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The Future Of Reality Programming: Christians and Lions?

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This evening event looks at Reality TV as cross-platform, interactive programming: what does the future hold in store, and what are the ethical questions raised by the genre's growing popularity? Presented in association with BAFTA and Business Link for London.

Reality entertainment TV shows have been responsible for some of the most successful examples of interactive cross-platform programming. The massive international success of Big Brother - with its 24/7 webcams, round-the-clock digital TV coverage and SMS alerts - has spawned a raft of similar shows, such as Jailbreak, Touch the Truck and a forthcoming Endemol series for Trouble in which a dozen teenagers will be locked-up in a Scottish castle for a month.

In this evening seminar, our panel of experts will consider the question, 'what next for reality programming?'. They'll look at what current developments can tell us about the kinds of shows and entertainment formats we are likely to see in the near future, and they'll tackle some of the ethical questions raised for broadcasters and programme makers by the success of a genre considered by some to be 'voyeur tv'.

Speakers

• Gary Carter – Executive Director, Programme Affairs, Endemol International
• Andrew Newman – Controller of Entertainment, Channel Five
• Professor Brian Winston - Head of the School of Communication and Creative Industries at the University of Westminster
• Will MacDonald, Creative Director, Monkey
• Chaired by Stephen Jeffery-Poulter, Convergence Consultant.

The seminar will be followed by a drinks reception. The event is produced in association with BAFTA and Business Link for London by New Media Knowledge and Stephen Jeffery-Poulter. (If you are a member of BAFTA, please contact BAFTA events on 020 7292 5802 to reserve your place.)

The Future of Reality TV

Gary Carter of Endemol International will give a keynote address offering a post-ironic vision of a future wired world — a world in which we interact with our own personal 'brands', and where it is possible to watch and interact with 'real people', but without obligations, commitments or responsibilities towards them.

The speakers will then respond to Gary's address, and consider issues ranging from new entertainment formats to the potential appeal of 24/7 interactive coverage on multiple channels of events such as national elections and sporting occasions like the Tour De France and round-the-world yacht races.

Ethical Issues

The panel will also address some of ethical issues arising from the growth of reality TV - not least regarding where we set the boundaries of personal privacy.

Should we be able to watch live webcasts of sexual encounters between contestants, as was the case in shows such as ‘The Bar’ in Sweden and ‘Le Bonk’ in France?

Were moral standards upheld or was free speech denied when US web channel Entertainment Network failed in its attempt to show the execution of Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh live on the web?

Does our desire to witness dramas of ordinary people in hyper-real situations represent a welcome innovation in entertainment? Or are we taking the first steps down the road towards ever-more prurient and sensationalist content, a future close to that posited by the movie 'Series 7: The Contenders', in which reality show contestants compete to stay alive by murdering their fellow contestants?

Speaker Profiles

Gary Carter, Executive Director, Endemol International Licensing
Gary Carter manages the intellectual property owned by the Endemol group of companies. Reporting directly to John de Mol, President, and to Ronald Goes, Chief Executive Officer, his responsibilities include acquisitions, sales, and continuing development of Endemol-owned or -controlled formats. These include 'Big Brother', 'Star Academy', and 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?' (produced by Endemol in 11 countries, under license from Celador). Endemol has offices in 22 countries world-wide, and is responsible for 15,000 hours of programming a year.

Gary joined Endemol after working with Planet 24, Bob Geldof's production company, in London and Los Angeles. Prior to that, he worked for 10 years as an agent at Roger Hancock Limited in the UK, a company which pioneered international format trading, where Carter handled the international business for Action Time, the UK game-show specialist, and represented writers and producers. Gary trained as an actor at University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Professor Brian Winston, University of Westminster
An active journalist, documentary film-maker and writer, Brian Winston began his career at Granada Television in 1963 on World In Action. He also worked for the BBC's current affairs department and as an independent documentary film maker both in the UK and in America. He has produced one feature film in Canada. In 1985 he won a US prime time Emmy for documentary script writing (for WNET New York).

As an educationalist, he has headed departments at, among other places, the National Film and Television School of Great Britain and New York University film school. He is currently Head of the School of Communication and Creative Industries at the University of Westminster, one of the country's biggest and home to the UK's leading university communications and information studies research centre. His 11th book, 'Lies, Damn Lies & Documentaries', was published in December 2000.

Andrew Newman, Controller of Entertainment, Channel 5.
Andrew Newman began his career with Planet 24 at the launch of the Big Breakfast, before working as a specialist researcher and assistant producer on such pivotal programmes as The Word and Brass Eye. From 1996 to 1998 he produced comedy and entertainment programming, including the Big Breakfast (again), The Sunday Show and the 11 O'Clock Show, which introduced Ali-G to the nation. Andrew went on to become Deputy Commissioning Editor, then Editor, Entertainment, at Channel 4, where he was responsible for shows including Adam and Joe, Rory Bremner and TFI Friday. From there he became Head of Programmes at E4, overseeing programming at the new digital entertainment channel which he helped to launch. In November 2001 he became Controller of Entertainment at Channel 5.

Will MacDonald, Creative Director, Monkey
Will MacDonald is creative director of Monkey, which launches new hidden-camera show Make My Day on Channel 4 in March. The show premiered on E4 and the format has already been optioned by 12 countries worldwide. After three years as a corporate publisher and video producer for Michael Barratt Limited Will began his career in television as a researcher on the launch of the Big Breakfast in 1992, before writing and assistant-producing both series of the Bafta-, Emmy- and Golden Rose of Montreux-winning Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush for Ginger Television. After producing two series of MTV’s Most Wanted, he returned to Ginger to write and produce Channel 4’s TFI Friday from 1996 to 1998. He wrote, produced and presented Carry On Campus for BBC2 in 1998, and devised, wrote and executive-produced The Priory for Channel 4. Will has also written and presented shows for BBC1, GMTV and VH1.

Stephen Jeffery-Poulter
Stephen Jeffery-Poulter spent 15 years making television programming at the BBC and as an independent producer before moving into digital media three years ago. He has worked for RTSe, Pittard Sullivan and Mousepower on web and interactive TV projects, and was senior producer of the Earth Vortal at now.com. He is currently co-developing a multi-platform interactive digital entertainment project in association with Hyperbole Studios, Los Angeles. Stephen produced last year's Digital Synergies seminar programme with NMK, BAFTA and Pact, exploring production issues in converged digital media, and has been a regular contributor to digital media events including: innonet 02 in Helsinki, Streaming Media Europe 2001 and the London Writing Festival.

Presented in association with

Location

BAFTA