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MONDAY, JANUARY 27 - THURSDAY, JANUARY 30
SHERATON NEW ORLEANS
Marriott Marquis | Washington, DC | Sunday, January 28 – Wednesday, January 31, 2026

Agenda

PLEASE NOTE: The times below are in Eastern Standard Time (EST)

Be sure to check back often as we will be adding more content and speakers as they are confirmed.

Sunday, February 1

5:00pm

Early Registration (5:00pm - 8:00pm)

Brickell

Monday, February 2

8:00am

Continental Breakfast (8:00am - 10:00am)

Mezzanine & Trianon

Realscreen Delegate Lounge (8:00am - 6:00pm)

Mezzanine & Trianon

Registration (8:00am - 6:30pm)

Brickell

8:15am

Breakfast with a Commissioner (8:15am - 9:15am)

Bayfront

Advance sign-up is required.

An informal networking opportunity for delegates to meet with commissioning and development execs over continental breakfast & coffee. These are NOT pitch sessions — just a fantastic networking opportunity.

Sign-ups open Wednesday, December 3 at 11:00 am EST and close Thursday, January 29 at 5:00 pm EST.


Featuring:


Table host

Signe Bruntse

Acquisitions Executive

DR TV/Danish Broadcasting Corporation

divider

Bernadine Lim

Senior Commissioning Editor, Factual

SBS Special Broadcasting Service

divider

Shaminder Nahal

Head of Specialist Factual

Channel 4

DIALOG Mentor
divider
Table host

Mikael Österby

Head of Factual Acquisitions

SVT Swedish Television

divider

Speed Networking (8:15am - 9:15am)

Sevilla

These networking sessions are designed for you to meet many unscripted and non-fiction executives in a short, speed-dating style. Speed Networking is open to all Realscreen Summit delegates and is NOT a pitch session.

Access to Speed Networking will be available on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is filled.

9:30am

Factual in flux: The outlook for unscripted (9:30am - 10:15am)

Biscayne

In a time of budget constraints, shifting audience behaviors, and evolving platform priorities, the business of unscripted and non-fiction content is being reshaped at every level. Join some of the industry’s leading execs for a candid conversation that will take on today’s challenges and highlight new opportunities. From evolving commissioning and funding strategies to the rising value of IP ownership, brand partnerships, and globally scalable formats, this session offers timely insights on how to stay one step ahead and thrive in an industry rewriting its playbook.


10:15am

Networking Coffee Break (10:15am - 10:30am)

10:30am

Public broadcasting: what’s at stake and where are we headed? (10:30am - 11:15am)

Biscayne

Public service broadcasters around the world have always faced challenges -- from the financial to the sociopolitical, and many points between. But recently, the issues needing navigation have become more pronounced: from governments calling for fundamental changes in funding, to rapidly shifting audience behaviors. Luckily, PSBs have a history of innovation and adaptation, and have often led the way in the evolutions -- and revolutions -- that have shaped the TV industry. Here, executives from leading public service broadcasters share their thoughts on the current climates in their territories, and strategies for future-proofing public broadcasting into the next decade.

Speed Pitching I (10:30am - 11:30am)

Merrick

Advance sign-up is required.

Programming execs, each at their own table, will take one-on-one, three-minute pitches. Get coveted one-on-one time with executives who have the power to steer your project to a greenlight.

Lottery opens on Wednesday, January 7 at 11:00 AM EST, and closes on Monday, January 12 at 5:00 PM EST. Lottery results will be emailed to participants on Wednesday, January 14 by 2:00 PM EST. General sign-ups open Wednesday, January 14 at 5:00 PM EST, and closes on Thursday, January 29 at 5:00 PM EST.


Featuring:


Table host

Colby Giordano

Director, Unscripted Development

NBCUniversal Entertainment (Peacock & Bravo)

divider
Table host

LeAnn Scrimmager

Manager of Development & Original Production, AllBlk/WEtv, Unscripted

WE TV

divider
11:30am

Primetime for podcasts (11:30am - 12:15pm)

Chopin

The “podcast to broadcast” phenomenon picked up speed when the true-crime podcast Serial kickstarted the hunt for IP within the pod space by networks and prodcos in 2014. But now, the market has exploded in myriad ways, with linear nets and streamers launching podcasts from their hit series while still mining successful pods (and their creators) for TV projects and deals. And producers are also cross-pollinating, creating podcast divisions and striking deals with top pod talent. This session brings together executives and creatives from all angles of the expanding podcast universe to explore the future trajectory for the medium and the business and creative opportunities within it.

30 Minutes With (11:30am - 12:00pm)

Flagler

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

30 Minutes With: Angela Molloy, WEtv (11:30am - 12:00pm)

Tuttle

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.


12:15pm

Lunch (12:15pm - 1:30pm)

Ole & Trianon

12:30pm

Lunch with a Commissioner (12:30pm - 1:30pm)

Bayfront

Lottery opens on Wednesday, January 7 at 11:00 AM EST, and closes on Monday, January 12 at 5:00 PM EST. Lottery results will be emailed to participants on Wednesday, January 14 by 2:00 PM EST. General sign-ups open Wednesday, January 14 at 5:00 PM EST, and closes on Thursday, January 29 at 5:00 PM EST.



Featuring:


Table host

Merrill Hendrickson

VP Entertainment Unscripted Content

NBCUniversal Entertainment

divider
Table host

Hortensia Quadreny

VP, USH Programming & Planning Lifestyle & Factual Latam

Warner Bros. Discovery

divider

Lunch with a Distributor (12:30pm - 1:30pm)

Sevilla

Advance sign-up is required.

We’ve assembled some of the top distributors in unscripted and non-fiction entertainment to provide you the expertise you need to get your project made and sold. Sign up for the opportunity to receive real-time global market intel.

Sign-ups open Wednesday, December 3 at 11:00 am EST and close Thursday, January 29 at 5:00 pm EST.


Featuring:


Table host

David Cornwall

Managing Director

Scorpion TV

DIALOG Mentor
divider
Table host

Claire Runham

Head of Acquisitions

BossaNova Media

divider
Table host

Nick Tanner

Director of Sales & Co-Productions

Passion Distribution

divider
Table host

Justina Wójtowicz

EVP, Acquisitions, Co-Productions & Sales

Rive Gauche Television

divider
1:30pm

Optimizing unscripted with AI (1:30pm - 2:15pm)

Chopin

Much has been said – and shown – about the incredible creative possibilities emerging through AI. But the tech is also opening up new worlds when it comes to optimizing content for multiplatform distribution and viewing. From multi-language dubbing to tailoring content for social, FAST and other mediums, advances in AI are helping producers, distributors and platforms to work smarter and get the most out of their content catalogs. Monetization, personalization and myriad points between – in this session, you’ll find out what’s possible now and what’s coming next.

30 Minutes With (1:30pm - 2:00pm)

Flagler

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.


30 Minutes With: Brittinee Royes, Peacock & Bravo (1:30pm - 2:00pm)

Tuttle

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

 


Featuring:


Brittinee Royes

VP, Unscripted Content

NBCUniversal Entertainment

divider
2:15pm

Networking Break (2:15pm - 2:30pm)

2:30pm

SESSION TBD (2:30pm - 3:15pm)

Chopin

Speed Pitching ll (2:30pm - 3:30pm)

Merrick

Advance sign-up is required.

Programming execs, each at their own table, will take one-on-one, three-minute pitches. Get coveted one-on-one time with executives who have the power to steer your project to a greenlight.

Lottery opens on Wednesday, January 7 at 11:00 AM EST, and closes on Monday, January 12 at 5:00 PM EST. Lottery results will be emailed to participants on Wednesday, January 14 by 2:00 PM EST. General sign-ups open Wednesday, January 14 at 5:00 PM EST, and closes on Thursday, January 29 at 5:00 PM EST.


Featuring:


Table host

Dolyn Chasin

Unscripted Content Development

Tubi

divider
Table host

Lucy Perez

Director, Unscripted Content

NBCUniversal Entertainment (Peacock & Bravo)

divider
2:45pm

30 Minutes With: Dane Joseph, Hulu (2:45pm - 3:15pm)

Tuttle

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

3:15pm

Networking Coffee Break (3:15pm - 3:30pm)

3:30pm

SESSION TBD (3:30pm - 4:15pm)

Chopin

3:45pm

30 Minutes With (3:45pm - 4:15pm)

Flagler

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

30 Minutes With: Olivia LaRoche, Roku (3:45pm - 4:15pm)

Tuttle

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.


Featuring:


Olivia LaRoche

Head, Alternative Originals

Roku

divider
4:30pm

Keynote Conversation: Anaïs Baker, Amazon MGM Studios (4:30pm - 5:00pm)

Biscayne


Featuring:


Anaïs Baker

Head of International Formats

Amazon MGM Studios

divider
5:30pm

Tuesday, February 3

8:00am

Continental Breakfast (8:00am - 10:00am)

Mezzanine & Trianon

Realscreen Delegate Lounge (8:00am - 6:00pm)

Mezzanine & Trianon

Registration (8:00am - 7:00pm)

Brickell

8:15am

Breakfast with a Commissioner (8:15am - 9:15am)

Bayfront

Advance sign-up is required.

An informal networking opportunity for delegates to meet with commissioning and development execs over continental breakfast & coffee. These are NOT pitch sessions — just a fantastic networking opportunity.

Sign-ups open Wednesday, December 3 at 11:00 am EST and close Thursday, January 29 at 5:00 pm EST.


Featuring:


Benjamin Noot

Global Acquisitions Director

National Geographic Channel

divider

Adrian Padmore

Commissioning Editor, Factual

Channel 5 / Paramount UK

divider

Speed Networking (8:15am - 9:15am)

Sevilla

These networking sessions are designed for you to meet many unscripted and non-fiction executives in a short, speed-dating style. Speed Networking is open to all Realscreen Summit delegates and is NOT a pitch session.

Access to Speed Networking will be available on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is filled.

9:30am

Keynote Conversation: Jane Turton, All3Media (9:30am - 10:00am)

Biscayne

10:00am

Keynote TBD (10:00am - 10:30am)

Biscayne

10:30am

Versant’s new script for unscripted (10:30am - 11:15am)

Chopin

First announced in November of 2024, Versant is the new-model media and entertainment company featuring with a strong portfolio of brands comprised of renowned entertainment networks including USA Network, E!, SYFY and Oxygen, in addition to MSNBC, CNBC, Golf Channel, and complementary digital platforms GolfNow, Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes and SportsEngine. Versant is set to make its mark as a home for premier content and live events this year. This session, featuring leadership from across Versant’s entertainment portfolio, will dive into the plans for establishing the company as a go-to destination for audiences and producers alike, shedding light on strategy, commissioning outlook and more.


Featuring:


Cori Abraham

SVP, Development, Unscripted Content

Versant

divider

Val Boreland

President, Entertainment

Versant

divider

Christian McLaughlin

SVP, Live Entertainment Programming

Versant

divider

Frank Tanki

CMO, Entertainment & Sports

Versant

divider

Speed Pitching lll (10:30am - 11:30am)

Merrick

Advance sign-up is required.

Programming execs, each at their own table, will take one-on-one, three-minute pitches. Get coveted one-on-one time with executives who have the power to steer your project to a greenlight.

Lottery opens on Wednesday, January 7 at 11:00 AM EST, and closes on Monday, January 12 at 5:00 PM EST. Lottery results will be emailed to participants on Wednesday, January 14 by 2:00 PM EST. General sign-ups open Wednesday, January 14 at 5:00 PM EST, and closes on Thursday, January 29 at 5:00 PM EST.


Featuring:


Table host

Hortensia Quadreny

VP, USH Programming & Planning Lifestyle & Factual Latam

Warner Bros. Discovery

divider
11:30am

Brands Spotlight (11:30am - 12:15pm)

Chopin

30 Minutes With (11:30am - 12:00pm)

Flagler

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

30 Minutes With: Stephen Mann, NBC (11:30am - 12:00pm)

Tuttle

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.


Featuring:


Stephen Mann

VP, Unscripted Content

NBCUniversal

divider
12:15pm

Lunch (12:15pm - 1:30pm)

Ole & Trianon

12:30pm

Lunch with a Commissioner (12:30pm - 1:30pm)

Bayfront

Lottery opens on Wednesday, January 7 at 11:00 AM EST, and closes on Monday, January 12 at 5:00 PM EST. Lottery results will be emailed to participants on Wednesday, January 14 by 2:00 PM EST. General sign-ups open Wednesday, January 14 at 5:00 PM EST, and closes on Thursday, January 29 at 5:00 PM EST.



Featuring:


Table host

Lisa Marie Angelo

Director, Development & Original Production, Unscripted

WE TV

divider
Table host

Dolyn Chasin

Unscripted Content Development

Tubi

divider
Table host

Kristina Edwards

VP, Unscripted Programming

NBCUniversal Entertainment (Peacock & Bravo)

divider
Table host

Rob Swartz

SVP, Development & Production

REELZ Channel

divider

Lunch with a Distributor (12:30pm - 1:30pm)

Sevilla

Advance sign-up is required.

We’ve assembled some of the top distributors in unscripted and non-fiction entertainment to provide you the expertise you need to get your project made and sold. Sign up for the opportunity to receive real-time global market intel.

Sign-ups open Wednesday, December 3 at 11:00 am EST and close Thursday, January 29 at 5:00 pm EST.


Featuring:


Table host

David Hooper

Managing Director

Espresso Media International

divider
Table host

Cecilie Olsen

SVP, Global Content, Non-Scripted

ITV

divider
1:30pm

In Conversation With: Jordan Matter (1:30pm - 2:15pm)

Chopin


Featuring:


Jordan Matter

YouTube Creator/Photographer

divider

30 Minutes With (1:30pm - 2:00pm)

Tuttle

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

 

Pitching Partners (1:30pm - 2:30pm)

Merrick

Advance sign-up is required.

Production company execs, each at their own tables, will take one-on-one, three-minute pitches from potential production partners.

Lottery opens on Wednesday, January 7 at 11:00 AM EST, and closes on Monday, January 12 at 5:00 PM EST. Lottery results will be emailed to participants on Wednesday, January 14 by 2:00 PM EST. General sign-ups open Wednesday, January 14 at 5:00 PM EST, and closes on Thursday, January 29 at 5:00 PM EST.

2:15pm

Networking Break (2:15pm - 2:30pm)

2:30pm

SESSION TBD (2:30pm - 3:15pm)

Chopin

2:45pm

30 Minutes With (2:45pm - 3:15pm)

Flagler

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

30 Minutes With (2:45pm - 3:15pm)

Tuttle

No sign-up is required, seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach room capacity.

Hear from some of the most in-demand unscripted buyers and commissioners talking candidly about their programming strategies, plans, and priorities in an intimate and interactive (off-the-record) session.

Seating is limited to 75 delegates.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

3:30pm

SESSION TBD (3:30pm - 4:00pm)

Chopin

4:00pm

2026 Realscreen Awards Cocktail (4:00pm - 4:30pm)

Biscayne

4:30pm

2026 Realscreen Awards Ceremony (4:30pm - 5:45pm)

Biscayne

The 2026 Realscreen Awards will pay tribute to outstanding content from around the world at the industry’s global celebration of excellence in non-fiction and unscripted entertainment.

Wednesday, February 4

8:00am

Continental Breakfast (8:00am - 10:00am)

Mezzanine

NATPE Buyer’s Lounge (8:00am - 6:00pm)

Sandringham & Windsor

The NATPE Buyers is open for accredited buyers to host meetings in 30 minute increments. Tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Buyers may arrange for their guests to check in at the welcome table to be shown to their meeting. In the event the tables are all occupied, the host and guest can meet at the check in desk and decide whether to wait, or to relocate their meeting. A chime will sound each 30 minutes to remind guests when to wrap up their meetings.

Adding this session to your agenda does NOT guarantee your spot, so be sure to show up a bit early.

NATPE Market Floor & Meeting Suites (8:00am - 6:00pm)

Grand Ballroom

Realscreen Delegate Lounge (8:00am - 7:00pm)

Mezzanine & Trianon

Registration (8:00am - 7:00pm)

Brickell

9:30am
9:35am

Keynote Conversation: Dhar Mann Studios (9:35am - 10:05am)

Biscayne

Join Dhar Mann, the visionary creator behind Dhar Mann Studios and CEO (and former MTV president) Sean Atkins, as they share their takes on building a creator-driven brand that inspires millions -- over 137 million subscribers, to be exact. This session will explore how creators are building vibrant communities through meaningful content while rewriting the script on what it means to be a studio, and how producers and executives from traditional media can use their expertise -- and learn new tricks -- within the creatorsphere.


Featuring:


Sean Atkins

CEO

Dhar Mann Studios

divider

Dhar Mann

Founder

Dhar Mann Studios

divider
10:05am

Networking Break (10:05am - 10:15am)

10:15am

Keynote Conversation: Sean Cohan, Bell Media (10:15am - 10:45am)

Biscayne

Join us for a compelling keynote conversation with Sean Cohan, President of Bell Media, as he shares how Canada’s largest media and entertainment company is reshaping its strategy to compete — and thrive — on a global stage. From transforming legacy media assets to building the leading Canadian streamer, Crave, Cohan will share how Bell Media is driving success by embracing great storytelling across news, entertainment and sports platforms, forging smart partnerships domestically and internationally, and balancing locally resonant content with global ambition.


Featuring:


Sean Cohan

President

Bell Media

divider
10:45am

Networking Break (10:45am - 11:00am)

11:00am

Future of Content (11:00am - 11:45am)

Biscayne

The lines between social platforms, streamers, broadcasters and studios (as well as the roles played by producers, creators and brands) are getting blurrier by the day. As old models collide with new players and priorities, we're seeing the content business redefine in real time. This session digs into the shifts - from the rise of creator-driven studios and AI in production, to how brands and agencies are impacting development - providing context and guidance on what it means for the way the world makes, funds, and sells content now and next. 


12:00pm

Lunch (12:00pm - 1:30pm)

1:30pm

Keynote Conversation: TBD (1:30pm - 2:00pm)

Biscayne

2:00pm

Networking Break (2:00pm - 2:15pm)

2:15pm

How to win over investors & transform your business (2:15pm - 3:00pm)

Biscayne

To stay ahead in today's changing media economy, companies must reimagine their business models to meet the moment. Adaptability leads to equity. Hear from leaders who are positioning their business for investor confidence by streamlining operations, improving margins and unlocking new revenue streams.

3:00pm

Networking Break (3:00pm - 3:15pm)

3:15pm

Welcome to the Creatorverse (3:15pm - 4:00pm)

Biscayne

These days, creators are building more than just channels. They're also building brands, shaping culture, and becoming increasingly important players in the global media landscape. As entertainment collides with brands and retail, and investors are betting bigger on creator-led ventures, the rules of the content game are constantly evolving. Hear from the creators, companies, and investors who are teaming up to reshape the future of the industry.


Featuring:


Kudzi Chikumbu

VP, Creator Partnerships

Tubi

divider

Neil Waller

Co-CEO and Co-Founder

divider
4:00pm

Networking Break (4:00pm - 4:15pm)

4:15pm

The Future of News (4:15pm - 5:00pm)

Biscayne

Live news has always played a unique role in the competitive TV landscape. At a time when trusted reporting is vital, journalism is facing disruption from changing audience behaviour, media consolidation, funding challenges, pressures on editorial autonomy, and the impact of AI. How are media companies innovating their news and information content to stay relevant, grow audiences, and sustain editorial standards? With the genre in flux, how can network news make a bigger impact?

5:30pm

Realscreen Summit x NATPE Global Mixer (5:30pm - 7:00pm)

Sky Lawn

As NATPE Global kicks off and Realscreen Summit wraps, you're all invited to converge for one huge co-location co-celebration. Join the party for food, drinks and cross-industry connections.

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