Sebastian Moeritz
President MPEG Industry Forum
EMEA
(Summit Chair)
Prof. Dr. h. c. Sebastian Moeritz is an internationally recognised figure in the field of digital television, video compression and its various applications. With an extensive network of contacts across the technology, media and telecommunications sectors, he combines business acumen and corporate experience with technical knowledge providing a practical perspective and strategic commercial approach.
As President of the MPEG Industry Forum (MPEGIF), he leads the world's largest not-for-profit organisation promoting the adoption of open MPEG standards, including MPEG-4, MPEG 7 and MPEG 21, representing around 30 international institutions and member companies. MPEGIF also produces full day conferences at NAB, IBC and CES and has recently launched a new working group dedicated to 3DTV. Under his leadership, MPEGIF plays a significant role in facilitating the widespread adoption and deployment of MPEG 4 AVC/H.264, the Emmy Award winning video compression technology, as the industry video compression standard, powering next generation television, such as 3DTV, HDTV, and most mainstream video content delivery services as well as multimedia consumption applications including packaged media. He is also CEO of dicas, a company which specialises in developing MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 real-time video coding software and hardware systems.
For his contribution to the progress of Digital Television and to the introduction of next generation video compression technologies he received an honorary doctorate of the St. Petersburg State University of Film and Television, which is Russia's oldest academic institution (founded in 1918) in the field of photography, cinematography and television with around 7,000 students. He is also an honorary Professor of St. Petersburg State University of Film and Television in the Faculty of Audiovisual Technology, which is one of the largest faculties in terms of student numbers and comprises six departments representing the fields of television and video technology, electrical and electronic engineering, audio technology, acoustics.
He is a regular chairman, speaker and panellist at industry events and conferences across Europe, North America and Asia and a frequent contributor to industry publications. He is co-author, with Prof. Klaus Diepold, of""Understanding MPEG-4-Technology and Business Insights", published by Focal Press and he is listed in Cable and Satellite Europe's "Euro 50 2004" as well as Digital TV Europe's "Euro 50 2009", featuring leaders in Broadband and Pay-TV. He is also included in Streaming Media's Dream Team 2009 presenting the most influential, innovative, and important people in the European online video space.
Moeritz has many years of corporate experience with both large and small companies in various sectors and is actively involved in the digital television industry in Russia. Following studies in social sciences and economics, he engaged in real estate and investment activities with a specific focus on Russia. He speaks English, German and Russian.
Nigel Walley
Managing Director
Decipher
(Moderator)
Nigel is Managing Director of Decipher the media strategy consultancy, and Chairman of the Decipher Group of companies, which includes iBurbia, the interactive media research lab. Founded in 1998, Decipher works with large advertisers and with media companies to understand the commercial implications of new consumer technologies. Nigel is a marketer at heart, but with an intuitive sense of the potential of digital technologies. His particular focus is the evolution of commercial advertising models in media markets affected by the advent of new consumer technology. Founded in 1998, Decipher has worked on interactive media and technology projects for a wide range of clients including NTL, Telewest, ITV, the BBC, Sky, UKTV, Channel 4, Sony, the UK Govt (DTI), and Viacom. Since 2002 Decipher has pioneered research into the impact of PVRs and VOD on the TV advertising markets.
Nigel heads up Decipher's work defining future formats for television advertising. Previously Marketing Director of the Internet Division of NTL, he holds an MBA from Cornell University in the USA. He is widely published in trade and national press and has appeared on BBC Business Breakfast, The Money Programme and Bloomberg TV commenting on digital issues.
Andrew Bradford
VP Client Consulting Media
Nielsen
(Moderator)
Andrew joined The Nielsen Company's online division in 2010 as VP, Client Consulting, Media, EMEA. Prior to this, Andrew was Director, Insights and Strategy, AOL Europe. Andrew (formerly of Chrysalis & Capital Radio Group, IPC Media & Redwood Publishing) supported commercial, content and consumer marketing functions within the insight and innovation field. He has provided insights across consumer behaviour, media research, market mapping & futures.
Andrew has been a key player in the media research industry, with extensive experience representing publishers within industry groups such as UKOM and the IAB. He is a member of the MRS & MRG and a Fellow of the RSA.
Paul Bristow
VP Strategy Middleware
ADB
Advanced Digital Broadcast (ADB) provides advanced technologies for pay-TV markets across the world. Our customers are cable, satellite, terrestrial or IPTV operators, as well as specialized retailers. We strive to bring to market innovative solutions that help our customers deliver the best consumer TV experience in a sustainable way. Our solution portfolio includes set-top boxes and their user interfaces, and software for the TV operators.
We are known as one of the leaders in the most advanced TV technology, and especially in enabling the Internet/TV content convergence through "hybrid" devices. Thanks to our deep software expertise, we fine-tune the entire software and hardware solution for each operator's specific infrastructure to deliver peak performance.
Pete Johnson was previously Head of Policy and Business Development at the British Board of Film Classification, where he was responsible for all aspects of regulatory policy and research, and for the development of new classification services for both packaged media and video on demand providers.
Andrea Raman
Director of Distribution & Consumer Experience
CNBC
Andrea joined CNBC in 2004 based at CNBC's Singapore office where she negotiated subscription-based sales deals for CNBC and the MGM channel across the region and was instrumental in launching video-on-demand mobile content, which was nominated for the 'Best Repurposed Content from Existing Film or TV Property' at the 2006 MIPCOM Awards. Andrea is now based in London and is responsible for distributing the channel across multi-platforms (internet, mobile, cable, DTH, FTA) within Europe, Middle East and Africa as well as video-on-demand licensing of CNBC clips and long-form programming (e.g. CNBC documentaries) to pay-tv platforms and digital distributors.
Andrea has over 15 years experience in the Television industry across Europe, Middle East, Africa & Australasia and started her career at HTV based in Bristol. Prior to her post at CNBC she worked for ESPN Star Sports, managing television budgets and staff across Asia as well as distributing the content worldwide.
Andrea holds a BA (Hons) degree in Performing Arts from Cheltenham & Gloucester College of Higher Education.
CNBC is the leading pan-EMEA real-time financial and business channel, providing the latest market information, unrivalled coverage of breaking news, in-depth analysis and interviews with business leaders from around the world. CNBC's fast-paced, hard-hitting business coverage is essential viewing for senior business leaders, the financial community and anyone in Europe with assets to invest, or protect. During evenings and weekends the channel shows the best in leisure & luxury, current affairs, sport and entertainment, including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Today the channel is available in more than 110 million homes, 1,400 banks and financial institutions and the majority of four- and five-star hotel rooms throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Aside from operating its principle English language pan-European TV channel, CNBC has an affiliate network of local language channels in Italy (Class CNBC), Turkey (CNBC-e), the Middle East (CNBC Arabiya), Poland (TVN CNBC Biznes) and Africa (CNBC Africa) and it also provides content to RBC-TV in Russia and N24 in Germany. CNBC is a division of NBC Universal. CNBC is a division of NBC Universal, the media arm of GE.
Michael Cormich
CEO and Founder
Blinkbox Group
Michael Comish is the CEO and co-founder of blinkbox.com, the largest independent video-on-demand service for blockbuster movies and TV series in the UK. Michael played a central role in building the pioneering online-video company AtomFilms, which he co-founded in 1998. As its President of International Operations, Michael helped Atom grow revenues to $25m, successfully merge with Shockwave.com and attracted a global audience of more than 15 million users per month. The company was sold to Viacom for $200m in 2006. Michael then went to Channel 4 where he was the Managing Director of 4 Services; a role which included running New Media, the Studio and Post Businesses, 4 Creative and Corporate Development.
The early part of his career was spent at Braxton Associates and later as partner at Mercer Management Consulting, where he advised media clients in Europe and the US. Michael graduated from The University of Western Ontario and later earned an MBA from INSEAD in France.
Clodagh Murphy
Director
Eclipse Internet
Clodagh Murphy is the Director of Eclipse, which was founded in 1995. Eclipse is one of the largest ISPs in the UK dedicated to the needs of small businesses. It offers the latest broadband products with award winning UK-based customer service.
Clodagh has worked with the KCOM Group for six years in both technical and operational roles. Before joining KCOM, Clodagh spent four years working for Eircom in Dublin, Ireland, where she held a variety of positions. From 1996 to 1999 Clodagh worked for a Mutual Fund company (Montgomery Asset Management) in San Francisco.
Richard Kastlein
CEO and Founder
Agora Media
Richard Kastelein, a Dutch Canadian dual citizen, is the publisher, editor and founder of Atlantic Free Press along with a number of other online progressive, activist websites. Currently based in Groningen, The Netherlands, Kastelein is a Speaker, Social Media and TV analyst with Expathos in The Netherlands and Agora Media Group in the United Kingdom and is an eCommerce consultant with Moho Holding BV In The Netherlands. He's also the publisher of EU Ticket News and co-founder, along with Gianluigi Cuccureddu of Appmarket.tv, the first online portal, community, events and industry directory for the emerging industry around TV applications and widgets - which is expected to be over a billion Euro market by 2013.
Kastelein has guest lectured at the Hanze University Groningen, Netherlands on futurism in technology and marketing - particularly around social media and Social tv. In 2010 he was Deloitte Netherlands Tech Visionary for his predictions and futurist views on New media and Social tv.
Nidhish Parikh
Chairman
DLNA
(Keynote)
Nidhish Parikh serves as the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Digital Living Network Alliance and as President of DLNA Corporation. He is also Director of Personal Media Industry Collaboration at Nokia.
An active supporter of DLNA since the Alliance's inception in 2003, Parikh served as a standing director of the Alliance from 2008 to 2010. He has been instrumental in the global growth and adoption of DLNA standards in both his work for the Alliance and on behalf of Nokia.
Over the last 15 years, Parikh has held a variety of positions at Nokia, including product development, strategic partner management, industry collaborations and other areas designed to drive industry collaboration. A Promoter Member of DLNA, Nokia is a world leader in mobility, working to transform the converging Internet and communications industries.
Simon Fell
Digital Media and Broadcast
Technology Consultant
(Keynote)
Simon Fell is currently Technology Consultant to Freeview working on the launch of Freeview HD, Connected TV, VOD services, and liaison with CE manufacturers. He also has an active involvement with other clients as a consultant in the new media and broadcast technology space. In April 2010 he was elected Chairman of DTG Technical Council.
He was until very recently the Director of Future Technologies for ITV. He was with ITV since 1991.
Having been involved since before the merger of Carlton and Granada, Simon saw much change and development as Digital Television and the Internet have transformed the media landscape.
Throughout that time he was deeply involved in operations and engineering and in latter years established and ran ITV's Future Technologies unit that helped pilot and rollout new platforms for ITV in mobile, HDTV and online.
In his time as Director of Technology for ITV Consumer he led the technology team behind the rollout of itv.com, ITV player and new mobile initiatives. He championed HDTV leading the successful HDTV trial on DTT in the London area and later ITV-HD on Freesat.
He has been involved in the DTG since it's inception and has served as a member of the DTG Council and is chairman of the High Definition Forum. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Television Society and has until recently represented UK Broadcasters on the EBU Technical Committee.
He has had thirty years' experience as an Engineer in the Television Industry; previous jobs include Director of Engineering for Rushes, Chief Engineer of 625 and Electronic Engineering at Channel Four. He has also worked in America with Rank Cintel USA and in Leeds with Yorkshire Television.
Neale Dennett
Head of Video on Demand
ITV
Neale Dennett is Head of Video on Demand at ITV, responsible for the implementation of ITV's VOD distribution strategy via third party channels. Neale works with current partners such as VirginMedia, BT Vision, iTunes, Vodafone and Orange, whilst also looking at the new opportunities being presented by games consoles, connected TV's, mobiles and other devices.
Previously Neale spent 5 years working across ITV's various Interactive businesses, including red button, itv.com, ITV Mobile and other transactional and telephony based activities. Prior to joining ITV he worked with a portfolio of early stage businesses at BT as Corporate Venturing Manager, including BT Rich Media where he took on the role as CFO.
OHaving qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1998, Neale spent the early part of his career working in Venture Capital at eVerger and as a Corporate Finance Executive at BDO.
Troy
Head of Content release
BBC
Troy was appointed as BBC Vison's first Head of Content Release in January 2010, a role bringing together responsibility for the scheduling and editorial management of all Vision content, beyond its core TV channels, including BBC iPlayer, public service archive and secondary commercial services, both linear and non-linear. He also oversees scheduling of short-form content and interactive television services.
During the past decade he has played a leading role in developing new audience propositions and strategy across VOD, IPTV, PVRs, online and interactive services, including the launch of the BBC's catch-up TV offer, putting the BBC's channel portfolio online and on mobile, as well as a pioneering trial of ultra-local VOD in Hull.
Previously, he worked in television production, on-air marketing and as a newspaper and magazine journalist.
Bill Scott
COO and Founder
easeltv
Bill Scott is one of the founders of easeltv and its Chief Operating and Commercial Officer. The company's vision is to enable brands to build high quality TV experiences using low-cost web components, fast. easeltv will help its clients to exploit broadband connected TVs and in doing so will help to shape the future of television. Bill created and led the IBM Digital Media Consulting & Systems Integration practice, which delivered a variety of interactive TV, IPTV and Digital Media projects over 9 years. Bill personally managed end-to-end business-driven projects that often started with strategy and moved through execution to operation.
In this role, Bill conceived the original idea behind Project Canvas for the BBC. Bill left IBM in June 2009 to focus on easeltv.
Bill has 25 years experience of managing IT projects to deliver business value.
Tom Eslinger
Digital Creative Director
Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide
Tom works across Saatchi & Saatchi's worldwide digital capability and is based in London. He has worked across the S&S network, with both a worldwide focus across network clients for integrated creative, strategy and operations, and an EMEA focus with respect to UK and European clients to develop integrated digital initiatives and programs. The North Dakota native has been a Creative Director for Saatchi & Saatchi since joining in Wellington, New Zealand in 1998 and has worked on Toyota, Lexus, Visa, Sony Ericsson, P&G, T-Mobile, Telecom NZ, Heineken, Novartis and adidas. He was appointed in 2002 to the Worldwide Creative Board of Saatchi & Saatchi and leads the creative growth of Saatchi & Saatchi's worldwide digital team, adding new teams and capabilities and forging worldwide partnerships with best-in-breed creative partners. Before joining the network, Tom was a lecturer and key creative in the estapblishment of Wanganui School of Design in New Zealand, one of the first creative-centred interactive Degree programmes in the world. Tom is a multiple Cannes Lion winner across outdoor, cyber, media, direct and promo for web and mobile work, and has judged, run Juries and been awarded internationally. In 2007, Tom was the President of the Cyber Lions jury at the Cannes International Advertising Awards. This was Tom's third Cannes jury appearance, serving on the 2002 Cyber and 2006 Titanium juries.
Tom fell in love with typography in college and has designed fonts for nearly 20 years, with work appearing in RayGun magazine, The End of Print and CSA Archive/Design. His fonts have spelled stuff in designs for Swatch, Sega, Toyota, Levi's, Warner Brothers, Urban Outfitters and Burton Snowboards.
Tom began creating mobile ideas at Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand in 2001, launching projects for Rugby Super12, NZ All Blacks, Telecom, NZ Dairy Foods, TVNZ and the NZ Retirement Commission. More recently, Tom has worked across social media, applications, augmented reality and games for Toyota, 3M, Burton Snowboards, Coca-Cola, Visa, T-Mobile, Novartis as well as Cannes and D&AD winners T-Mobile Dance, UN Voices and Telecom Rubbish Films.
