Kelvyn Gardner, Managing Director of LIMA UK, acted as producer and presenter of an hour long speaker session on licensing called, ‘Do you need a license for that?’ at the Children’s Media Conference in Sheffield on Friday, 8th July 2011.

Mr Gardner lead a discussion panel of executives, including Richard Hollis, Andrew Carley, Vickie O’Malley and Helen Howells, through an interactive session designed to reveal some of the mysteries surrounding licensing and how to work with licensing companies for TV producers.

Kelvyn Gardner commented; “The Children’s Media Conference provided an excellent forum for debate and discussion. Some of our speakers work for companies who buy program format/licenses and then develop from scratch. Others, like BBC, have licensing functions largely for shows their programming divisions acquire. CPLG is the one out-and-out agent, and even they are ultimately owned by a Canadian TV production company.”

“There was a time when TV folks would not talk to licensing folks, as we were viewed as the ‘dirty commercial’ arm of a creative industry. Nowadays licensing is looked upon more favourably and indeed is seen by some as the ‘saviour’ of kids TV given that broadcaster finance for kids TV, especially post the Ofcom advertisement restrictions, has virtually dried-up.”

For biographies and further information visit www.childrensmediaconference.com.