UK indies head to China

A trade mission comprising 22 UK TV indies and Channel 4 chief executive David Abraham is in China for the first ever China-UK TV summit.

UK companies including Shed Media, Zigzag, All3Media, Argonon and Arrow Media will meet with more than 100 Chinese delegates.

The mission includes meetings, presentations and pitches and today’s signing of a memorandum of understanding between PACT and China Central Television, aimed at fostering collaborations on commissions, co-productions and acquisitions.

The MoU will be witnessed by senior Chinese government officials and UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, Ed Vaizey MP.

The TV summit follows the first ever China-UK film summit, which took place last week, and precedes a reciprocal UK-China film and TV summit in the UK in September.

Pact chief executive John McVay said of this week’s event: “This landmark television summit and our business agreement demonstrate the importance of the fast-growing Chinese market for UK television producers - and also the value of UK independent content to broadcasters in China.

“In a global market, the agreement is a shining example of the potential of the UK creative industries,” he continued. “It also shows the importance going forward of continued appropriate levels of funding support from the UK government for SMEs to maximise their potential in growth markets.”

UK delegates

James Burstall, CEO, Argonon

Tom Brisley, Arrow Media

Andrew Shaw, MD, Attaboy TV

Rob Walk, CEO, Digital Innovation Group

David Pounds, CEO, Electric Sky

Martin Stockham, exec producer, Gemini Pictures

Stephen Dunleavy, creative director, Humble Bee Films

Lucy Middelboe, commercial director, Icon Films

Debbie Manners, MD, Keo Films

Nick Underhill, MD, Keo Films

Anne Brogan, director, Kindle Entertainment

Melanie Stokes, co-director, Kindle Entertainment

Richard Bradley, MD, Lion TV / All3Media

Russell Harris, founder, Little Planet Media

Jannette Edwards, MD, Little Planet Media

Paul Sandler, MD, Objective Productions

Stuart Duthie, commercial and finance director, Objective Productions

Nathan Eastwood, head of comedy entertainment, Objective Productions

Nicolas Kent, creative director, Oxford Film and TV

Laura Mansfield, MD, Outline Productions

Hana Palmer, head of formats and scripted, Tinopolis Group/Passion Distribution

Richard Farmborough, MD, Reef TV

Claire Hungate, COO, Shed Media

Damian Keogh, MD, Skyworks

Tony Humphries, MD, Talent TV

Glyn Middleton, creative director, True North

Danny Fenton, CEO, Zigzag