Alex Arbab-Zadeh is COO of Manhattan TV, where he has been instrumental in redefining how UK audiences access free-to-air television.

Under Arbab-Zadeh’s leadership, Manhattan has become the only company making TV boxes for all three of the UK’s free-to-air platforms: Freeview by aerial, Freesat by satellite and Freely by broadband. It is also now the only company making Freesat boxes, giving Manhattan a unique role in serving viewers however they receive free TV today, while helping them move towards the future of IP delivery.

That strategy came to life this year with the launch of the Manhattan Aero 4K TV Streamer with Freely. Aero gives households a practical route into Freely without replacing their TV, bringing the UK’s free streaming platform to existing screens and turning a new TV platform into an accessible retail product for the mass market.

By combining Freely with TiVo OS, major streaming apps, voice search and hundreds of free TiVo+ channels, Aero gives viewers a simple way to move between live TV, catch-up and streaming, reducing the friction that can slow mainstream adoption of OTT.

The product was quickly validated by the UK technology press, earning five-star reviews from T3 and Expert Reviews, T3’s Platinum Award, and Stuff’s Highly Recommended badge. Initial stock sold out within 24 hours, with later shipments also selling through quickly.

Arbab-Zadeh’s influence extends beyond Aero. This month, Manhattan launched the S4•R, its fourth-generation Freesat recorder, designed in house. Alongside the T4 range for Freeview and Aero for Freely, it shows Arbab-Zadeh leading a company that is not simply betting on one version of the future, but building practical products for every stage of the UK’s transition from broadcast to IP delivery.

Manhattan has sold more than 1.7 million TV boxes in the UK, giving the company a rare understanding of households that still value free, familiar and easy-to-use television. Arbab-Zadeh has applied that knowledge to OTT, focusing not only on early adopters, but on the millions of viewers who need the move from broadcast to broadband to feel natural.

Through Aero, and through Manhattan’s unique position across Freeview, Freesat and Freely, Arbab-Zadeh has helped turn the promise of free-to-air streaming into products people can buy, understand and use.

Rose Hulse is the Founder and CEO of ScreenHits TV, a pioneering streaming aggregator that unifies services such as Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime into a single, user-friendly platform.

With over two decades of experience in media and entertainment, Hulse has worked with industry giants including Warner Media, Sony, and the BBC. Under her leadership, ScreenHits TV has expanded beyond on-demand content to include Live TV, Gaming, and innovative in-car streaming solutions. She has partnered with leading automotive brands such as Porsche, Renault, Nio, Lincoln, and Ford to integrate streaming services directly into car dashboards and rear-seat entertainment systems, redefining how and where audiences engage with content.

With 500 million viewers worldwide across 47 languages, ThinkAnalytics is widely recognised as a pioneer in the application of machine learning and AI to the television and streaming industries, and Peter Docherty, CTO and co-founder of the company, has played a central role in shaping how audiences discover and engage with content across broadcast, pay TV, and OTT platforms. 

He is not just a technologist for AI-driven video discovery, targeted advertising, and content data solutions but actively pursues advances in technology to aid business, particularly around customer marketing and personalisation. Under his technical leadership, ThinkAnalytics has become the trusted recommendation and data intelligence partner to many of the world’s largest media companies, including tier-one operators and global streaming services. Docherty has driven the company’s evolution from early recommendation engines to a comprehensive portfolio encompassing content metadata enrichment, audience insight, and advanced advertising optimisation, helping customers deliver measurable improvements in viewer engagement, retention, and monetisation.

Docherty has over 40 patents to his name, a Media Industry Lifetime Achievement Award, Royal Television Society Inspiring Technologist Award, graduated with honours in Computer Science and Microprocessor Systems, has an MBA with Distinction from the University of Strathclyde Business School, and is a Fellow of the British Computer Society.

Benjamin Field is an award-winning producer and director with two decades experience in the development and execution of specialist factual and formats. He is known for his work on The Girl Who’s Allergic to Herself for Sky TV, My Life: I’m Leading the Dance for the BBC and is recognized as a technical pioneer for the inventive use of ‘deep fake’ technology in screen media showcased by the recent intimate ITV/Britbox feature doc Gerry Anderson: A Life Uncharted about the life of the brilliant yet troubled creator of iconic TV show, Thunderbirds.

Deep Fusion Films recently produced a pioneering podcast series Virtually Parkinson hosted by an AI replica of the late Sir Michael Parkinson launched early this year. This project has galvanised the company’s position at the forefront of ethical creative applications of AI. As one of the only UK producers to have successfully used the technology in television, film and podcasting, he contributes to multiple industry trade bodies in the UK & US to help develop the framework, legislation and policy on the inclusion of Artificial Intelligence in broadcast content.

Field is a champion of diversity in the media industry and frequently appears as a guest on podcasts and BBC News as a trusted source for the latest thinking and insights on the application, potential and ethics of Artificial Intelligence within television and film. His company, Deep Fusion Films, is a full-scale independent production company forged at the interface of technology, creativity and human stories.

Emily Gunn is a Skills Manager specialising in emerging technology, diversity and inclusion programmes across the television and media industries.

Gunn has built a strong reputation for delivering multifaceted training initiatives that support professional development, accessibility and the responsible adoption of AI across the creative sectors. Through her work with organisations including Film Office and ScreenSkills, she has collaborated with Sony Pictures and Netflix to deliver community benefit programmes in Tower Hamlets.

Most recently, Gunn launched the “Information on AI Skills for Scripted Film and TV” project, reflecting her commitment to empowering skills development across the industry.

A trained Confidence Coach, Gunn combines strategic leadership with a people-first approach, bringing together industry insight, practical delivery experience and strong relationship-building across the television sector.

Andy Jones is VP, Broadcast & CTV, EMEA at PubMatic, where he leads the company’s CTV and Broadcast monetisation strategy across the region.

He works closely with leading broadcasters as they shift toward digital-first models, focusing on scalable commercial programs and long-term revenue growth.

With over 20 years of experience in TV and video, Jones brings a unique blend of agency and media-owner expertise.

Prior to PubMatic, he was Head of UK Sales at Samsung Ads and has held senior roles at Roku, Videology, and Channel 4, gaining deep insight into both linear and digital ecosystems. Jones began his career as a TV buyer at Zenith, grounding him in an agency-first approach that still shapes his perspective today.

Paul Lewis is Director of BFI Player, the British Film Institute’s streaming service and a leading destination for independent film lovers.

Lewis has more than 20 years’ experience at the forefront of streaming innovation, with expertise across streaming strategy, platform transformation and digital audience engagement. At BFI Player, he leads the platform’s strategic growth, overseeing audience expansion, commercial performance, product innovation, content merchandising, syndication and multi-platform operations across native and third-party channels internationally.

Lewis is also instrumental in delivering the BFI’s long-term Screen Culture 2033 vision, helping transform BFI Player into a future-focused streaming destination driven by audience insight, market intelligence and user-centred digital development.

Before becoming Director of BFI Player, Lewis served as the BFI’s Head of Live Services, where he played a key role in transitioning the platform into a standalone direct-to-consumer streaming service and expanding its distribution across major platforms including Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Prime.

Before joining the BFI in 2013, Lewis worked at Red Bee Media, managing service delivery for some of the UK’s most prominent streaming platforms, including BBC iPlayer, Channel 4 On Demand, ITV Player and Demand 5.

David Ball is the Vice President of Business Development for EMEA at Crunchyroll and is responsible for overseeing the distribution and partnerships to expand Crunchyroll’s reach across the region.

Most recently, Ball served as a senior leader with the business development organizations for WarnerMedia, BBC, and NBCUniversal. With over 20 years experience in entertainment and media, Ball has negotiated various high-value partnerships from major television networks, tech giants, and more to help bring different content and products to audiences on all platforms.

He is based out of Crunchyroll’s UK office.

Emma Tibbetts has been instrumental in shaping the scripted strategy behind U’s rapid growth, delivering a slate of distinctive, audience-driven drama that has become central to the platform’s success.

Tibbetts’ editorial leadership has focused on building returnable series, revitalising recognisable IP and developing bold new commissions that resonate with UK audiences. This approach has helped deliver standout performances, with series such as Bergerac driving record-breaking viewing and contributing to U’s best ever day and week on the platform, reaching 2.4 million viewers.

Dramas including Outrageous have further demonstrated Tibbetts’ ability to deliver culturally relevant, high-performing content that cuts through in a crowded streaming market.

Her strategy combines creative ambition with commercial impact, prioritising projects that deliver critical acclaim, strong audience response, recommissioning potential and long-term viewer loyalty. Her work ensures scripted content is a key driver of engagement on U, underpinning the platform’s broader growth in viewing, users and registrations.

Through strong relationships with producers and talent, and a clear understanding of audience demand, Tibbetts has positioned UKTV as a serious player in UK scripted. Her contribution has been central to U’s success as a streaming platform, with drama at the heart of its appeal.

Edit Kovacs is the Vice President EMEA & LatAm at Accedo, a global provider of award-winning video streaming software and services trusted by Paramount, Deutsche Telekom, ITV, BBC, 5 and leading media companies.

She focuses on helping broadcasters and operators optimise, grow, and evolve their video streaming services, including transitioning to comprehensive, cost-efficient managed services leveraging AI-driven workflows.

Prior to Accedo, Kovacs served as CEO and CPO of InPlayer, a video monetisation platform, where she established the product organization and guided the company through a successful acquisition by JWP in 2022. Following the acquisition, she continued at JWP as Senior Vice President of Product Management, driving the SaaS video platform expansion into the broadcaster market, with a focus on North America and Europe.

With over 16 years of experience, her career also includes senior product leadership roles at Amazon Prime Video and Revolut.