22 June 2010
Organisers of the 2010 Edinburgh TV Festival (27-29 August) promise a programme as broad as it is deep.
Mark Thompson, BBC director general, will deliver this year's MacTaggart Lecture, the Friday night keynote speech which traditionally sets out the themes which drive the following two days of debate.
With the Liberal Conservative coalition government in place, what lies ahead for the BBC following the challenges of the past twelve months led, not least, by News Corp executive James Murdoch? (Recap on the union's Don't Top Slice the BBC campaign).
The industry is also promised a debate about the role of television in the 2010 election and Paul Abbott, award-winning screenwriter, is set to examine television's response to the credit crunch in his Alternative McTaggart titled The Truth About Long Term Thinking.
Latest programme announcement here
This year's headliners read like a who's who of British television with Michael Grade set to be interviewed by Mark Austin and Andy Harries preparing to discuss developments in drama and the challenges of funding; David Abraham the newly installed head of Channel 4 is also due to take part.
Jeremy Vine will host a session titled Build Your Own BBC, whilst a special edition of Question Time is in preparation. Every channel controller will be taking questions and of course we shouldn't overlook Katie Price's 'in conversation' piece with pyschologist Pamela Stephenson.
The success of popular drama will also be discussed with sessions on EastEnders and Coronation Street; and comedy is a recurring theme this year, as is 3D.
The event will also unite games commissioners and games producers with tv commissioners and tv producers for an exchange about what makes a compelling entertainment proposal.
The Early Bird rate of £425 plus vat closes today 22 June but building on last year's efforts to make itself more accessible, the Festival continues to offer a number of concessionary rates for members of the Screen Producers of Ireland, PACT, BAFTA, academics and students.
Masterclasses, lectures, advice sessions, serious conversation married with a celebration of the medium, the Festival programme will deliver something for everyone.
Deborah Turness, editor of ITV News, is the Festival's 2010 advisory chair.
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