Timetable

Wednesday Workshop: Playful Learning

How to turn your IP into a successful educational app or game

Wednesday Workshop: Collaborating with Kids

Experts, including writers, user-researchers, theatre producers and Sheffield kids share experiences of building IP and projects with young people who also benefit from the creative process.

Crucible Bar Open

The crucible bar is open for drinks in the Crucible theatre foyer before the Opening Keynote.

Opening Keynote

Inflection Points: Are kids the new mobile? Dylan Collins (@MrDylanCollins), CEO of SuperAwesome, delivers the CMC Opening Keynote 2014 Read the session blog SuperAwesome is Europe’s number 1 marketing platform, reaching 30 million children a month, and it's still growing.  Dylan is a serial entrepreneur, sits on the board of one of Europe’s busiest animation companies (Brown Bag Films), and is a Partner advising on investment with Hoxton Ventures. A marketing platform that specifically targets children might make Dylan the Don Draper of kids to some, but his ideas on sustainable business in the rapidly changing kids’ landscape address vital industry concerns. Does the…

First Timers Reception

We are inviting all first timers to your very own drinks reception from 5pm just before the Opening Keynote at The Crucible theatre. To find your conference buddies and be introduced to our advisory committee members, sign up to the First Timers reception when you register.

Drinks Reception

Drinks reception in the Millenium Gallery – across the square from the Crucible Theatre. Read the reception blog

International Exchange

The International Exchange returns. A must for anyone looking for international sales, partnerships or project funding. The CMC is  inviting a range of broadcasters, co-producers, funders and investors from across the world ready to meet sellers of content and services. See our International Exchange section for full information. Read the Exchange blog

Wednesday Workshop: Pitch It

The Business of Pitching – An art or a science, alchemy or dark art? A debate and tune up for those new and old in the dragon’s den.

Wednesday Workshop: Music and Song

A team of experts provide everything you need to know about the creative and commercial aspects of working with music and musicians.

The CMC Party

Delegates' Dance-Off! A FREE PRIZE bottle of spirits for The CMC Dance Champion! Email music requests to stu@funcrew.co.uk and our DJ will endeavour to drop your favourites into his set. Former Q, Mixmag and Select magazine editor Andrew Harrison will be DJ'ing at FUN CMC, the official CMC after-party sponsored by Fun Crew on Thur 3 July at The Hubs, Paternoster Row from 10pm. Expect a free-range mix of floorfillers from Chic to The Clash to David Bowie to Disclosure plus CMC-friendly surprises – and a free bar too (well, til the money runs out). Andrew runs regular club night SPENT at the…

Authentic Performance

Is it a good idea to cast under 8s in pre-school scripted content? How can authentic performances be achieved from such young children?

Commissioner Conversation: Games

Meet games commissioners from the broadcasters.

Focus on Europe: What Works Where?

Research on which genres work best in various European territories and a discussion how to build new co-pro opportunities.

Focus on Canada

Exploring how to successfully co-produce kids’ TV with Canada.

The Learning Landscape

What’s happening in the world of education? Is there a market? Who’s making? Who’s buying? Join this session as we roam The Learning Landscape.

Hunting, Finding, Caring Sharing

How do kids navigate the new platform and new services landscape?

Commissioner Conversation: Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network & Disney

Three half-hour chats with the key players in the big international broadcasters’ UK teams.

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

The brilliant PYMWYMI is back! Four pitches to industry executives ready to back their instincts and option the next big commercial kids’ property with hard cash.

BAFTA Creative Masterclass: Laying Foundations for The Dumping Ground

How to move on when your title character grows up and leaves home. An insight into the winning formula of sensitive issues, humour and big audiences.

Coming Together or Falling Apart?

Exploring the future of the children’s media and content industries through to 2020, in the age of digital transformation.

Classics Nouveaux

What does it take to keep a classic character brand fresh and relevant for new audiences as when it was created more than a generation ago?

Second Screen: Changing the Way We Watch TV

How to make the most of 2nd screen, and what kids actually think and do. 2nd screen means many things but what, if anything, does it mean to kids?

Children’s Film: Forever Forgotten?

How do we make more children's films in the UK?

Whatever Happened to the Heroes?

Is there a major shift away from action adventure and towards comedy for 6 to 9’s? Will superheroes ever be super again?

Pact: Give Kids a Break!

British kids need British TV. Join Pact and a panel of experts to discuss the campaign for a children’s TV tax credit.

When Technology Meets Storytelling

How do recent technological advances allow both audience and creator to enhance and develop the story they want to explore?

The IP Crowd

With media and retail worlds increasingly brand obsessed is the convergence of children’s publishing and television an inevitable and desirable necessity? And if so, who wins?

Mini-Dragons: Kids as Commissioners

A live experiment (with REAL children!) – exploring whether kids could sit with commissioners to help decide future content for their peers.

Achievement Unlocked!

How to design, make and sell successful educational digital games.

Digital Consumer to Digital Creator

Learn why coding is the new rock and roll and how children's media can inspire digital creativity through stories, play and making.

Research 8 & 9

Two 30 minute research presentations... 8. Growing up Digital Tracing the ‘growth spurts’ and ‘growing pains’ of children’s digital media use over the last 10 years.  9. Getting on the Soapbox: Dialogue, discussion, decision The importance of a continuous dialogue with family audiences...   8. Growing up Digital Tracing the ‘growth spurts’ and ‘growing pains’ of children’s digital media use over the last 10 years.  Presented by Martina Chapman, Ofcom.   Read blog: Research 8 & 9 View the presentation: Research 8 Read Martina's full session report Martina's full session reportSince 2005, the Ofcom Media Literacy Tracker survey has provided a detailed understanding of media use and attitudes of…

Research 6 & 7

Two 30 minute research sessions... 6. World of Wonder: Why Gaming Appeals to Kids Exploring the world of children and their relationship to gaming, including the attractions of playing and winning, and the potential for benefits or hazards. 7. Transformational Technology Understanding how technology is transforming children’s interaction with the world.   6. World of Wonder: Why Gaming Appeals to Kids Exploring the world of children and their relationship to gaming, including the attractions of playing and winning, and the potential for benefits or hazards. Presented by Dr Barbie Clarke and Siv Svanaes, Family Kids and Youth Read blog: Research 6 View the presentation: Research 6 There is…

Research 4 & 5

Two 30 minute research presentations... 4. Pink or Blue? Gender identification and gender-specific provision of content in the digital marketplace. 5. #FOMO! 2014, Welcome to the year of ‘#FOMO, where kids consumption, engagement and interaction with media is based on the ‘fear of missing out’ philosophy.   4. Pink or Blue? Gender identification and gender-specific provision of content in the digital marketplace. Presented by Gary Pope, Kids Industries Read blog: Research 4 View the presentation: Research 4 Do all girls really want to play with pink dolls and do all boys want to crash blue toy trucks? Of course not. But there might be…

Research 1, 2 & 3

Three 30 minute research presentations... 1. How early adopters find and share new entertainment. 2. The end of Live TV for Children? 3. Bad Games + Bad Children = Good Business? 1. How early adopters find and share new entertainment Dubit and Sherbet present on-going research that will help IP owners optimise their launch strategy with early adopters in mind.  Presented by Nicki Karet, Sherbert Research and Peter Robinson, Dubit Read blog: Research 1 View the presentation: Research 1 Dubit and Sherbert's video of kids discussing social networks: Early adopters are more essential than ever before; they provide valuable feedback and spread news of new…

Speed Meetings: Games

After the Commissioner Conversation sessions, commissioners or their representatives will be available for 5-minute one-to-one advice meetings. You can arrange to meet them by coming to Registration to book in at the start of each Speed Meeting block.  The speed-meeting blocks are listed in the programme.  There’s no advance booking – it’s on a first come, first served basis.

Speed Meetings: Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and Disney

After the Commissioner Conversation sessions, commissioners or their representatives will be available for 5-minute one-to-one advice meetings. You can arrange to meet them by coming to Registration to book in at the start of each Speed Meeting block.  The speed-meeting blocks are listed in the programme.  There’s no advance booking – it’s on a first come, first served basis.

Crucible Bar Open

The crucible bar is open for drinks in the Crucible theatre foyer before the Creative Keynote.

Creative Keynote with Malorie Blackman

The Right to be Seen – the Need to be Heard

Pizza Express

It’s the long standing tradition of CMC to gather at the Pizza Express and share a kids’ party style meal. You can buy your pizza express ticket here Pizza Express Menu

Commissioner Conversation: Learning

Come and meet some of the people responsible for commissioning content for the learning sector - in both formal and informal contexts.

Innovation Forum

Case studies in creative, technical and platform innovation. From using gestural play to bring real-world objects to life on an iPad to an X Factor-style talent contest with toilet rolls.

Focus on Asia

This session will draw on the expertise of some senior industry figures from Asia to highlight opportunities to co-produce, to creatively collaborate and to market content in some of the key destinations in the region.

Closing Keynote: Mind Candy’s Big New Idea

Michael Acton Smith unveils Mind Candy’s newest app - a revolutionary new creative community for 7-12 year olds that will become a platform for content creators (books, games, cartoons, music) to connect with their fans…

Commissioner Conversation: BBC

Meet the Director and Controllers for a multi-platform view of BBC commissioning.

Commissioner Conversation: Broadcasters

Meet broadcasters from the UK and abroad in this commissioner interview.

Charter Renewal: The Great British Sell Off?

As the Licence Fee and Charter come under public scrutiny, what’s the appetite at the BBC to commit to the children's audience and guarantee increased budgets for their content and services?

Service with a Smile

How production companies combine service work with developing IP.

Angels and Urchins

Private money and children’s media - Hear from leading early-stage investors on what they’re looking for, where they’ve seen success and what to avoid.

Out of the Mouths of Babes: Free Expression, Children and 21st-century Media

As children form friendships and express themselves online, how should social and children’s media help kids and teens navigate digital perils as well as pleasures?

Telling Tales: Paper to Pixel

Many publishers are thinking beyond the physical book, but are digital tales ending happily ever after?

Prix Jeunesse: Still a Kid at 50!

The best, most intriguing and most innovative children’s programmes from around the world, fresh from PRIX JEUNESSE 2014, celebrating its 50th year!

Transmedia – Where Do I Start?

A hands-on, up-close examination of detailed considerations in developing pan-platform brands for kids, from the creative and business perspective.

Weird Science

Exploring the latest on Biometric playtesting, psychological insight, engagement and neuroscience in children's television, media and games.

Learning and Laughter

Exploring how humour can help kids learn and asking - is there a place for children’s comedy entertainment in the classroom?

Research 7 (Repeat)

30 minute research session... repeated. 7. Transformational Technology Understanding how technology is transforming children’s interaction with the world. Presented by Andrew Manches, University of Edinburgh Read blog: Research 7 View the presentation: Research 7 Read the presenter's view Research has attempted to understand the relationship between the way children interact with the world and their physical, affective, social, and cognitive development. This has meant trying to bring together recent theories (which have highlighted the importance of interaction in the way children think and learn) with more practical approaches to evaluating and creating new digital designs for, and with, children. Working with a range of…

Research 4, 5 & 6 (Repeat)

Three 30 minute research presentations... repeated 4. Pink or Blue? Gender identification and gender-specific provision of content in the digital marketplace. 5. #FOMO! 2014, Welcome to the year of ‘#FOMO. 6. World of Wonder: Why Gaming Appeals to Kids Exploring the world of children and their relationship to gaming...   4. Pink or Blue? Gender identification and gender-specific provision of content in the digital marketplace. Presented by Gary Pope, Kids Industries Read blog: Research 4 View the presentation: Research 4 Read the presenter's view Do all girls really want to play with pink dolls and do all boys want to crash blue toy trucks? Of…

Research 1, 2 & 3 (Repeat)

Three 30 minute research presentations... repeated. 1. How early adopters find and share new entertainment. 2. The end of Live TV for Children? 3. Bad Games + Bad Children = Good Business? 1. How early adopters find and share new entertainment Dubit and Sherbet present on-going research that will help IP owners optimise their launch strategy with early adopters in mind.  Presented by Nicki Karet, Sherbert Research and Peter Robinson, Dubit Read blog: Research 1 View the presentation: Research 1 Dubit and Sherbert's video of kids discussing social networks: Early adopters are more essential than ever before; they provide valuable feedback and spread news of…

Research 8 & 9 (Repeat)

Two 30 minute research presentations... repeated. 8. Growing up Digital Tracing the ‘growth spurts’ and ‘growing pains’ of children’s digital media use over the last 10 years.  9. Getting on the Soapbox: Dialogue, discussion, decision The importance of a continuous dialogue with family audiences...   8. Growing up Digital Tracing the ‘growth spurts’ and ‘growing pains’ of children’s digital media use over the last 10 years.  Presented by Martina Chapman, Ofcom.   Read blog: Research 8 & 9 View the presentation: Research 8 Read Martina's full session report Martina's full session reportSince 2005, the Ofcom Media Literacy Tracker survey has provided a detailed understanding of media use and attitudes of children aged…

Speed Meetings: Learning Commissioners

After the Commissioner Conversation sessions, commissioners or their representatives will be available for 5-minute one-to-one advice meetings. You can arrange to meet them by coming to Registration to book in at the start of each Speed Meeting block.  The speed-meeting blocks are listed in the programme.  There’s no advance booking – it’s on a first come, first served basis.

Speed Meetings: BBC Commissioning Execs

After the Commissioner Conversation sessions, commissioners or their representatives will be available for 5-minute one-to-one advice meetings. You can arrange to meet them by coming to Registration to book in at the start of each Speed Meeting block.  The speed-meeting blocks are listed in the programme.  There’s no advance booking – it’s on a first come, first served basis.

Speed Meetings: Broadcasters

After the Commissioner Conversation sessions, commissioners or their representatives will be available for 5-minute one-to-one advice meetings. You can arrange to meet them by coming to Registration to book in at the start of each Speed Meeting block.  The speed-meeting blocks are listed in the programme.  There’s no advance booking – it’s on a first come, first served basis.