MediaGuardian TV Festival Could Have Future Focus On All Media

This year’s MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival could be the last to focus solely on TV, according to Alison Sharman, 2006 advisory chair and ITV director of factual and daytime, who reflected on the festival’s possible direction for the future at the event’s launch this morning.

With the dramatic and rapid evolution of broadcast that is currently taking place, the 31st MGEITF could be re-branded and may focus on media in a broader sense in the future. This year’s event will have a strong focus on developing digital trends, multi-media and cross-platform media formats.

The festival, which takes place in Scotland’s capital on the last weekend of August, features a remarkable line-up of guests and speakers. Notable names include former US vice president Al Gore, Sir David Attenborough, TV and radio presenter Russell Brand, screenwriter Jimmy McGovern, journalist Rageh Omaar, South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, ITV chief executive Charles Allen, and many more.

For the first time in the festival’s history, giant screens will be erected for the public to view free previews of forthcoming television programmes. Sky Television is installing billboard screens in Conference Square, directly behind the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, where the festival is held.

The public will this year get a chance to see previews of some of the industry’s potentially biggest new shows of the forthcoming season, which will be screened simultaneously to conference delegates. Previews will include screenings of the new series of BBC One’s Planet Earth, Sky One’s new Love Spring International, starring Eric McCormack from Will And Grace, Channel 4’s Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip and Five’s Shark.

Other highlights from this year’s MGEITF will include a tailor-made version of The Apprentice, where senior television executives will take part in a special version of the show, in a boys v girls battle to avoid getting sacked by Sir Alan Sugar.

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