Two-time Emmy® Award winner Seth Shapiro is a global leader in international television and digital media. He has launched new networks and services for both Comcast and DIRECTV, the two largest distributors in America. He has worked on television programming and format strategy with the leading networks in countries including the U.K. Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, the Netherlands, Brazil, India and Finland. He has led dozens of television projects with partners including AT&T, Betfair UK, Comcast, De Telegraaf, DIRECTV, Disney, Goldman Sachs, Intel, IPG, NBC, Neo Cricket Mumbai, Nokia, RTL, SBS, Showtime, Sun Microsystems, SVT, Telstra, Time Warner Cable, Turner Networks and Universal Pictures. Mr. Shapiro is an Adjunct Professor at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and Marshall School of Business; He is author of TELEVISION: Innovation, Disruption, and the World’s Most Powerful Medium, an Amazon bestseller.

Mr. Shapiro was a five-year Governor at the Television Academy, the home of the Emmys, and a two-term member of its Executive Committee. He has consulted in media matters before both the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice. His opinions have been quoted in The Economist, The New York Times, CNBC, The LA Times, The Boston Globe, Bloomberg, The Associated Press, PBS and The Daily Mail UK. Mr. Shapiro was previously CEO of AlphaNetworks, a blockchain-based streaming video platform for Asia, in partnership with IBM and Radical Media.

As Head of Production at DIRECTV Advanced Services, Mr. Shapiro oversaw over 25 service launches, including TiVo by DIRECTV, the world’s first major DVR platform. Prior to joining DIRECTV Inc., he held senior positions at the Walt Disney Company and Blizzard Entertainment.

John Maatta focuses on entertainment and media law, including the negotiation and drafting of development, production, new media, video on demand, talent, employment, co-production, and financing agreements for both scripted and non-scripted film and television content. John has considerable experience regarding matters related to the distribution and exhibition of content by broadcast, cable, and internet platforms, affiliate relations, broadcast standards, and matters involving media-related technology and the formation of network platforms including the creation of Over The Top (OTT) services. John served as Co-Head of the Network/Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel at The CW Television Network.

In those roles he was responsible for Media Sales, Finance, Technology, Business Affairs, Legal, Broadcast Standards, Network Distribution, and Human Resources. He later served as a senior network executive at The CW Television Network. Prior to his roles at The CW Network, John was the Chief Operating Officer of the WB Television Network as well as its Executive Vice President and General Counsel. He was an executive at Warner Bros. and its related companies for almost three decades.

Se-Hwang Kim is one of the best-known musicians in Korean history. He has performed on thousands of tracks with k-pop and western artists including PSY, Rain, ss501, 2pm, Yuna Kim, the London Symphony Orchestra, Steve Vai, Scott Henderson, Guthrie Govan, Victor Wooten, Simon Phillips, Stu Hamm, Lee Ritenour and Martin Taylor. Mr. Kim has been a celebrity judge on many Korean tv competitions and shows including KBS TV’s topband, Redbull live on the road, and JTBC’s knowing bros. He is on the board of directors of dalcomsoft, publisher of the massive hit game superstar BTS with BTS; and is a vice president of artist first alliance, a consortium of 40 korean entertainment and tech companies. Kim has worked with each of the major k-pop labels and producers including sm ent., CJ ENM and JYP Nation. In 2017, he was a key contributor to the campaign music of the current president of South Korea, Moon Je-in. He is the first Korean musician to receive global endorsements from brands such as Yamaha, Gibson, Boss/Roland, Orange Amps, AKG, D’addario, and 20 others; and has given lectures at Hyundai Motor Company and Samsung Electronics. He was previously Head Professor of Hanyang University Conservatory. In 2018, he received an award from the Republic of South Korea for his contributions to the global success of k-pop.

George Freriks is an experienced board member, dealmaker, senior consultant and executive. He lives near Amsterdam (The Netherlands) and has an excellent personal network in and outside Europe.

His specific area of expertise is the impact of digitalisation in general with a focus on the media- and entertainment industry. Between 2012 and 2015 he lived and worked in California (USA). He was active in the hart of the transitioning media industry, working for both Dutch and American companies.

In the Europe he has done major projects for KPN, Philips, Newscorp, SES Astra etc.

Experienced in investments and M&A activities.

Currently he organises (virtual) trade missions and journeys for executives to innovation hotspots around the world (USA, Korea, Japan, Israel, China).

Themes are: media, internet, e-commerce, telecommunications, investments and sports.

He is also member of some supervisory boards and is part time consultant.