More industry guests to attend Australian Children’s Content Summit
Screen Australia, ABC and Disney execs to attend annual Children's Content Summit in Coffs Harbour.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
L-R: Karen Miller, Joe D’Ambrosia, Suzanne Ryan, Lauren Kisilevsky, Matt Berkowitz and Bob Higgins
The Australian Children’s Content Summit has announced further guests for its second annual event, to be held in August at Coffs Harbour.
Hosted by Emma Watkins (The Wiggles, Emma Memma), this year’s summit is a 3 day event attended by producers, creators, writers, directors, buyers, distributors, investors, screen agencies, policy makers, and industry influencers.
New featured guests confirmed include Screen Australia’s CEO – Deirdre Brennan, and representatives from ABC with Head of Screen – Jen Collins and ABC’s Children and Family Department including Commissioning Editor – Mary-Ellen Mullane, Commissioning Editor, ABC Originals – Nicole Cheek, Commissioning Editor, Animation – Jo Boag, Development Producer – Amanda Isdale, Development Producer – Mary Walsh, Production Executive – Megan Young, Executive Producer, ABC Originals – Lyndal Mebberson, Acquisitions Manager – Maria-Nicole Miriklis and Senior Channel Manager, Catherine Collins as well as executives from Disney Branded Television.
Screen Australia’s CEO Deirdre Brennan said, “The Australian Children’s Content Summit is an important event for our industry and we’re delighted to partner with SLR Productions for a second year. Ensuring children can see and hear their own voices, values, country and culture on screen is vital – we look forward to the conversations, insights and opportunities this year’s summit will no doubt deliver”.
ABC Head of Screen Content, Jen Collins said, “I’m thrilled to be attending the Australian Children’s Content Summit alongside our incredible Children and Family team. As the National broadcaster, I feel so proud of the ABC’s continued commitment to producing quality content for Australian kids and their families”.
Screenwest CEO Rikki Lea Bestall said, “We’re thrilled to be partnering with the Australian Children’s Content Summit in 2024. Children’s television has always been such a big part of the Western Australian screen industry. We currently have Tales From Outer Suburbia and Kangaroo Beach Season 3 underway in Perth and we look forward to seeing some great new collaborations, business relationships and content come to life.”
They join previously announced international guests – Jane Gould – Co-Founder Wonderworks Insights, Kate Morton – Head of Commissioning & Acquisitions 0-6 BBC, Katharina Pietzch – VP Sales Kids & Family BBC Studios, Adriano Schmid – VP of Content PBS KIDS and Mellany Welsh – VP, Head of Nelvana and Kids Can Press ; and Australian guests – Jenny Buckland – CEO Australian Children’s Television Foundation, Grainne Brunsdon – COO Screen Australia, Geoff Cooper – Production and Programming Manager – Queensland Nine Network Australia, Libbie Doherty – Head of ABC Children and Family, Kyas Hepworth – Head of Screen NSW, Marissa McDowell – Head of Commissions NITV and Bernadette O’Mahony – Head of Content / Acting CEO Australian Children’s Television Foundation as well as executives from Screenwest.
The 2024 Australian Children’s Content Summit is Presented by SLR Productions with Principal Partner, the Australian Children’s Television Foundation. The Major Government Partners are Screen Australia and Screen NSW.
Tuesday 27 August to Thursday 29 August 2024
Pacific Bay Resort, Bay Drive, Coffs Harbour
australianchildrenscontentsummit.com
3 Responses
I haven’t seen a schedule for ABC Entertains yet, though with the switchover from ABC ME and the four new linear streams coming to ABC that are more skewed towards ages 12 and under, and families, it seemingly creates a gap for a dedicated space with content for teenagers, aged 12 to 20. There can be BTN High and other productions, but without a dedicated space for that age group, it could diminish the viability of producing content for those ages, or gaining viewers.
Do they expect teenagers to go to Nickelodeon channels instead, or even MTV channels which aren’t overly wholesome, even though I used to view that content myself. Most of the content is also American.
Check TVT Guides.
There it is, thanks. I get the notion that ABC is focusing more on the 12 and under ages for children, though there could be more dedication with content for teenagers.
With shows like Ab Fab, ER etc. which are more for adult audiences taking space on ABC Entertains, it takes away space for children’s and youth programming on free-to-air TV.