MARKETING

Content Europe 2027 reveals first speakers with ZDF, SVT, RTP, Seven Network, BBC and VRT set to share commissioning and acquisition priorities

By C21 Reporters 08/10/2026

ZDF’s Thorsten Haas, SVT’s Eva Beckman, RTP’s José Fragoso, Seven Network’s Lucy Brodie, the BBC’s Patricia Hidalgo and VRT Belgium’s Anne Dreesen are the first speakers confirmed for Content Europe 2027, which is set to unite the global commissioning, acquisitions, sales and entertainment business over three days in Lisbon.

Content Europe takes place in Lisbon from April 20-22. To register online at the SUPER EARLYBIRD RATE for €499 – saving €300 on the full delegate price – CLICK HERE.

The leading executives will all speak as part of an expanded five-track conference programme, this year spanning Formats, Drama, Documentary, Kids and Content Trends. Alongside other key commissioning execs, they will outline content strategies, priorities and partnership opportunities across the global business.

Sessions will offer insight into what leading broadcasters and platforms are looking for from the international production and distribution community, as well as the trends, challenges and opportunities shaping their businesses.
They will be joined by a raft of other leading commissioners, programmers and buyers from across the international market, with further speakers to be announced in the coming months.

Announcing the first speakers, C21 editor-in-chief & managing director David Jenkinson said: “Content Europe had a great first year and we will be building on that to make the event unmissable in 2027. The event is about connecting commissioners, buyers and sellers in an immersive venue that facilitates new business. We are delighted to announce the first raft of A-list speakers, with many more to follow over the coming months.”

Speaking at Content Europe:

Thorsten Haas
Deputy senior VP, entertainment
ZDF
Haas has been deputy senior VP of entertainment at ZDF since 2012. He is also responsible for acquisition, development and commissioning of non-scripted formats in all genres of the department (primetime shows, factual entertainment, talk, comedy).

Eva Beckman
Programme director
SVT
Beckman is responsible for all of SVT’s content across all platforms except news and sport. Her remit includes acquired and original programming across drama, entertainment, lifestyle, factual, minority-language programming, comedy, current affairs and children’s content.
Beckman has extensive experience commissioning and scheduling television content for broadcast and on-demand services. She has also played a key role in SVT’s digital transformation, helping establish the public service broadcaster as a strong player in the streaming market.

José Fragoso
Programme director
RTP
As a journalist/reporter, Fragoso was a founding member of private radio station TSF (1988), leading private newspaper Público (1990) and Portugal’s first private television channel, SIC (1992). He was editor of the news division at SIC (1999-2001); director of the news division at cable news network SIC Noticias (2001); deputy director of the news division at public television channel RTP (2001-02); and director of RTP International and RTP Africa (2002-03). From 2013 to 2016, he worked in Angola for both TPA and ZAP, before returning to Portugal to take on his current role in 2018.

Lucy Brodie
Europe and North America manager, programming
Seven Network
Brodie has more than 35 years’ experience in the broadcast industry, having begun her career at the BBC before moving into the UK independent drama production sector and then international channels including ABC TV US, TVNZ and Seven Network. She is currently manager of programming for the UK, Europe and North America at Seven Network Australia, Australia’s largest commercial broadcaster and part of Southern Cross Media Group, previously Seven West Media. Brodie is responsible for sourcing formats, primetime specials and trends worldwide for Seven Network.

Patricia Hidalgo
Director of children’s and education
BBC
Hidalgo is responsible for developing and implementing creative and editorial strategies for BBC Children’s and BBC Education across all platforms, including BBC iPlayer, CBeebies and CBBC. She oversees the division’s content output, including in-house productions, coproductions and acquisitions, with a focus on the future of media consumption and business models.

Anne Dreesen
Channel manager and head of children’s content, Ketnet
VRT Belgium
Dreesen is channel manager and head of children’s content at Ketnet, VRT’s children’s brand. With a background as a journalist, video reporter, editor-in-chief and content manager for talkshows, human interest programmes, gameshows, infotainment, hosting and fiction, she now leads the children’s department.