The 18th Children’s Media Conference (CMC), will be held virtually again in 2021, owing to the pandemic, from 5 to 9 July.

With the theme ‘Together’, the conference will focus on the urgent issues being faced by the children’s media industry and the young audience. Following the success of last year’s virtual conference, CMC 2021 will offer a packed agenda of webinars, keynotes and panel discussions, playing host to a wide range of broadcasters, co-producers, funders and investors from across the world.

Delegates will also have access to extra strands of VoD (video on demand) content on CMC’s bespoke online platform, covering topics including Research, The Art of…, Inclusivity Now and presentations by CMC’s cohort of young speakers: The Changemakers.

In the week-long conference, CMC will also bring monthly bespoke webinars covering a range of topical subjects including: ‘Production in the Time of Corona’ (26 March); ‘China Connect’ (21 April); ‘Maximising Content Impact’ (21 May) and a special event for newcomers to the conference ‘Making Your Way’ (18 June).

CMC’s hugely popular virtual market International Exchange will also precede the conference on 1 July 2021.

Speaking about the virtual event, CMC Editorial director Greg Childs said: “Last year’s virtual edition of CMC was a leap of faith. We were the first major industry event to reposition itself online. But our delegates, speakers and supporting companies stuck with us and turned the experiment into an outstanding experience. People shared learning, were informed, inspired and challenged, and – as always at CMC – we celebrated talent and innovation. In 2021 CMC Online will build on that to bring delegates more topics of special interest to the industry, more international guests and contributors, and more opportunities to meet, network and build those vital relationships which produce creative and business development.

In the meantime, our first webinar: ‘Production in the Time of Corona’ on 26 March will focus on how productions have handled the logistical leaps to keep going and reveal how some shows have faced major challenges, while others actually improved their relationship with the audience as a result of the changes they had to make. Case studies will be from BBC Children’s, Blue Zoo Animation, Sky Kids and YouTube Originals.”