TV Festival Manchester Sets Dates, Venues and Advisory Chair

The TV Festival, previously known as Edinburgh TV Festival, has unveiled the first details of its inaugural event in Manchester.

Set to be held for the first time in the northern city next year, the festival will keep its four-day schedule but will take place later in the month than usual.

Previously the festival, which has been held in the Scottish city of Edinburgh for fifty years, would traditionally take place in the last week of August.

Next year’s edition will take place after the U.K.’s August public holiday, running from Aug. 31 to Sept. 3.

The change of location has had a mixed response, with many citing Edinburgh’s charm and proximity to annual comedy festival the Edinburgh Fringe as reason’s for the festival success. The decision was made by The TV Foundation, a charity that organizes the festival, who believe the move will make the event more accessible to the television community.

It will take place at Versa Studios Manchester – formerly the site of the iconic Granada Studios — and Aviva Studios, which is the home of the Manchester International Festival and Factory International.

The area has been home to some of Britain’s best-known television shows including “Coronation Street,” “University Challenge” and “The Royle Family.”

“With Greater Manchester as our new home, we’re ready to grow and realise the Festival’s full potential over the coming years; whether that’s extending the programme into evening sessions, new creative partnerships or opening the doors to public-facing events or screenings,” said the festival’s CEO, Campbell Glennie. “We have the potential to create a city-wide celebration of the TV and broader creative industries for the next generation.”

The advisory chair for next year’s addition will be Sony Pictures Television’s president of international production, Wayne Garvie.

Garvie said: “I feel privileged to be bringing the Television Festival to a city I love, a city renowned for innovation, culture, and having a damn good time. We’ll make this an unforgettable event, with emerging voices and global names, argument and laughter, so come and join us to plot the future of our industry.”