Four Events Tackle Top TV Topics

The second NYC Television Week screens at Affinia Manhattan this Wednesday and Thursday (Nov. 12-13) with a quartet of conferences cutting across disciplines touching myriad aspects of today’s evolving television and video ecosystem.

Presented by NewBay Media, the parent of Multichannel News and Broadcasting & Cable, NYC Television Week comprises the Business of Multiplatform TV and Next TV Summit conferences on Nov. 12; the Advanced Advertising event on Nov. 13; and the inaugural Content Show, a multifaceted look at the programming and production landscape that spans both days.

The full agenda, detailing keynotes, panels and sessions, speaker bios and ticketing, is available atnyctelevisionweek.com. Following are anapshots of some of NYC Television Week’s activites:

Business of Multiplatform TV

Among the highlights are a pair of “fireside chats”: MCN senior finance editor Mike Farrell will talk with cable veteran Michael Willner, now president and CEO of Penthera and GreatLand Connections; while the publication’s technology editor, Jeff Baumgartner, speaks with Marty Roberts, the co-CEO of thePlatform, Comcast’s video publishing unit.

The Nov. 12 morning conference concludes with MCN editor in chief Mark Robichaux’s keynote Q&A with TAPP’s Jon Klein, the former CNN and CBS News executive, now the CEO of the multichannel video provider.

Next TV Summit and Awards

America’s Funniest Home Videos producer and creator Vin Di Bona puts the Nov. 12 afternoon conference in play with a Q&A led by B&C contributing editor Paige Albiniak. Eric Berger, executive vice president of digital networks and general manager of Crackle, Sony’s multiplatform video network, will also be on stage with B&C programming and digital media editor Daniel Holloway.

The conference will also see MCN executive editor Kent Gibbons drop the puck on a conversation with National Hockey League chief operating officer John Collins, Epix chief marketing officer Kirk Iwanowski and producer Ross Greenburg about Epix’s partnership with the league.

The summit, which also includes executives from NBCUniversal, Google, Synacor and Viacom, culminates with the presentation of the Next TV Awards saluting achievement across platforms and devices in four categories: Best Social TV or 2nd Screen App; Best Original Internet Series, Short- or Long-Form; Best Branded Internet Video; and Best Broadcast or Cable Web Extension on the Internet.

Winners were chosen by a panel of three judges: Daniel Tibbets, chief content officer of Machinima; David Wertheimer, president, digital, Fox Broadcasting Co.; and Mike Murphy, head of content partnerships, Intel.

Advanced Advertising

The Nov. 13 morning conference is bookended by keynotes from Modi Media president Michael Bologna and the combination of Spark chief investment off icer John Muszynski and executive vice president and managing director Shelby Saville. Both conversations will be moderated by B&C business editor Jon Lafayette.

In between, four panels will examine key themes reshaping Madison Avenue. MCN’s Baumgartner heads the discussion on addressability, while Barry Frey, president and CEO of the Digital Place-Based Advertising Association, talks about the use and potential of big data.

Vertere Group founder and CEO Tim Hanlon will engage his guests on the push for programmatic systems shaping schedules, and B&C executive editor Dade Hayes will lead the discussion about how improved analytics and engagement is “Transforming the TV Ad Game.”

The Content Show

The two-day Content Show opens with AMC Networks president and CEO Josh Sapan, in a conversation moderated by MCN’s Robichaux, and also showcases GroupM CEO Peter Tortorici, in a keynote talk with B&C editor-in-chief Melissa Grego.

With an overall focus encompassing development, production and distribution, the event will also feature extensive networking opportunities and appearances by production companies such as NorthSouth, Leftfield, Ish and Authentic Entertainment. “In Conversation With” is a series of 30-minute creative dialogues across both days in which senior programming and development executives will discuss content circa 2014 and beyond. The “Conversation” roster includes executives from NUVOtv, Fuse, Food Network, National Geographic Channel, History, Discovery, Esquire Network, WE tv, BET, ESPN, TV One, Electus, Bravo, BBC North America, PBS and The Weather Channel.