The Financial Times has announced the full roster of senior executives who will appear at its forthcoming Business of Entertainment Summit, scheduled to take place in Los Angeles this September. Among the most eagerly anticipated participants are top 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. They will sit alongside a distinguished line‑up of 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 summit, collaborating with its parent organization, IGNE Entertainment, to bring the event to a wider audience.
The summit is billed as a deep‑dive into the "forces reshaping entertainment," a theme that reflects the increasingly blurred boundaries between gaming, film, television, live events, and emerging digital experiences. Over the course of the two‑day gathering, attendees will hear from CEOs, chief content officers, and other senior figures about the latest trends in media dealmaking, the construction and management of franchise ecosystems, the expanding cultural influence of entertainment brands on a global scale, and the ways in which live‑event formats are evolving. A particular focus will be placed on the role of artificial intelligence in crafting more immersive fan experiences and on innovative strategies for monetising content in an era where subscription fatigue and ad‑blocking technologies are reshaping revenue models. One of the highlighted panels will feature David Tinson, who will join representatives from Universal Entertainment and the narrative‑driven production studio Madison Wells to discuss "cross‑medium entertainment." The conversation is expected to explore how game studios are leveraging their storytelling expertise to create transmedia properties that span consoles, streaming services, and even theme‑park attractions.
Tinson’s insights will likely touch on EA’s recent forays into live‑service games, its collaborations with film studios for joint IP development, and the company’s approach to integrating player data into narrative decision‑making. In a separate session, Tian Xiao will address a panel on the "global rise of Asia’s cultural exports," shedding light on how Tencent Games is positioning itself as a conduit for Chinese and broader Asian content to reach Western audiences. Xiao is expected to discuss the strategic partnerships Tencent has forged with local developers, the localization tactics that have proven successful in markets like North America and Europe, and the regulatory considerations that shape cross‑border publishing.
His remarks will also likely examine the growing appetite for Asian‑origin games and media, citing examples such as the worldwide success of titles like "Genshin Impact" and the increasing presence of Asian creators in mainstream entertainment. Keynote speakers at the summit include Bela Bajaria, Chief Content Officer at Netflix, who will share the streaming giant’s vision for integrating interactive storytelling into its catalog; Mark Shapiro, President and COO of TKO Group, who will discuss the convergence of sports, combat entertainment, and digital media; Ravi Ahuja, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures, who will outline the studio’s strategy for leveraging its extensive film library in the age of streaming; and David Lee, Chief Financial Officer of Webtoon, who will provide insight into the monetisation of digital comics and their potential to serve as source material for games and screen adaptations.
Additional participants comprise senior figures from Amazon Prime Video, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Disney, and Regal Global Entertainment, creating a truly cross‑industry dialogue. Representatives from major talent agencies—including Creative Artists Agency (CAA), United Talent Agency (UTA), and Verve Talent & Literary Agency—will also be on hand, underscoring the importance of talent representation in navigating the new entertainment landscape. The summit offers both digital and in‑person attendance options, allowing participants from around the world to join the conversation.
For readers of GamesIndustry.biz, a 20 % discount is available by applying the promotional code GIB20 at checkout or by following the dedicated discount link provided in the event’s promotional materials. This reduced rate is intended to encourage more industry professionals, especially those from the gaming sector, to engage with the broader discussions taking place at the summit. Overall, the Business of Entertainment Summit promises to be a pivotal gathering for anyone interested in the future of media.
By bringing together leaders from gaming, film, television, live sports, and digital publishing, the event aims to surface actionable insights and foster collaborations that will shape the next decade of entertainment. Whether you are a studio executive, a game developer, a content creator, or an investor, the summit offers a unique platform to understand how the industry’s most influential players are responding to rapid technological change, shifting consumer preferences, and the ever‑expanding global marketplace.