The Financial Times has announced the roster of senior executives who will take the stage at its forthcoming Business of Entertainment Summit, scheduled to take place in Los Angeles this September. Among the most notable additions are representatives from the video‑game powerhouses Electronic Arts (EA) and Tencent Games, who will sit alongside a distinguished line‑up of leaders from traditional media giants such as Netflix, Sony Pictures, NBCUniversal and the parent company of UFC and WWE, TKO Group.
GamesIndustry.biz is proud to serve as a promotional partner for the summit, working in tandem with its parent organization, IGNE Entertainment, to bring the event to a broader audience. The summit is framed around the theme "forces reshaping entertainment," and is designed to convene top‑level decision‑makers from every corner of the entertainment ecosystem. Attendees will explore a wide array of subjects that are currently redefining how content is created, distributed, and monetized.
Topics on the agenda include the evolving landscape of media dealmaking, the intricate web of franchise ecosystems, the growing global cultural impact of entertainment properties, the resurgence of live‑event experiences, the emerging role of artificial intelligence in crafting personalized fan interactions, and the future pathways for monetising content across multiple platforms. One of the headline sessions will feature David Tinson, who serves as President and Chief Operating Officer at EA.
Tinson will join a panel that examines cross‑medium entertainment strategies, sharing the stage with senior figures from Universal Entertainment and narrative‑driven production house Madison Wells. Their discussion will delve into how video‑game IPs are increasingly crossing over into film, television, and even live‑theatre formats, creating new revenue streams and expanding audience reach. Another key panel will spotlight Tian Xiao, Head of North American Partnerships for Tencent Games. Xiao will address the rapid ascent of Asian cultural exports on the global stage, highlighting how Chinese and broader Asian gaming titles are breaking into Western markets and influencing trends in storytelling, art direction, and monetisation models.
The conversation will also touch on the strategic partnerships Tencent is forging with North American publishers and platform providers to accelerate this cultural diffusion. The summit’s keynote roster is equally impressive.
Bela Bajaria, Chief Content Officer at Netflix, will discuss the streaming giant’s approach to global content strategy and the challenges of balancing original productions with licensed libraries. Mark Shapiro, President and COO of TKO Group, will share insights into the synergy between sports entertainment and traditional media, especially in the context of live‑event production and digital distribution.
Ravi Ahuja, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures, will outline the studio’s plans for leveraging its extensive film and television catalog in an increasingly fragmented media environment. Additionally, David Lee, Chief Financial Officer of Webtoon, will provide a perspective on the financial mechanics behind digital comics and their integration into larger entertainment ecosystems. Beyond the keynote speakers, the summit will feature a broad spectrum of participants from companies such as Amazon Prime Video, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Disney, and Regal Global Entertainment. Executives from EA, Pokémon, Apple, Netflix, Sony Pictures and Paramount will also be present, fostering a rich environment for networking and collaboration.
Representatives from major talent agencies—including Creative Artists Agency (CAA), United Talent Agency (UTA) and Verve Talent & Literary Agency—will attend, underscoring the event’s focus on the intersection of talent representation and content creation. Tickets for the Business of Entertainment Summit are now on sale, with options for both virtual attendance and in‑person participation at the West Hollywood venue.
GamesIndustry.biz readers are eligible for a 20 % discount on the registration fee by applying the promotional code GIB20 at checkout or by following the dedicated discount link provided by the organizer. This reduced rate is intended to encourage broader participation from professionals within the gaming sector, ensuring that the dialogue reflects a truly cross‑industry perspective.
Overall, the summit promises to be a pivotal gathering for anyone involved in the creation, distribution, or monetisation of entertainment content. By bringing together leaders from gaming, streaming, film, sports, and live‑event domains, the event aims to surface actionable insights and foster partnerships that will shape the next era of entertainment.
Whether you are a studio executive, a game developer, a media strategist, or a talent agent, the Business of Entertainment Summit offers a unique platform to engage with the ideas and people that are driving the industry forward.