As executive VP of unscripted and digital franchise studio at Nickelodeon, Ashley Kaplan drove the rollout of the network’s first original series for YouTube: Kid Cowboy.

Amid booming interest in the creator economy, we’ll hear from Chris M. Williams, founder and CEO of pocket.watch, about bringing YouTube content to broadcast and streaming platforms and building multiplatform franchises.

Putting a spotlight on the crucial role played by pubcasters, we’ll hear from Marie McCann, senior director of children’s content at Canada’s CBC.

Dubit will bring its market intelligence to the TV Kids Summer Festival as CEO Ian Douthwaite and team members Laura Dudley-Gough and Benjamin Sumner reveal new research on kids’ media habits and tips for how IP owners can explore opportunities in gaming.

Kicking off a series of conversations with leading programmers, the TV Kids Summer Festival opened with Louise Bucknole, general manager and senior VP for kids and family at Paramount UK & Ireland, on evolving Milkshake! to meet the needs of British preschoolers across all platforms.

Carl the Collector, created by illustrator Zachariah OHora, is the first series for PBS KIDS in the U.S. that is centered on a neurodiverse character.

Composition Media’s Carl Reed and Cheeky Little Media’s Patrick Egerton will share their thoughts on animation innovation.

As the president and CEO of the Shaw Rocket Fund, Agnes Augustin will offer up insights on trends reshaping the Canadian kids’ content sector.

Dominique Neudecker, VP of kids and family at Super RTL’s TOGGO, will discuss her editorial strategy at the German kids’ network before receiving the TV Kids Pioneer Award in recognition of her contributions to the industry.

Dubit’s David Kleeman will lead this session on the importance of gaming extensions with Wind Sun Sky Entertainment’s Catherine Winder and DeAPlaneta Entertainment’s Jimena Tormo.

Jon Rutherford, president of global rights, franchise and content strategy at Boat Rocker Studios, will outline the company’s approach to leveraging new technologies and platforms.

Kids’ media expert Emily Horgan will lead this conversation on engagement and discovery with pocket.watch’s Beck Canote and Kedoo Entertainment’s Olivier Bernard.

Vince Commisso, president and CEO of 9 Story Media Group, will discuss the way forward for the company now that it has closed its transformative deal with Scholastic Entertainment.

ZDF Studios’ Oliver Grundel, Dandelooo’s Emmanuèle Pétry, Hidden Pigeon Company’s Kristofer Updike and Lion Forge Entertainment’s Jeremy Colfer will share insights on adapting book IP.

Olivia Deane, research manager at Ampere Analysis, will outline the challenges and opportunities facing kids’ IP owners with a deep dive into commissioning trends.

Josh Silverman, executive VP and chief franchise officer at Mattel, will discuss the toy giant’s treasure trove of iconic brands and share the latest developments at Mattel Television Studios.

The fifth edition of the TV Kids Festival kicks off with our signature session on acquisition and programming strategies, this time delivering intel from ITV’s Darren Nartey, Nickelodeon’s Lynsey O'Callaghan and Amazon Kids+’s Monica Sharma.

Creator Marc Brown, behind the long-running success Arthur, will share the message of celebrating uniqueness in his new show Hop.

Industry veteran Nina Hahn, a Nickelodeon alum who has now founded the consultancy Luna Bean Partners, will articulate her thoughts on where the kids’ media business is headed.

An inside look at Cyber Group Studios’ approach to animation innovation with Dominique Bourse, chairman and CEO; Raphaëlle Mathieu, COO; and Pierre Belaïsch, chief creative officer.