TV’s leading industry event, The Edinburgh TV Festival, brought to you by Screen Scotland, today announced that BBC Director-General MATT BRITTIN CBE will appear “In Conversation” on Thursday 27th August, in his first major industry appearance in his new role. 

With the Director-General role described by many as the most scrutinized job in British media, Brittin will reflect on his first few months leading the BBC in what he recently described as a “complex, uncertain, and fast-changing world.” 

Brittin will also use his appearance at the Festival to introduce himself to the wider industry and discuss the advantages of his outsider perspective; the 18th Director-General, he is the first since Greg Dyke in 2000 to have not worked at the BBC prior to his appointment. He intends to use this unique vantage point and his near two decades working in Big Tech to begin his mission of reinventing public service broadcasting for the 21st century. 

Festival Chair, Fatima Salaria said: “Matt Brittin arrives in Edinburgh at a critical moment for the BBC, with charter renewal ahead and a whole industry waiting to hear what the next chapter for the corporation will look and feel like. The fact Matt has chosen Edinburgh for his first major industry appearance matters. We are delighted to welcome him for a conversation which will be lively, serious and central to the future of British television.” 

Prior to his appointment at the BBC, Brittin served as the head of Google’s EMEA region for ten years. He has previously worked in regional and national press and in consulting on media and technology. Brittin served on the Board of supermarket giant Sainsburys for nine years and was also on the Board of the Guardian Media Group. 

Further speaker and session announcements will be made in the coming weeks. This year’s Festival will be held at the EICC in Edinburgh and passes are on sale now www.thetvfestival.com/passes