2007

THEIRSPACE – GREAT IDEAS AND GOOD PRACTICE

Our very first Conference theme in 2004 was ‘World Without Schedules’. Things have moved so fast that we can say that for children at least, forget schedules – it’s a ‘World Without Platforms.’

We all know that children are the first ‘converged audience’; they blend play and media consumption, on a wide array of devices, and expect their content when, where and how they want it.

And those of us in children’s content creation need to keep up with the constantly moving environment that today’s kids inhabit: it’s their space but who’s going to fill it, with what and how?

The one thing we do know for sure is that ‘it’s all about the kids’. We have to meet young people in their space and provide them with imaginative content and creative inspiration in whatever way they demand, whether it’s a toy, console game, mobisode, TV show, magazine. Alongside this growth in personalisation comes the rise of brands like Dr Who and High School Musical.

That’s why Showcomotion brings together all the children’s industries – from TV to Toycos, from Interactive Media to Radio, from Games to Licensing and Merchandising – while still maintaining our traditional focus on the audience experience. It’s the place where we can all learn from each other, explore potential partnerships and work together. Showcomotion offers a unique opportunity to share good practice and great ideas for communicating
with kids.
                                                                                              
The Byron Report on interactive media and games and the Ofcom Report on children’s television have exposed some of the key ways in which children themselves are re-inventing the media landscape. Showcomotion explores further how they experience brands, and content, in a multi-platform environment, and how media and play interact in their busy lives, and how content owners, content creators and content distributors can come together in new relationships to meet children’s needs.

Anne Home OBE
Showcomotion Conference Chair