The Rise (and Rise) of YouTube

An in-person event at 6.30pm on Monday November 2nd 2026 at The Conduit.

Event Description

Join us for a discussion about the extraordinary growth of YouTube – as a platform for both viewers and content creators.

A panel of broadcasting and digital professionals will examine how YouTube has become one of the UK's most-watched video services, and what its growth means for society and the media.

This event is being produced in partnership with The Conduit.

YouTube is now a massive part of the video and broadcast world - on mobiles and, increasingly, on the sitting room TV.

We look at the impact that YouTube's growth is having, how it's affecting other media organisations and channels, how it might change in the future, and the range of content on the platform.

According to Ofcom, YouTube reaches 94% of UK adults online, some 46.3 million people each month. And TV sets now account for nearly half of all in-home YouTube consumption, which is having a major impact on traditional broadcasters like the BBC and ITV.

Our panel will consider:

• What content creators have learnt about building and sustaining an audience at scale

• What content works best on YouTube

• How YouTube moved from the phone to the main TV screen in British homes

• What the platform's growth means for traditional TV channels and their audiences

• Where UK video viewing is likely to go next

The panel discussion will be followed by an audience Q&A.

Event Panel

Panel to be announced soon

The event will be chaired by:

Sophie Long, journalist and former BBC presenter.

 Event Schedule

6.00 pm: Pre-event socialising and networking

6.30 pm: Panel discussion begins

7.30 pm: Panel discussion ends

Networking drinks before and after the discussion event with a pay bar.