Print
Back To Agenda »
You are not currently viewing the most recent Realscreen Summit. Go to Realscreen Summit 2026.
Sunday, January 28
| 5:00 PM |
Trendwatch: Tuning Up Music Competitions
Salon I 5:00 PM-6:00 PM With the return of one of the most successful TV series of all time — American Idol — coming soon, and with The Voice being the biggest global format in recent memory, the music competition genre is still super hot. But while new music series are making their way to broadcast schedules around the world, it’s important that they offer something new, or audiences will say “It’s the same old song” and tune out. Hear from producers and execs behind the new wave of music competition series as they discuss how they set out to hit the right notes with their shows. Speaking
   
|
Monday, January 29
| 9:45 AM |
Pressure Points: Making the Model Work
Salon L 9:45 AM-11:00 AM This session brings together top executives in the unscripted and non-fiction TV industry to tackle the themes discussed during last year’s standing room only kick-off panel, Under Pressure. The discussion will examine what progress — if any — the industry has made in improving aspects of the current business model. But it will also shine the spotlight on key points brought to light in last year’s session, and through discussion and debate, uncover actionable ways to make improvements that will make business better for all concerned. Speaking
|
| 11:15 AM |
Trendwatch: OTT Evolution
Salon C 11:15 AM-12:15 PM When the big OTT players started making big deals (with big money), the term “the new cable” was used to describe the growing wave of buyers entering the original content arena. As OTT has evolved, it has mirrored the niche approach that cable employed, making a huge range of content available for the streaming. This session brings together various execs in the space to discuss the OTT explosion, and where the evolution is heading next. Speaking
Acquisitions and Copros: Trends and Takeaways
Salon I 11:15 AM-12:15 PM Who’s buying what, why, and for how much? These may be basic questions, but they’re integral to the formation of business strategies for sellers and buyers alike. However, as the business of content creation and distribution becomes increasingly complex, and the range of content needed for linear and newer platforms increases, new questions — and strategies — emerge. In this session, you’ll hear from execs in the distribution, acquisitions and coproduction space about how the need for content that cuts through the clutter is impacting buying, selling, rights negotiations and financing of programming, and you’ll learn about emerging models that are altering the shape of the business. Speaking
Christian DrobnykEVP Programming Disney Branded Television & National Geographic National Geographic Channel 
|
| 1:30 PM |
Unscripted and Unprepared with Legacy Award Recipient Jonathan Murray
Salon L 1:30 PM-2:30 PM Join Main Event Media’s Jimmy Fox, host of the popular podcast Unscripted and Unprepared, for a “live before a Summit audience” taping featuring a one-on-one interview with Bunim/Murray Productions co-founder and unscripted television legend Jon Murray. Since the launch of The Real World on MTV in 1992, Murray has created and executive produced some of the industry’s most innovative, unscripted, entertainment television programs, including, most recently A&E’s acclaimed and Emmy-winning Born This Way, about young adults with Down Syndrome and their families. In recognition of his immeasurable and ongoing contribution to television, Murray will also be awarded during the session with a special Realscreen Legacy Award. Speaking
|
| 2:45 PM |
Real Talk: Redefining Relevance - What Success Looks Like in a Post-OTT World
Salon L 2:45 PM-3:45 PM Audience measurement methods and metrics have been bones of contention for some time now, but with the arrival of new platforms and their aggressive moves into premium content, retaining eyeballs and cultural relevance is a growing concern for cable nets and linear broadcasters. How is the disruption emerging from the big OTT players impacting “traditional” TV from a creative and business standpoint? How can, and should, different players from different platforms compete and collaborate? And how will content creators and producers benefit from the battle for audience? Speaking
|
Tuesday, January 30
| 10:45 AM |
Small Companies, Big Ideas
Salon C 10:45 AM-11:45 AM Conventional wisdom says that it is the company with the most resources — financial and otherwise —to throw at development that walks away with the most greenlights, and in turn, more hits. But every so often, a smaller, younger company knocks it out of the park and comes up with the show that will define its brand, and maybe the brand of the network airing it. This session will showcase several “ones to watch” behind some of the bigger hits in unscripted today, and reveal how they innovate and thrive in an industry that is more competitive than ever. Speaking
View from the Corner Office
Salon I 10:45 AM-11:45 AM Who better to provide a frank, candid and captivating window into the process behind the programming than someone who spent some quality time in the corner office? In this session, former top-level executives reveal insights about their time as toppers, and their perspectives on how the industry has changed, and is changing. Speaking
|
| 12:00 PM |
Crime Time: The Evolution of a Genre
Salon C 12:00 PM-1:00 PM True crime programming has been a television staple for decades, but like television itself, it has seen its share of changes. With the rise of cable, the emergence of unscripted, and now, the dawn of the OTT era, crime content has remained a leader of the pack. But how has it changed with the times, and what changes are ahead? From renowned documentarians to podcasters, from Cops to Live PD, we will take you on a ride through the evolution of the crime genre, and see where it may be headed in the near future. Speaking
Unscripted: The Shocking Truth
Salon I 12:00 PM-1:00 PM Amidst the headlines about the “golden age of scripted,” there’s a simple fact that seems to be left out of the story. Even in the Peak TV era, when it comes to ratings and buzz, unscripted and non-fiction still provides the best bang for the buck for networks. The proven performers are still among the strongest franchises on the air, regardless of genre, and new hits are still emerging. Here, you’ll hear some of the shocking good news about the current state of unscripted, and find out how its continued success is ushering in a new era of authentic, “premium” unscripted content. Speaking
Howard LeePresident and Head, Content, TLC and Discovery and Chief Creative Officer, U.S. Networks TLC 
|
| 2:15 PM |
The Deep Development Data Dive
Salon C 2:15 PM-3:15 PM This session brings together two top research experts, exploring the current state of affairs for the unscripted and television industries. Join Courtney Williams of Parrot Analytics as, via a live demonstration of Parrot's global audience demand measurement system, he shows how top unscripted content in major markets around the world is faring across platforms, with interest and engagement measured in real time. You will also learn how this data can be used in the development process, and how gauging audience interest in certain titles, genres and niches can guide you creatively. A+E’s Don Robert, meanwhile, will take aim at stories concerning the death of TV, and the creative slump in reality programming. This presentation debunks the many myths surfacing across the landscape, including fake news headlines such as: “Millennials aren’t watching TV anymore,” “Lead-ins are meaningless,” and “Cord cutting is killing TV.” Amidst all the fun, however, there is acknowledgment that TV, like most things, is evolving. Thus, he’ll explore what those in the biz should be doing to maximize success moving forward. Speaking
Reality Check: After #MeToo, What Now?
Salon I 2:15 PM-3:15 PM The past year has seen an unprecedented wave of awareness and attention given to the prevalence of sexual harassment within myriad industries, with the television and entertainment business figuring prominently in the picture. This session will bring together female executives from the production, network and legal sectors to discuss how the unscripted and non-fiction content community can use this moment as a catalyst for change, while also examining what needs to happen to create and ensure respectful workplaces for all. Speaking
|
| 3:30 PM |
To Tell the Truth: The Intersection of Non-Fiction and News
Salon C 3:30 PM-4:30 PM Documentary filmmakers and non-fiction producers working on current affairs content have joined the ranks of top news journalists as trusted voices and valued perspectives in recent years. 24/7 news networks creating slates of long form originals vie for buzzworthy, topical content with general entertainment OTT players and major cable nets expanding their brand offerings. This session will explore the current affairs renaissance while examining how networks and content creators navigate challenges - from political divides to polarizing issues - to deliver challenging programming that rates. Speaking
Realscreen's Diversity & Inclusion Award Presentation & Case Study
Salon I 3:30 PM-4:30 PM Join us as we explore the story behind Is Australia Racist?, the winner of Realscreen’s inaugural Diversity and Inclusion Award, sponsored by NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. In a case study, John Godfrey, head of unscripted at SBS, will discuss the program’s creation and impact upon audiences, as well as the special ‘Face Up to Racism’ series of programs aired on SBS. Speaking
|
Wednesday, January 31
| 9:45 AM |
Where's the Big Idea?
Salon C 9:45 AM-10:45 AM In our media saturated world, that big idea that seems tailor made for TV might come from a game designer, or a podcaster. And the best way to tell the story might involve VR, AR or an immersive technology we are still on the cusp of creating. This inspiring session will bring top creatives from myriad disciplines to discuss the big ideas they're bringing to networks and audiences worldwide, and encourage you to look at the wider world outside the box when developing your next game changer. Speaking
|
| 11:00 AM |
Inspiration/Perspiration
Salon C 11:00 AM-12:00 PM Changing times require flexibility, adaptability and creativity in order to navigate the twists and turns in the road ahead. While the visual media landscape may be fragmenting, the process is bringing more buyers into the picture, and therefore more opportunities for growth. But as new models for the content industry are being shaped along the way, traditional methods of doing business are changing – in some cases, dramatically. This session beings together seasoned pross to put the exhilarating if occasionally excruciating challenges and triumphs into perspective, as we ask them: What are the challenges in your role that keep you up at night? And what is inspiring you today to push toward greatness? Speaking
|