TEL AVIV, Israel – Keshet Media Group, Israel’s media corporation and the company behind globally successful formats as Homeland/Prisoners of War and MICE/Allegiance, announced its third annual international INTV conference focused on the convergence of innovation and the television industry. INTV will feature an assembly of globally respected executives and creatives leading the charge in the today are shifting television landscape. Esteemed speakers include Richard Plepler, CEO and Chairman of Home Box Office, Inc.; Peter Fincham, Director of Television, ITV; Andrea Wong, President of International Productions, Sony Pictures Television; Susan Lyne, President of BBG Ventures at AOL and Former CEO of the AOL Brand Group; and Golden Globe® winning writers Sarah Treem and Hagai Levi (The Affair, In Treatment) among others.

Held from 15 – 16 March and hosted by Keshet’s CEO Avi Nir and Nir Barkat, the Mayor of Jerusalem, this year’s INTV will be kicked off by a local premiere of USA Network’s upcoming major event series DIG, which was produced by Universal Cable Productions and developed by Keshet, on the evening of 14 March. DIG is set in the historically rich city of Jerusalem where the conference is being held. The premiere will host Emmy® winning showrunner and writer Gideon Raff (Homeland), who co-created the series with Tim Kring (Heroes); and Golden Globe nominated actor Jason Isaacs (Awake, HARRY POTTER franchise) who co-stars in the series. Both Raff and Isaacs will also be featured in a conversation at INTV titled “Digging Deeper,” which will reveal a glimpse of how the show was created: from its source of inspiration, to its creative process, and finally its production.

Keshet confirmed the first list of highly respected speakers which also includes: Bruce Tuchman, President, AMC Global and Sundance Channel Global; Stephen Friedman, President, MTV Networks; Jacob Shwirtz, Chief Social Media Officer, Endemol Beyond USA; Shaul Olmert, Co-Founder and CEO, Playbuzz; Ari Shavit, renowned journalist and author of the award-winning book My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel; Rick Rosen, Board Member & Head of Television, WME; Lee Hunt,  the founder of Lee Hunt LLC who will speak at a PromaxBDA creative clinic, which will take place for a third time as a unique collaboration between PromaxBDA and Keshet Media Group; and filmmaker Porter Erisman, who wrote, directed and produced CROCODILE IN THE YANGTZE, an award-winning independent documentary memoir film of the eight years he spent at China’s Alibaba Group. Additional speakers are expected to be announced in the near future.

Nir said, “Three years ago, we aimed to create a global platform to openly discuss the dual effect of creativity and technological progress on television. Today, there have indeed been significant shifts in the television landscape due to immensely innovative ideas and new digital frontiers. We are pleased to witness ideas that were discussed and sometimes conceived at INTV come to life. We are thrilled to welcome such an internationally esteemed group of industry mavericks and pioneers to our third annual conference.”

A high profile two-day conference that gathers industry leaders and disruptors from around the world to participate in a unique fast-paced event featuring keynote talks, fireside chats and interviews, INTV aims to address the dramatic sea-change that has taken place within the global television industry. With viewers taking centre stage, new online outlets emerging, integrated social media becoming a must have, and the growth of interactive services and new business models, understanding how to navigate the evolving landscape has become crucial. At INTV Industry leaders and disruptors will confront modern television’s many questions and share their visions.

INTV registration is now open. The conference will take place in Jerusalem, amid a world that blurs old and new, providing a stage to those who shape the present and future of TV. The conference will be hosted at the YMCA, a historical landmark that serves as a centre of cultural, athletic, social and intellectual life in Jerusalem. INTV is taking place in cooperation with the Jerusalem Film and Television Fund at the Jerusalem Development Authority.