LeVar Burton, Pete Cashmore, Brian Roberts, John Stankey, Nigel Eccles and Others to Speak
Washington, D.C. — Leading executives, journalists, and entertainers representing a broad spectrum in the worlds of Internet and Television will make headline appearances this May at the Internet & Television Expo (INTX) 2016, the signature annual event for media and entertainment industries. Produced by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA), this year’s show will run from Monday May 16 through Wednesday May 18 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.
Among the many General Session highlights will be an exclusive pre-release screening featuring scenes from Roots, an historical portrait of American slavery recounting the journey of one family and their will to survive and ultimately carry on their legacy despite hardship. Developed by HISTORY®, from A+E Studios – and scheduled to be simulcast on A&E and Lifetime, in addition to HISTORY – the four-part program is slotted to air over four consecutive nights at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time starting Monday, May 30. The INTX screening takes place at noon on Wednesday, May 18 and will be followed by a conversation with producers and cast including an appearance by LeVar Burton, who serves as Co-Executive Producer of the program, and who launched his entertainment career as a star of the original Roots television miniseries four decades ago.
“Nearly 40 years ago I had the privilege to be a part of an epic television event that started an important conversation in America. I am incredibly proud to be a part of this new retelling and start the dialogue again, at a time when it is needed more than ever,” Burton said. INTX will help achieve that objective with a discussion on race relations in America following the screening that day of the program highlights.
Several prominent American journalists will also grace the INTX stage earlier in the week, to participate in and help lead the conversation around the future of media and entertainment in a fast and ever-changing digital landscape. Journalist and writer Jorge Ramos, anchor and host for Noticiero Univision and Fusion, will discuss presidential politics starting at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday, May 16. Kara Swisher, Executive Editor at Re/code, will host one General Session segment on Monday, May 16; while Re/code Senior Editor for Media, Peter Kafka, hosts segments during the General Session of Tuesday May 17, which starts at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. One of Kafka’s guests will be Nigel Eccles, CEO & Co-founder of FanDuel.
Prominent business executives also will share their thoughts with INTX attendees during General Sessions. Appearances include Comcast Chairman and CEO, Brian L. Roberts, on Monday May 16; and John Stankey, CEO, AT&T Entertainment Group, and Pete Cashmore, Founder & CEO of Mashable, on Tuesday May 17.
Prominent Public Policy speakers at INTX 2016 will include FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler on the Wednesday General Session, May 18; as well as FCC Commissioners Mignon Clyburn, Michael O’Rielly, and Ajit Pai appearing for a May 17 Super Session at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The Tuesday Super Session is part of C-SPAN’s The Communicators series hosted by Peter Slen.
Attendees will be welcomed to INTX and Boston on Monday, May 16, by the 2016 Co-Chairs of INTX – Ken Lowe, Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Scripps Networks Interactive, and Pat Esser, President, Cox Communications.
Members of the media can gain complimentary registration to INTX 2016 by visiting https://www.intxshow.com/attend/media-registration/, or by emailing NCTA’s Pam Ford at [email protected] or calling her at (202) 222-2356.