Overview
The Showcomotion Children's Media Conference has grown in only two years to be the must-attend event for professionals who develop content for kids in the UK. With speakers from a diversity of fields, and always future-focused, the Conference develops its content every year through consultation with the industry and responds to the feedback it receives at the event, via its advisory committee and from an online survey of delegates.
There was an enthusiastic response from delegates who attended the 2005 conference. 100% said they would come again; 84% said that their overall opinion of the conference was excellent and 80% said the session content was excellent.
In 2004 "A World Without Schedules" explored the potential challenges and opportunities in video-on-demand and personal/digital video recorder technology and the implications for the children's market. By 2005 Showcomotion was looking further ahead to a world in which keynote speaker, CBBC Controller Alison Sharman, described VOD and interactive, multi-platform content as a pre-requisite for successful kids' brands. The conference theme "Are they being served?" explored whether quality programming was under threat from de-regulation, funding crises and a lack of support - even in the face of the opportunities presented by new technology and new platforms
Showcomotion 2005 also commissioned a unique research project looking at children's media and lifestyle choices in the face of the changing technological possibilities. Presented by MediaCom and Kids Industries in the Kids Today and Tomorrow session and made available to all the conference delegates as an insight bonus, a digest is available here (PDF).
2004 and 2005 delegates can request the full MediaCom report by emailing info@showcomotionconference.com
With breakout sessions on animation funding, the demise of the documentary and storytelling in games, case studies in cross-media exploitation, and a popular masterclass on comedy writing, once again Showcomotion 2006 proved that an eclectic mix of content structured around a central future-focused theme provides delegates from all corners of the kids' industry with the opportunities they need to gather insight and intelligence on the year ahead.
A full report of the 2005 Conference has been compiled by the Centre For The Study Of Childhood And Youth, University Of Sheffield. A summary of the two days is available here (PDF).
2004 and 2005 delegates can request the full Conference Report by emailing info@showcomotionconference.com
The Showcomotion Debate Crisis? What Crisis? was staged at BAFTA in October 05 to explore the issues around the pressures on programme quality in the children's market - new technology, advertiser flight and regulation. High-profile contributions from David Liddiment, Nigel Pickard, and Ofcom's Tim Suter produced a fruitful evening's discussion which will be followed-up in Showcomotion 2006.
Delegates' comments 2005
- 'So wonderful to have a place for us all to come together to discuss the issues that face our industry.'
- 'The new technology sessions were most interesting to me as a producer as it is often very difficult to keep up.'
- 'Now established as high spot in media diary - keep it going!'
- 'Really tackled the business issues facing all producers.'
- 'Rare opportunity to get so many dedicated children's programme-makers together in one place.'
Greg Childs
Conference Executive Producer
