The Financial Times has announced the senior‑level roster for its upcoming Business of Entertainment Summit, which will take place in Los Angeles this September. Among the most anticipated participants are top executives 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 share the stage with 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, working together 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 deals to the ways franchises are built and sustained across multiple platforms.
Attendees will explore how cultural influence is spreading globally, the growing importance of live‑event experiences, the emerging role of artificial intelligence in crafting personalized fan interactions, and the future pathways for monetising content in an increasingly fragmented marketplace. David Tinson will sit on a panel titled "Cross‑Medium Entertainment," where he will discuss how video‑games, film, television, and emerging digital formats can intersect to create richer, more immersive narratives. He will be joined by representatives from Universal Entertainment and Madison Wells, a narrative‑production company known for its work on transmedia storytelling. The conversation is expected to delve into how EA leverages its extensive portfolio of franchises—such as "FIFA," "Madden," and "The Sims"—to collaborate with film studios, streaming services, and even theme‑park operators, thereby extending the life cycle of its intellectual property beyond the console.
Tian Xiao will appear on a separate panel focused on "The Global Rise of Asia’s Cultural Exports." In this session, he will examine how Chinese and broader Asian gaming studios are gaining footholds in Western markets, the strategic partnerships that make cross‑border distribution possible, and the cultural nuances that influence player reception worldwide. Tencent Games, as the world’s largest video‑game publisher by revenue, brings a wealth of experience in adapting titles for different regions, navigating regulatory environments, and investing in local development talent. Keynote speakers at the summit include Bela Bajaria, Chief Content Officer at Netflix, who will outline the streaming giant’s strategy for integrating interactive content and leveraging its global subscriber base to test new formats.
Mark Shapiro, President and COO of TKO Group, will share insights on how live‑sport and combat‑entertainment properties are being packaged for digital consumption, while Ravi Ahuja, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures, will discuss the studio’s approach to franchise development in an era where cinematic universes dominate box‑office revenue. David Lee, CFO of Webtoon, will provide a financial perspective on the booming market for digital comics and how those stories are increasingly being adapted into games, series, and movies. The summit also features a wide array of speakers from Amazon Prime Video, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Disney, and Regal Global Entertainment, ensuring that the conversation covers both the creative and operational sides of the industry. 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.
This blend of perspectives is designed to foster dialogue on how content creators, distributors, and talent representatives can collaborate more effectively in a rapidly changing environment. Tickets for the event are now on sale, with options for both virtual attendance and in‑person participation at the West Hollywood venue. GamesIndustry.biz readers enjoy a special 20 % discount when they apply the promotional code GIB20 at checkout or follow the dedicated discount link provided by the organizer. The discounted rate is intended to encourage a broader segment of the gaming and media community to join the conversation, ensuring that the summit reflects a diverse set of viewpoints.
Overall, the Business of Entertainment Summit promises to be a comprehensive forum where the biggest names in gaming, streaming, film, sports, and live entertainment converge to discuss the trends that are reshaping how audiences consume media. By bringing together CEOs, COOs, content officers, and talent‑agency leaders, the event aims to generate actionable insights that will help participants navigate the challenges of a multi‑platform world, capitalize on emerging technologies such as AI‑driven personalization, and unlock new revenue streams across global markets.