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 most notable additions are 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 high‑profile leaders 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 conference, working in tandem with its parent organization, IGNE Entertainment, to bring the event to a wider audience. The summit’s central theme is the "forces reshaping entertainment," a broad umbrella that captures everything from the evolving economics of media rights to the expanding influence of global franchise ecosystems.
Attendees will explore how cultural currents travel across borders, the role of live‑event experiences in a digitised world, the emerging possibilities of artificial intelligence in crafting immersive fan interactions, and the future pathways for monetising content across multiple platforms. By gathering executives from video‑games, film, television, sports, and live‑performance sectors, the summit aims to map the converging trajectories that are redefining how audiences consume entertainment. David Tinson will sit on a panel titled "Cross‑Medium Entertainment," where he will discuss EA’s strategies for extending its game IPs into movies, television series, and other forms of media. He will be joined by senior figures from Universal Entertainment and the narrative‑driven production house Madison Wells, creating a dialogue that examines how intellectual property can be leveraged across disparate channels while preserving brand integrity.
Tian Xiao, on the other hand, will contribute to a discussion on the "Global Rise of Asia’s Cultural Exports," shedding light on how Tencent Games is positioning its titles for success in North America and Europe, and how Asian storytelling sensibilities are resonating with a worldwide audience. Keynote speakers feature a lineup of industry titans: Bela Bajaria, Chief Content Officer at Netflix, will outline the streaming giant’s vision for original programming and its approach to global distribution; Mark Shapiro, President and COO of TKO Group, will address the convergence of sports, combat entertainment, and digital media; Ravi Ahuja, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures, will share insights on the studio’s multi‑platform rollout strategies; and David Lee, CFO of Webtoon, will discuss the economics of digital comics and their translation into screen adaptations.
Additional speakers include senior leaders from Amazon Prime Video, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Disney, and Regal Global Entertainment, each bringing a distinct perspective on how their respective domains intersect with the broader entertainment landscape. Beyond the formal sessions, the summit will host a host of networking opportunities. Executives from companies such as EA, Pokémon, Apple, Netflix, Sony Pictures, and Paramount will be present, alongside talent‑agency representatives from CAA, United Talent Agency, and Verve Talent & Literary Agency. These informal gatherings are designed to foster collaborations that could lead to joint ventures, co‑productions, or innovative licensing arrangements.
Tickets for the Business of Entertainment Summit are currently 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 % discount by entering the promotional code GIB20 at checkout or by following a dedicated discount link provided by the publisher.
The reduced rate is intended to encourage a broader segment of the gaming community to engage with the cross‑industry dialogue and gain exposure to the strategic thinking that is shaping the future of entertainment. Overall, the event promises a comprehensive look at the shifting dynamics of an industry that is increasingly interconnected. By bringing together leaders from gaming, streaming, film, sports, and live‑event sectors, the FT Business of Entertainment Summit offers a rare platform for sharing best practices, exploring emerging technologies, and charting the collaborative pathways that will define the next decade of global entertainment.
Whether you are a content creator, a distributor, a technology provider, or a fan‑experience specialist, the summit provides valuable insights into how the entertainment ecosystem is evolving and how you can position your organization to thrive within it.