The Financial Times has announced the senior‑level roster for its upcoming Business of Entertainment Summit, set to take place in Los Angeles this September. Among the featured speakers are two high‑profile figures from the video‑games sector—David Tinson, President and Chief Operating Officer of Electronic Arts (EA), and Tian Xiao, Head of North American Partnerships at Tencent Games. They will share the stage with a line‑up of executives drawn from traditional linear‑media powerhouses such as Netflix, Sony Pictures, NBCUniversal and the parent company of UFC and WWE, TKO Group.
GamesIndustry.biz serves as a promotional partner for the event, working in tandem with its parent organization, IGNE Entertainment, to help spread the word. The summit is billed as a deep dive into the "forces reshaping entertainment," and it aims to bring together decision‑makers from every corner of the entertainment ecosystem. Attendees will explore a broad array of topics that are redefining how audiences consume content and how creators monetize it. Key discussion points include the evolving landscape of media dealmaking, the construction and management of franchise ecosystems, the growing global cultural influence of entertainment brands, the integration of live‑event experiences, the emerging role of artificial intelligence in crafting personalized fan interactions, and the future pathways for content monetisation across both digital and physical platforms.
David Tinson will sit on a panel dedicated to cross‑medium entertainment, where he will be joined by representatives from Universal Entertainment and the narrative‑production studio Madison Wells. The conversation is expected to examine how traditional gaming IP can be extended into film, television, and other media formats, and how data‑driven insights can guide those expansions.
Meanwhile, Tian Xiao will contribute to a separate session focused on the worldwide surge of Asian cultural exports. His perspective will shed light on how Tencent Games is leveraging its massive user base and development resources to bring Asian‑originated titles and storytelling styles to Western markets, and what that means for the balance of cultural influence in the global entertainment arena. The summit’s keynote roster features some of the most influential names in the industry.
Bela Bajaria, Chief Content Officer at Netflix, will open with insights on the streaming giant’s strategy for original programming and its approach to global distribution. Mark Shapiro, President and COO of TKO Group, will discuss the convergence of sports, combat entertainment, and digital media, highlighting how live‑event brands are adapting to changing consumer habits. Sony Pictures’ Chairman and CEO, Ravi Ahuja, will share the studio’s vision for integrating its film, television, and gaming divisions under a unified strategic umbrella.
Additionally, David Lee, Chief Financial Officer of Webtoon, will provide a financial perspective on the rapid growth of digital comics and their crossover potential into other entertainment formats. Beyond the keynote speakers, the event will feature a rich slate of panelists and contributors from a variety of sectors.
Executives from Amazon Prime Video, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Disney, and Regal Global Entertainment will add depth to conversations about distribution, fan engagement, and the economics of large‑scale entertainment operations. Representatives from major talent agencies—including Creative Artists Agency (CAA), United Talent Agency (UTA), and Verve Talent & Literary Agency—will also be present, offering insight into how talent representation is evolving in an increasingly multi‑platform world. The summit is designed to be accessible to both in‑person and virtual participants. Tickets are now on sale, and GamesIndustry.biz readers enjoy a special 20 % discount when they apply the promotional code GIB20 at checkout or follow the dedicated discount link provided by the organizers.
This discount is intended to encourage a broader segment of the gaming and entertainment community to attend, fostering cross‑industry dialogue that can spark new collaborations and innovative business models. In summary, the FT Business of Entertainment Summit promises to be a pivotal gathering for anyone involved in shaping the future of media and entertainment. By convening senior leaders from gaming giants like EA and Tencent alongside streaming behemoths, film studios, sports entertainment firms, and talent agencies, the event offers a unique platform for examining how technology, culture, and commerce intersect in today’s rapidly shifting landscape. Whether you are a content creator, a distributor, an investor, or a passionate fan, the summit provides an opportunity to hear directly from the architects of the next wave of entertainment experiences and to network with peers who are driving change across the industry.