Last week, the Edinburgh TV Festival brought together creatives, commissioners, and industry leaders from across the globe.
Audio Network was proud to be the official music partner for another year, providing the soundtrack to an inspiring week of sessions, talks, and networking. Our TV team were there in full force, soaking up the latest trends and bringing back insights to share.
Check out Danielle and Tilly's standout moments below.
Danielle's Highlights
Hear from our Senior Music Consultant, Danielle Murphy.
Channel 5 Talk with Ben Frow
Channel 5 highlighted a shift from pure ratings to content that balances creativity with commercial success. 46% of spend is now regional, including projects with LA Productions in Liverpool.
The new Love Nature initiative commissions environmental stories from across the UK, showcasing positive local storytelling. Channel 5 is also expanding into sports from this autumn.
Channel 4 Spotlight
New formats like Handcuffed, pairing couples from polarising backgrounds to work toward a cash prize, were discussed.
High Rock in Northern Ireland is producing a new consumer show, the first to come out of the region, reflecting C4’s investment in regional production.
ITV Spotlight
Saturday night entertainment remains a core focus, including Celebrity Sabotage from Lifted Entertainment. Drama remains strong with productions like Cold Water from Sister Productions.
Alternative MacTaggart with Munya Chawawa
The session emphasised that commissioners must take more risks with new talent and digital-first creators.
Creators should be given full creative control to attract new audiences, otherwise viewers may migrate to platforms like YouTube, which continue to grow in influence.
Bonus Highlights
Charlie Brooker in conversation with Ed Gamble, Tina Fey with Graham Norton, museum drinks, the closing party, and numerous conversations with clients and new contacts.
Feedback from clients expressing their appreciation for Audio Network was particularly rewarding.
Tilly's Highlights
Hear from our Creative Licensing Executive, Tilly Gilder.
Edinburgh Fellowship Award: Shonda Rhimes
A new award launched this year “honours an individual whose work has had significant cultural and creative impact, and recognises their influence on both the international industry and television as an artform.” Shonda Rhimes, creator of Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, Executive Producer of How to Get Away with Murder was the recipient.
This session highlighted the global influence of Shonda’s work and her continued impact on television storytelling.
50th James MacTaggart Memorial Lecture: James Harding
The lecture focused on the importance of BBC independence, political involvement in board appointments, and the broadcaster’s role in the age of AI.
The discussion generated conversations about public trust in media and how traditional broadcasters can navigate the evolving landscape.
Spotlight on BBC
Insights included digital growth, iPlayer success, and strategies for YouTube.
A notable highlight was COO Kate Philips’ commitment to expanding productions outside London, opening opportunities for regional talent and diverse storytelling.
Spotlight on Sky & UTV
Sky announced SNL UK with next-generation talent to give it an authentically British feel. UTV’s rebranded streaming platform “U” has doubled views over two years.
They're having success with True Crime, which is exciting for us as we have new true crime soundtracks coming soon!
Wrapping Up
As the official music partner, we were thrilled to provide the soundtrack to the festival’s sessions, talks, and networking events - enhancing the energy and helping bring the stories of TV to life.
Until next year!
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