Bentfield Media
David Smyth
Business Consultant
David is a vastly experienced and well-connected consultant, international film and TV executive and streaming business founder. He is expert in all things content: AVOD/SVOD, co-production, media strategy, acquisition, distribution, programming, promotion and media planning. He has developed outstanding editorial and negotiation skills within UK and international businesses, working with both traditional and non traditional content distribution systems. He is an experienced speaker – regularly appearing on industry panels – and is an accomplished writer of articles on subjects ranging from theatrical cinema distribution through to the disruption faced by the television business as a result of technological advancement.
YouLook.tv
Founder
In 2020 he set up his own streamer in the UK (YouLook.tv, the UK’s first multi-genre independent AVOD service). He conceived and developed the concept, devised the strategy, recruited the management and advisory team, created the brand, closed deals for its tech, ad-tech and marketing partnerships, and acquired its content.
BBC
Deputy Scheduler
Before moving to Sky, David spent 4 years at the BBC; initially planning the promotional airtime on BBC1, before joining the scheduling team where he was Deputy Scheduler of BBC1 and BBC2 in daytime and was part of the team that re-invigorated the channels and transformed their ratings, and introduced The Weakest Link to the world!
J. Walter Thompson & ITV
Advertising & Audience Researcher
David’s earlier experience included a spell at advertising agency J. Walter Thompson, and he began his career as an audience researcher at ITV.
Sky
Head of Acquisitions
David’s earlier experience was at Sky, where - as Head of Acquisitions for Sky 1 - he was responsible for acquiring major US series such as Lost from Disney (in a highly publicised deal), alongside such other series as Prison Break, Bones, Rescue Meand Deadwood. He closed co-production agreements for Battlestar Galactica, The 4400, The Lost Room and others.
20th Century Fox TV
Managing Director
Prior to YouLook, David spent 10 years at 20th Century Fox TV Distribution, latterly as Managing Director of the London office. He has a deep understanding of international audiences gained through licensing a wide suite of rights to the UK/Eire, Nordics, Netherlands, Russia/CIS, Middle East, Israel and Africa and CEE. He has scouted for original scripts from international producers for co-production opportunities and sold a range of scripted formats.