The Financial Times has announced an impressive roster of senior‑level speakers for its upcoming Business of Entertainment Summit, scheduled to take place in Los Angeles this September. Among the notable additions are senior representatives from two of the world’s most influential video‑game companies, Electronic Arts (EA) and Tencent Games, who will sit alongside a distinguished line‑up of executives from traditional media powerhouses such as Netflix, Sony Pictures, NBCUniversal and the parent company of UFC and WWE, TKO Group. GamesIndustry.biz, together with its parent organization IGNE Entertainment, is serving as a promotional partner for the event, helping to amplify its reach across the gaming and broader entertainment communities. The summit is billed as a deep‑dive into the "forces reshaping entertainment," bringing together thought leaders from every corner of the entertainment ecosystem.
Attendees can expect rigorous discussions on a spectrum of topics that are currently redefining how content is created, distributed, and monetised. These include the evolving landscape of media dealmaking, the intricate web of franchise ecosystems that span multiple platforms, the growing global cultural impact of entertainment brands, the resurgence of live‑event experiences, the emerging role of artificial intelligence in crafting personalised fan interactions, and the future pathways for monetising content in an increasingly fragmented market. One of the marquee panels will feature David Tinson, who serves as President and Chief Operating Officer at EA. Tinson will join fellow panelists from Universal Entertainment and narrative‑driven production house Madison Wells to explore the concept of cross‑medium entertainment—how stories can fluidly move between video games, film, television and other formats while preserving brand integrity and audience engagement.
In a complementary session, Tian Xiao, Head of North American Partnerships at Tencent Games, will discuss the rapid ascent of Asian cultural exports on a global stage, highlighting how Chinese and broader Asian creators are influencing trends in gaming, streaming, and interactive media. Keynote speakers for the summit include several high‑profile industry figures. Bela Bajaria, Chief Content Officer at Netflix, will share insights on the streaming giant’s content strategy and its approach to cultivating worldwide audiences.
Mark Shapiro, President and COO of TKO Group, will discuss the convergence of sports, combat entertainment, and digital media. Ravi Ahuja, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures, will provide perspective on the studio’s film and television pipeline, while David Lee, CFO of Webtoon, will outline the financial dynamics of digital comics and their expanding role in transmedia storytelling. Beyond the keynote stage, the program features a broad array of speakers from Amazon Prime Video, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Disney, and Regal Global Entertainment, among others. Representatives from leading talent agencies—including Creative Artists Agency (CAA), United Talent Agency (UTA) and Verve Talent & Literary Agency—will also be present, underscoring the event’s comprehensive focus on the entire value chain of entertainment.
The summit promises ample networking opportunities, with executives from companies such as EA, Pokémon, Apple, Netflix, Sony Pictures and Paramount slated to attend. This gathering will enable participants to forge new partnerships, exchange best practices, and explore collaborative ventures that could shape the next decade of entertainment. 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 special 20 % discount when they use the promotional code GIB20 at checkout or follow the dedicated discount link provided by the publisher.
This reduced‑price offering is designed to encourage a larger contingent of gaming professionals to join the conversation alongside their counterparts from film, television, sports and live‑event sectors. Overall, the FT Business of Entertainment Summit aims to serve as a crucible for ideas that will drive the industry forward. By convening leaders from both legacy media and the rapidly evolving gaming sphere, the event seeks to illuminate the synergies and challenges that lie at the intersection of these domains. Whether you are a studio executive, a game developer, a streaming platform strategist, or a talent‑agency representative, the summit offers a unique forum to gain insight into the forces that are reshaping how stories are told, experienced and monetised in the digital age.