FutureTech Week | Day One: Are new players changing the face of content distribution forever?

About the speaker

Yvonne Thomas graduated in Television Technologies and Electronic Media Engineering from University of Applied Science Wiesbaden (HSRM), Germany, in Oct. 2010. She received a prominent award of the ARD/ZDF Academy for her thesis in September 2011 at the IFA in Berlin.

Following these studies, she started beginning of 2011 to work at the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in the Technology & Innovation Department as Project Manager. She was responsible for projects and strategic programs on 3D and Future Television technologies, such as UHDTV or LED studio lighting and highly involved in its standardization.

In September 2015 Yvonne joined Arvato Systems’ Broadcast Solution division. As a Product Manager, she was responsible for the journalistic frontend “MediaPortal” of the Video Production Management Suite and included trends like AI and machine learning.

At NAB 2017 Yvonne was presented with the annual Technology Women to Watch Award from TVNews Check.

Since September 2019, Yvonne has been the DTG’s Strategic Technologist overlooking the IPTV and UHDTV workstreams. She is active in various industry bodies (e.g. as former SMPTE  Education Director and current Governor EMEA & Latin America) and works together with DTG members to explore the best viewing experience and strategies to move to an All-IP world.

About the speaker

Neale is the New Markets Launch Director for BritBox International, responsible for delivering the ambitious international growth strategy for the BBC and ITV owned SVOD joint venture. Prior to this, Neale was responsible for leading ITV’s International TV channel, ITV Choice, distributed across Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Neale held various roles over 15 years at ITV, and was responsible for implementing a range of ground breaking content and channel distribution relationships with global OTT, Pay TV and Mobile Operators. He also led the launch and development of the European SVOD service, ITV Essentials, and the UK Pay Per View events business, ITV Box Office.

Neale started his career as a Chartered Accountant, and spent time working in Venture Capital, Corporate Venturing, and as finance lead with entrepreneurial early stage businesses. He is also co-founder and advisor to PlayerPlus Ltd, an innovative premium content aggregation and distribution business.

About the speaker

Sofie is strongly engaged in the intersection between media, entertainment and technology,where she is skilled in the development and execution of strategy and innovation projects. Sofie has a solid strategic background in the media industry, among other things from DR Strategy & Project and as project manager on the media conference New Media Days. She is the co-owner of Luksus Media – a media house about active lifestyles, outdoor and travel life.

Sofie has an MA in Media Studies from Aarhus University. Besides her work at the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies, she has since 2008 undertaken a lot of international consultancy work in the interaction of media, health, travel and active lifestyle.

About the speaker

Bugge is an international analytical and strategic capacity when it comes to decode our modern society’s needs. Since 1997, Bugge has worked as an expert in the field of outdoors activity and active holidays – at the strategic business level as well as at consumer level. In parallel to this, he has worked intensively with media, both print and online. Over the last decade, Bugge has lived and worked at various spots in Europe and South America.

Bugge’s professional background is an MA in Educational Science & Semiotics from Copenhagen University as well as years of consultancy work. In addition to his daily work, he has over the years been part of a number of think tanks and political committees. For instance, over a period of two years he worked with realising Denmark’s first national outdoor policies, from a catalogue of ideas to legislative proposals in the Ministry of Environment’s network for outdoor policy: Outdoor life creates growth and workplaces.