2024 OTT.X Diversity Summit to be Held December 4, 2024
Information provided below currently reflects 2023 Diversity Summit.

OTT.X is delighted to host its second Diversity Summit to bolster diverse OTT streaming organizations with access to information, connections, and opportunities. The OTT.X Diversity Summit is a half-day conference being held in Los Angeles on December 14, 2023. The event is organized by OTT.X for business leaders and professionals from underrepresented groups in the OTT streaming industry to connect and support each other in growing their businesses. Attendance is free for any OTT streaming platform, service, content provider or technology company in the OTT streaming business.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

For more information and inquiries contact Eric Hanson

Sign up to receive email notifications for upcoming panels, then come ready to learn, ask questions, and grow your career.

View Speakers

View Schedule

Register Now

SPEAKERS

KEYNOTE
Roxanne Avent Taylor

Co-CEO and Producer
Hidden Empire Film Group

Kacy Boccumini

Executive Director, Systems & Workflow
Sony Pictures Entertainment

Paul Colichman

CEO
Here Media

Dennis Dortch

Co-Founder & CEO
BLACK&SEXY TV

Michele Edelman

Head of Growth
Premiere Digital Services

Veronica Hernandez

Product Inclusion Lead, Media & Advertising
Nielsen

Tim Jung

CEO
XL8

Halleh Kianfar

VP, Product Management
Gracenote

Margo Lang

Vice President, People & Organization (HR) Strategy
Sony Pictures Entertainment

Helen Lum

Executive Vice President
APP Science

Yolanda Macias

Chief Content Officer
Cineverse

Quincy Newell

CEO
TwentyOne14 Media

Paige Sherman

Director, Digital Video Programming
Shout! Studios

Madhu Somasundaram

Director, Programming + Operations: FAST Channels + AVOD
VIZIO

SCHEDULE

Opening Remarks9:45 AM

Event Details

Opening Remarks

Speaker
Eric Hanson, Executive Vice President, OTT.X

Keynote Presentation – Roxanne Avent Taylor, CEO and Producer, Hidden Empire Film Group10:00 AM

Event Details

Keynote Presentation – Roxanne Avent Taylor, CEO and Producer, Hidden Empire Film Group

Roxanne Avent Taylor is a leading producer and executive who, alongside director Deon Taylor, formed the film company Hidden Empire Film Group (HEFG) to bring fresh content to different media platforms.Taylor has developed, packaged, and produced an impressive slate of films. Recent projects include The Intruder (2019) starring Dennis Quaid, Michael Ealy, and Meagan Good, which opened at number two against Avengers: Endgame, grossing an impressive $10.9M on its opening weekend; the thriller Traffik (2018), starring Paula Patton, Missi Pyle, and Omar Epps, which was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Independent Motion Picture as well as 2019 AMAA for Best Diaspora Narrative Feature; and 2019’s Black and Blue starring Academy Award Nominee Naomi Harris, Frank Grillo, Tyrese Gibson, and Mike Colter.

Before founding HEFG with Deon Taylor, Roxanne Avent Taylor served as CEO of Avent Productions, a successful independent film production company specializing in producing films, television, video, staging, and concert promotions. She also previously worked as a label manager for Taylor Made Muzik, the largest independent record label in Northern California. Taylor received the 2018 WIN (Women in NAACP) Leadership Award from the NAACP and the 2019 Baron Jay Foundation Trailblazer Award. Additionally, Taylor and Hidden Empire Film Group received the 2019 Location Manager Guild International (LMGI) Humanitarian of the Year Award.

Speaker
Roxanne Avent Taylor, CEO and Producer, Hidden Empire Film Group

Panel Discussion – Delivering Content for Underrepresented Audiences10:25 AM

Event Details

Delivering Content for Underrepresented Audiences

This Panel discusses aspects of content selection, merchandising, and marketing that are critical in reaching underrepresented audiences with content that resonates with them as viewers.

Speakers
Kacy Boccumini, Executive Director, Systems & Workflow, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Paul Colichman, CEO, Here Media
Dennis Dortch, Co-Founder & CEO, Black & Sexy TV
Paige Sherman, Director, Digital Video Programming, Shout! Studios
Madhu Somasundaram, Director, Programming + Operations: FAST Channels + AVOD, VIZIO

AI's Impact on Diversity in Media Production - Presented by XL811:15 AM

Event Details
AI’s Impact on Diversity in Media Production – Presented by XL8 This session explores how

Event Details

AI’s Impact on Diversity in Media Production – Presented by XL8

This session explores how AI is exerting growing influence on diversity across multiple facets of our lives, with special attention to its impact on Media Production. Gain insights into the transformation of content creation and consumption driven by AI, highlighting the need to safeguard both the industry and consumers. This talk sheds light on the intersection of AI and diversity, which is shaping our collective future.

Speaker
Tim Jung, CEO, XL8

Presented by

Leveraging Representation Data to Drive Impactful Change - Presented by Gracenote11:25 AM

Event Details
Leveraging Representation Data to Drive Impactful Change – Presented by Gracenote Although progress has been

Event Details

Leveraging Representation Data to Drive Impactful Change – Presented by Gracenote

Although progress has been made, the levels of media representation and types of on-screen characterizations of different identity groups still have much room for improvement. Fortunately, data is the key to unlocking meaningful change. Join Gracenote’s Halleh Kianfar and Veronica Hernandez at the OTT.X Diversity Summit for a discussion on measuring and operationalizing media representation data. Attendees will learn how Gracenote goes beyond traditional representation metrics by integrating diversity attributes with content consumption and what the path towards a more inclusive media landscape looks like.

Speaker
Veronica Hernandez, Product Inclusion Lead, Media & Advertising, Gracenote
Halleh Kianfar, VP, Product Management, Gracenote

Presented by

Breakout Session – Inspiring the Few to Thrive Amongst the Many11:40 AM

Event Details
Inspiring the Few to Thrive Amongst the Many In this unique, interactive breakout session,

Event Details

Inspiring the Few to Thrive Amongst the Many

In this unique, interactive breakout session, attendees will have the opportunity to connect directly with some of OTT streaming’s most accomplished and experienced entertainment executives and entrepreneurs. These inspired leaders will share details about their paths to success, hurdles along the way, and offer suggestions for thriving in today’s volatile and unpredictable streaming industry.

Speakers
Michele Edelman, Head of Growth, Premiere Digital Services
Helen Lum, Executive Vice President, APP Science
Yolanda Macias, Chief Content Officer, Cineverse
Quincy Newell, CEO, TwentyOne14 Media

Presentation – Celebrating Diversity – A Company Success Story12:45 PM

Event Details
Celebrating Diversity – A Company Success Story Speaker Margo Lang, Vice President, People & Organization

Event Details

Celebrating Diversity – A Company Success Story

Speaker
Margo Lang, Vice President, People & Organization (HR) Strategy, Sony Pictures Entertainment