Kenya Barris Joins The Ankler at NAB Show
Webtoon execs David J. Lee and David Madden also are among speakers set to join Jody Gerson, Jane Rosenthal, Tom Staggs, Nick Khan and Paul "Triple H" Levesque
Final speakers announced! The Ankler is heading to Vegas to deliver the Business of Entertainment at NAB Show April 5-9. Ankler Media CEO/Editor-in-Chief Janice Min and Ankler contributors Erik Barmack, Natalie Jarvey, Elaine Low, Sean McNulty and Katey Rich will lead conversations with top leaders and innovators on the biggest stage in the media and technology industry. Check out our programming slate below and unlock the best rate yet with our code (ANK01) to get your Exhibits Pass for just $49 (Reg. $219). But hurry, this offer expires April 5! Newly announced speakers include:
Kenya Barris: black-ish, Girls Trip, Coming 2 America and Pushing the Limits of Storytelling The prolific creator of the groundbreaking TV comedy black-ish and its multiple spinoffs, the innovative Netflix animated special Entergalactic and iconic films including Girls Trip, You People and Coming 2 America, joins The Ankler’s Katey Rich for a conversation about his disruptive journey in Hollywood. Working with a wide range of co-creators and stars across live action (Eddie Murphy to Rashida Jones), animation (Kid Cudi), reality (Tyra Banks), podcasting (The Unusual Suspects with Malcolm Gladwell), branded content and more, Barris continues to innovate as a creator, producer and performer. Expect insight, honesty, and a glimpse into what’s next from one of the most influential voices in entertainment. Moderated by Katey Rich, The Ankler’s awards editor and host of the Prestige Junkie podcast.
Hollywood's IP Gold Mine: Comics, Fandoms and Creators Building New Worlds WEBTOON Entertainment has built a global IP & Creator Ecosystem, spanning storytelling platforms, studios, publishing, merch, and more. But it all starts with incredible stories, shared by a global creator community on its WEBTOON and Wattpad platforms. Today, the company is the source of hits on Crunchyroll (Tower of God), Netflix (All of Us Are Dead, Through My Window), Disney+ (Vigilante), Tubi (Sidelined: The QB and Me), and other entertainment destinations all over the world. Hear from WEBTOON Entertainment global COO David J. Lee and Wattpad WEBTOON Studios global head of entertainment David Madden about the new fandoms exploding across genres, how AI is changing the ecosystem, why talents from Diablo Cody to Margot Robbie are adapting webcomics and webnovels, and how these formats are remaking the landscape around IP. Moderated by Natalie Jarvey, author of Ankler Media’s creator economy newsletter, Like & Subscribe.
Previously announced programming:
WWE: The Next Era of Sports Entertainment With WWE entering a bold new chapter, President Nick Khan and Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque are at the helm, shaping its evolution in an ever-changing media and entertainment landscape. Join us for an exclusive conversation between Sean McNulty and WWE’s leadership as they discuss their vision for the next generation of sports entertainment.
Bob Dylan to Alicia Keys to Billie Eilish: How Music and Song Drive Culture Jody Gerson, pioneering chairman and CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group, joins Ankler Media CEO and editor-in-chief Janice Min for a deep dive into the narrative power of popular song and the music industry’s evolving relationship with Hollywood.
Expanding the Frame: Technology & the Future of Storytelling Jane Rosenthal, Oscar- and Emmy-nominated producer and co-founder/CEO of Tribeca Enterprises (The Irishman, Meet the Parents), and Lesli Linka Glatter, multi DGA Award-winning and multi Emmy-nominated director, producer and DGA president (Homeland, Zero Day, Mad Men), explore the opportunities and disruptions brought by new technologies and platforms — and how authentic storytelling remains at the core. Moderated by Katey Rich.
AI, Hollywood and New Worlds of Storytelling Hollywood writer and producer David Goyer — known for Blade, Foundation and his writing on Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy — will explore new forms of collaborative storytelling that are bridging the gap between AI and traditional entertainment. In conversation with producer Erik Barmack, author of The Ankler’s Reel AI newsletter, Goyer will discuss his latest franchise project Emergence and the AI-powered platform Incention.
Fire Country and the Boom of Broadcast Procedurals (Again!) Tony Phelan and Joan Rater, the creators and executive producers of CBS’ Fire Country and its upcoming spinoff, Sheriff Country, join CBS Entertainment’s Yelena Chak, EVP scripted development, and Bryan Seabury, EVP, head of content strategy and drama development, CBS Studios, for a conversation about the process behind the successful procedural — from the creative seeds of a show to the strategy for spinoffs and expansions. Moderated by Elaine Low.
Werk Ethic: Drag Race Universe and Beyond Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, co-founders of World of Wonder and executive producers of RuPaul’s Drag Race, share how they built WOW Presents Plus and expanded the franchise to 20+ countries with a fan-first approach across live events and digital platforms. Moderated by Elaine Low.
Reality Check: The New Rules of Unscripted TV Andrew Fried, president of Boardwalk Pictures and executive producer of Welcome to Wrexham and Chef’s Table, joins Howard Owens, founder and co-CEO of Propagate Content; Jennifer O’Connell, CEO of Pantheon Media Group and co-CEO of Velvet Hammer Media; and Courtney White, president of Wheelhouse Entertainment, to explore the latest trends, challenges and innovations shaping non-fiction television. Moderated by Elaine Low.
Navigating the Future of Hollywood: Opportunities in Uncertain Times In the midst of Hollywood shifts, Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, Candle Media co-founders and co-CEOs, share insights on how major Hollywood players are recalibrating and what it takes for leaders and organizations to get ahead of and capitalize on these seismic shifts. This candid discussion on the next era of entertainment will be moderated by Sean McNulty.
