OTT QUESTION TIME LIVE 2025

Conversations with OTT Industry Leaders

 

 

28th & 29th January 2025
The British Museum, London

 

Agenda

** DAY ONE **

08:00 Registration, coffee and croissants

How is our industry attracting new, younger audiences when we’re already competing with platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and gaming? To capture their attention, we need to understand where they spend their time, what engages them, and how TV and video can fit into their daily habits.

This session, featuring Lucy Bristowe, CEO UK & Western Europe, Kantar Media, Chris Kleinschmidt, VP Connected TV Ad Sales, TiVo, Matt Duhig, co-founder & MD FX Digital, Doug Whelpdale, Head of Insight, Barb Audiences, and Lydia Fairfax, founder & MD, Triple Crown Consulting, will explore actionable strategies for bridging the gap. From designing more social and interactive experiences to creating content that competes with the immediacy of short-form platforms, the panel will examine user behaviours and offer insights into reimagining TV and video for a generation with evolving expectations.

Talking Points:

  • Platform Ecosystem: where are younger audiences spending their time, and how do platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and gaming influence their expectations for media experiences?
  • Attention Habits: what role does TV and video play in their daily routines, and how does it compete with interactive and short-form content?
  • Content Relevance: what types of programming and storytelling can cut through and bring younger viewers back to TV and streaming services?
  • Social and Interactive Design: how can gamification, community-building, and real-time engagement make video services more dynamic?
  • Data Insights: using behavioural data to craft better recommendations, anticipate trends, and increase loyalty among younger audiences

Justin Gupta, Head of Broadcast & Video Ads, EMEA at Google, brings a wealth of experience from the media and technology sectors.

With a nod to his work at the BBC on Interactive TV and his roles at Google Video and YouTube, Gupta sets the stage for a discussion on the innovations shaping today’s advertising landscape.

In this session, he spotlights his recent work on Dynamic Ad Insertion (DAI) for OTT platforms, including high-profile projects with TF1, BT Sport, and DAZN. He’ll also explore how advancements in ad substitution for HbbTV and Android TV are paving the way to digitally enable the next 100 million televisions.

Looking to the future, Gupta addresses key industry challenges and collaborative solutions, such as the European Programmatic TV Initiative. He’ll also share his thoughts on emerging trends like “self-driving ads,” where automation and real-time adaptability could revolutionize the way ads connect with audiences.

When it comes to streaming, how do we truly know what customers want? Surveys, focus groups, and app reviews provide some insight but ultimately, OTT service providers — and the vendors who support them – have to make bold decisions in presenting their products, curating content, and delivering exceptional viewing experiences, all while ensuring sustainable revenue.

In this session, two industry veterans, Orf Warr, CTO of Everyone TV, and Jonas Engwall, CEO of Bedrock, explore the challenges of meeting ever-evolving viewer expectations. They’ll discuss:

  • How audience viewing behaviour is changing and a look at the different iterations and evolving of streaming propositions
  • The evolution of streaming and the increase in content available to audiences
  • What clients are asking for in 2025 vs. What audiences are asking for in 2025 – e.g. different features
  • How international challenges mirror those in the UK. The State of the UK vs EU market, how they are growing and evolving in a similar way

The equally venerable Dave Cameron, former Chief Product Officer at Channel 4, facilitates the conversation.

Bango co-founder and CMO, Anil Malhotra, hosts Chris Van Der Linden, Director Entertainment Platforms, Liberty Global International, to explore how telcos are reshaping the subscription economy.

Moderated by Juan Villegas, Senior Video and Advertising Analyst, Omdia, this session highlights why indirect channels are set to dominate in 2025, giving OTT and subscription providers unmatched reach, retention, and growth through bundling.

Innovative solutions and telco-led Super Bundling strategies are driving customer loyalty, reducing churn, and redefining the future of subscription services. This is your chance to gain exclusive insights into the role telcos play in the evolving subscription landscape.

10:25 Coffee & Networking

France’s video market stands out, shaped by its unwavering support for the French creative community, a distinctive regulatory framework, and a strong preference for subtitled and dubbed content in French.

Platforms like Netflix and Disney+ are required by French law to reinvest 20–25% of their domestic revenue into French and European content. Combined with strict theatrical windowing rules, these measures have cultivated a thriving content ecosystem where local and global players are compelled to go above and beyond to captivate French audiences.

Who has mastered the art of navigating this complex market while reaching millions of viewers daily?

Broadcasters.

Local media giants, deeply rooted in French culture, are evolving beyond traditional TV channel extensions to become fully-fledged entertainment hubs, competing head-on with global streaming platforms.

In this session, we’ll explore key lessons from France’s dynamic video landscape together with Tiphaine de Raguenel, Strategy Director of France Televisions, Pascal Thuet, Head of IT & Digital Project Development at Arte, Florent Rodzko, Head of Strategy & Performance at TF1 Group, and Jenn Batty, Head of Content Acquisitions EMEA at Samsung TVPlus. The indomitable Marion Ranchet moderates.

Join Olivier Jollet, EVP and International GM of Pluto TV, along with Marion Ranchet, Founder and MD of Streaming Made Easy, as they explore the evolution of free streaming television.

In this session, they delve into the state of the industry, emerging trends and opportunities for 2025, highlighting the latest advancements and strategies shaping the sector.

You can look forward to insights on the challenges and innovations ahead from Pluto TV, a pioneer in the free streaming television space. Launched 10 years ago during the age of paid subscription services’ dominance, Pluto TV has grown into a global leader in FAST and is now available in 35 markets across 4 continents.

Shoppable TV is redefining the streaming experience, blending entertainment with commerce to drive direct viewer engagement and revenue.

Featuring insights from Jay Rajdev, Controller of Advanced Advertising at ITV, Mike Shaw, Director International Ad Sales at Roku, Tom Smith, co-founder and Creative Director at FX Digital, and Joe Ward, CEO of EDGE Video AI, this panel explores how streaming platforms and content creators are transforming passive viewing into interactive, revenue-generating moments.

From integrating seamless purchasing into smart TVs to leveraging AI for personalised recommendations, we’ll uncover what’s working, what’s next, and the challenges of redefining the connection between audiences, brands, and streaming platforms.

Ben Keen asks the questions.

12:45 Lunch

This bonus session between Chris Redmond, CEO of OTTRed and Lydia Fairfax, founder & MD of Triple Crown Consulting, explores the OTT jobs market from two key perspectives:

  1. The Candidate’s Perspective – how to position oneself for success, build professional equity, and navigate the hiring process effectively.
  2. The Employer’s Perspective – the challenges of identifying and securing the right talent in a fast-evolving industry.

The pair will also address the risks associated with traditional hiring practices and propose modern approaches that benefit both sides of the equation.

Key points they’ll cover:

  • Defining Value as a Candidate: candidates often struggle to articulate their unique value. They’ll discuss how they can evaluate their skills, experience, and personal brand to define their value proposition clearly and confidently.
  • The Role of LinkedIn Over Traditional Tools: in today’s digital landscape, a robust LinkedIn profile is often more influential than a CV or cover letter. Chris will talk about how candidates can optimise their LinkedIn presence to stand out in a competitive field.
  • Mindset for Success: job seekers need both emotional resilience and objectivity to stay motivated and efficient. They’ll explore strategies to manage the emotional highs and lows of job searching while maintaining focus on long-term goals.
  • “Productising” Yourself: candidates should treat their careers as products to develop, package, and market. Chris outlines a step-by-step process for candidates to position themselves as compelling, market-ready “products” before launching their job search.
  • Job Farming vs. Job Hunting: most people only think about job searching when they need a role, which can leave them unprepared. Chris will discuss the concept of “job farming”—the proactive cultivation of professional relationships and presence to build equity over time, allowing individuals to leverage opportunities when they arise, rather than scrambling in a time of need.

For Employers:

Finally, they’ll shift focus to hiring managers and explore:

  • The challenges they face in identifying top talent in a competitive market.
  • How outdated hiring practices can lead to missed opportunities.
  • Innovative approaches to attract and retain the right candidates.

In March Channel 5 and its VOD service, My5, will relaunch under a unified brand of 5 in a move which will position streaming at the heart of the broadcaster’s offering and build on the success of My5 which continues to outpace its PSB competitors’ growth.

Kiaran Saunders, VP Distribution, FTA & Pay TV, Paramount UK, will join Kauser Kanji, MD of VOD Professional and host of OTT Question Time Live, to discuss the market insights underpinning the relaunch, as well as the opportunities that 5 will open for viewers, advertisers and content partners.

AVOD is no longer a side hustle for streamers — it’s a core driver of revenue and strategy.

With BBC Studios, Yospace, Channel 4, and Amagi on stage, this session dives deep into the dynamics of ad-supported streaming.

What’s behind the sustained growth of AVOD, and how are monetisation models evolving? Is this a cyclical rebound from SVOD saturation, or are we seeing a return to the tried-and-tested Broadcast 1.0 model where ads funded everything?

Expect sharp insights into the trends shaping AVOD’s future, the opportunities for innovation, and the strategic shifts every player needs to know.

In this session:

  • Kasia Jablonska, Director of Digital and On-Demand EMEA
  • Leena Patel, Senior Distribution & Partnerships Lead
  • Tim Sewell, CEO, Yospace
  • Sri Hari T, SVP Sales EMEA, Amagi
  • Marion Ranchet (moderator), Founder & MD, Streaming Made Easy

With the advent of streaming, consumers today have unprecedented access to films and television series of yesteryear. Discoverability and accessibility have not only further extended the life cycle of nostalgic content, but tipped the scales of what is considered “new.”

Join Tubi’s Executive Vice President and Managing Director of International, David Salmon, and Gabriel Cosgrave from TiVo in a discussion about the power of “new-stalgia” for streamers and content distributors.

15:15 Coffee & Networking

What makes for a successful partnership strategy in streaming? Is it simply a matter of expedience — pairing streamers with like-minded partners — or is there a more thoughtful approach that considers factors like brand alignment, consumer identities, and audience need states?

In this session, Kerry Ball, Chief Commercial & Strategy Officer at BritBox International, and Kauser Kanji, MD of VOD Professional and host of OTT Question Time Live, will explore the evolving landscape of partnership strategies in the streaming industry.

They’ll be talking about:

  • How to create considered partner ecosystems to support an OTT service
  • Navigating the complexities of building these networks
  • The diverse roles bundling can play (e.g., Entertainment & Lifestyle, Family, Utility bundles)
  • How evolving pay models have a bearing on bundling strategies
  • And the role of content and content types in choosing effective partners

With first-hand experience running major streaming platforms, our all-star panel of Jonas Engwall, CEO of Bedrock, Victoria Davies, MD & Consultant at Accelerate Consulting, Simon Danker, founder of Glandore Media, and Lydia Fairfax, founder & MD of Triple Crown Consulting, brings unparalleled insight into the forces reshaping the OTT landscape.

Consolidation is no longer a possibility—it’s a reality. This session explores:

  • How broadcasters and streamers are finding ways to work together (e.g. co-producing content)
  • The drivers behind working together (economic pressures, audience fragmentation, the pursuit of scale and efficiency)
  • And what consolidation means for content creators, platform operators, and consumers.

Kauser Kanji of VOD Professional and OTT Question Time Live hosts.

Maureen Kerr introduces Chad Nelson, Creative Specialist at OpenAI, who ends Day 1 of OTT Question Time Live 2025 with an exclusive Sora keynote demonstrating the potential of the text-to-video AI technology and how it can be harnessed to supercharge creativity, allowing producers to work more effectively.

17:15-18:15 Networking Drinks

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