The Financial Times has announced the roster of senior executives who will appear at its upcoming Business of Entertainment Summit, slated for September in Los Angeles. Among the speakers are high‑profile representatives from the video‑game sector—David Tinson, President and Chief Operating Officer of Electronic Arts (EA), and Tian Xiao, Head of North American Partnerships at Tencent Games—who will share the stage with top figures from traditional 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 gathering, working alongside its parent organization, IGNE Entertainment, to bring the event to a wider audience. The summit’s theme, "forces reshaping entertainment," is intended to capture the myriad ways in which technology, consumer habits, and global culture are converging to alter the creation, distribution, and monetisation of content. Attendees will hear from leaders across the entire entertainment ecosystem about subjects ranging from high‑stakes media mergers and the construction of franchise universes to the growing cultural clout of Asian media, the evolution of live‑event experiences, the role of artificial intelligence in deepening fan engagement, and the future pathways for turning content into revenue. David Tinson will sit on a panel dedicated to cross‑medium storytelling, where he will discuss how EA is leveraging its deep portfolio of gaming IPs to expand into film, television and other formats.
He will be joined by executives from Universal Entertainment, which is exploring similar synergies, and representatives from Madison Wells, a narrative‑production studio known for its work on immersive storytelling projects. Their conversation is expected to illuminate how game developers are increasingly treating their titles as multi‑platform franchises, using the same characters and worlds to generate content across movies, series, books, merchandise and even theme‑park attractions. Tian Xiao’s appearance will focus on the surge of Asian cultural exports on the global stage.
As the head of North American partnerships for Tencent Games, Xiao has overseen the launch of several blockbuster titles that have resonated with Western audiences, and he will share insights on how Chinese and broader Asian creators are navigating the complexities of localisation, regulatory environments, and cross‑border collaboration. His panel will explore the strategic importance of cultural exchange, the business models that underpin successful export strategies, and the ways in which Asian storytelling sensibilities are influencing the broader entertainment landscape. The summit’s keynote lineup features some of the most influential voices in modern media. Bela Bajaria, Chief Content Officer at Netflix, will address the streaming giant’s approach to content diversification and the challenges of maintaining a global catalogue that appeals to a heterogeneous subscriber base.
Mark Shapiro, President and COO of TKO Group, will discuss the integration of live‑sport, combat entertainment, and digital media under a single corporate umbrella, highlighting how synergies between UFC, WWE and other properties can unlock new revenue streams. Ravi Ahuja, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures, will provide perspective on the studio’s strategy for balancing blockbuster tentpoles with niche, creator‑driven projects, while David Lee, CFO of Webtoon, will outline the financial mechanics behind the rapid growth of digital comics and their translation into animated series and games. Additional speakers include senior figures from Amazon Prime Video, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Disney, and Regal Global Entertainment, ensuring a broad cross‑section of viewpoints from both the digital and physical realms of entertainment.
Executives from companies such as EA, Pokémon, Apple, Netflix, Sony Pictures and Paramount will also be present, alongside talent‑agency representatives from CAA, United Talent Agency and Verve Talent & Literary Agency, underscoring the event’s emphasis on collaboration between creators, distributors and the talent that brings stories to life. Tickets for the Business of Entertainment Summit are now on sale, with options for both virtual participation and in‑person attendance at the West Hollywood venue. GamesIndustry.biz readers are eligible for a 20 percent discount by applying the promotional code GIB20 at checkout or by following the dedicated discount link provided by the partner site. This reduced rate aims to make the summit more accessible to professionals and enthusiasts who are keen to stay abreast of the rapid transformations reshaping the entertainment industry.
Overall, the FT Business of Entertainment Summit promises to be a pivotal forum for dialogue among the leaders who are steering the future of media, gaming, sports, and live experiences. By bringing together a diverse array of executives, creators, and agents, the conference seeks to foster a deeper understanding of how emerging technologies, shifting consumer preferences, and global cultural flows are converging to redefine what entertainment looks like in the coming decade.