VLV Autumn Events 2021

VLV’s annual Autumn Conference was held online on the morning of Wednesday 24th November. 

We were delighted that Richard Sharp, Chairman of the BBC, and Maggie Carver CBE, interim Chair of Ofcom, were be our keynote speakers. Their sessions were chaired by Janine Gibson and Stewart Purvis CBE respectively.

Our third session focused on the listed events regime which is designed to ensure that events of national interest are made widely available to the public. The next bidding rounds for the Olympics, FIFA World Cup and the Euros will begin early in 2022 so this discussion was very timely. Barbara Slater, Director of Sport at the BBC, Jack Genovese, who leads Ampere Analysis’ sports research and John Grogan, former MP for Keighley who submitted a number of Early Day Motions during his time in Parliament about Listed Events, were be panellists. This session was be chaired by journalist Raymond Snoddy OBE. 

You can read the biographies of all the speakers here.

The conference took place at a time of considerable uncertainty for broadcasters in the UK. The BBC funding settlement for 2022-2027 is yet to be announced, the government is still considering privatisation of Channel 4 and is due to publish a Media White Paper which we hope will put in place better support for the public service broadcasting system.