP, Minister for Creative Industries and Tourism. He gave his vision for the future of broadcasting outside London and answered questions from the floor.

Helen France, NWDA

Helen France, Executive Director of Development and Partnerships for the Northwest Regional Development Agency, which is the Conference’s major sponsor, gave the formal welcome address to delegates.

The conference also focussed on the major changes taking place in the industry which impact directly on those outside the M25.

Krishan Arora, BBC; Janey Walker, Channel 4; Chris Shaw, Channel 5; Mark Gorton, MMArts: at the table for ‘Commissioning and How to Crack it’.

The sessions included:

Paul Abbott, Tightrope Pictures

Paul Abbott summed up the day with his own optimistic view of the up and coming opportunities in the industry.

Conference Chair was Steve Hewlett, writer and broadcast consultant.

Steve Hewlett, Conference Chair; Tim Suter, Ofcom; Professor Ron Cook, IMC; Sandy Ross, Scottish Television; Pat Loughrey, BBC; Stuart Cosgrove, Channel 4; Clive Jones, ITV: Panellists from ‘Opportunity Knocks’.

Benefits of the Conference

The conference contributes to the promotion of the Nations and Regions by raising the profile of the regional television production industry, attracting executives and practitioners from all over the UK, alongside key commissioning editors and programme directors from London. The conference has a national profile and is promoted extensively throughout the UK.

The International Media Centre with its extensive media activity provides the home base for the Conference organisation. The Conference itself forms a key part of the University of Salford’s support for, and engagement with, the creative industries.

There were 26 speakers and 405 delegates. 269 were from organisations, 69 were freelance, and 67 new entrants.

Delegates came from all over the UK including Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. There were also delegates from abroad.

A question from the floor

This year the Conference was not only better attended than ever before but delegates also stayed until the end of the day with a packed final session. There was a general air of optimism and the debates were very positive.

Benefits to Delegates

The event benefits independent production companies, broadcasters, film-makers, students, academics, and the support sector for the media industry.  It attracts commissioning editors, producers, directors, scriptwriters, technical crew, alongside policy makers.

The event is an opportunity to network, showcase talent in the region and look at ways of developing the infrastructure to create a viable production base in the nations and regions. Delegates find out about the type of activities going on in other parts of the country and can join in and influence the debate on how to develop viable production centres.

There was an ongoing demonstration of the latest broadcasting technology throughout the day where delegates could have one to one sessions with engineers who were developing it.

Delegates network during a coffee break in the Quays Bar

As always the conference provides regional producers with an opportunity to meet with key decision makers in the sector and network with other colleagues. This year the team helped to organise and facilitate meetings at lunchtime between the BBC Independents Executive, Krishan Arora, and regional independent production companies, and for the Research Centre for Television and Interactivity.

Pre-Conference Event

Tuesday 10th January 2006

This year all the delegates were invited to a pre-transmission screening of the first episode of ITV’s new drama series “Eleventh Hour” shot in and around the North West, starring Patrick Stewart and Ashley Jensen, directed by Terry McDonagh, and produced by Stephen Smallwood.

It was shown at the Filmworks in Manchester and was introduced by Andy Harries, Controller of Drama & Comedy at ITV Productions.

This was followed by a reception at the Circle Club in Manchester City Centre.

Over 100 people attended these events.