On Air: broadcasting the future, together
When I first imagined On Air, I wanted to build a global eco-system that fully integrated students and universities with industry. On 16th October 2025, this idea becomes a reality.
On Air will be the biggest global student broadcast – ever! A 24-hour livestream produced by students from 18 universities around the world, across six continents through one continuous stream of live content via YouTube. The broadcast will be anchored and managed entirely through Ravensbourne University London, where the students will oversee master control, playout, and the entire technical workflow, ensuring a seamless connection between the participating locations. Each partner university will produce one hour of original live content, sharing unique stories and creative approaches from their region.
Adapting to a changing industry
We know that the pace of change — driven by AI, cloud workflows, and hybrid production — is creating both challenges and opportunities. Education and industry must evolve together, and On Air is one example of how that collaboration can work in practice
Our goal is simple: to give students real-world experience while giving industry a window into the next wave of talent. The event will use the latest tools and technologies, including AI-driven subtitling, voice-to-voice translation, and, for the first time in production, the Time Addressable Media Store (TAMS) — an open-source BBC R&D innovation powered by Amazon Web Services. This will allow real-time access and content sharing between student teams across the world, enabling collaborative editing and social media storytelling as the livestream unfolds.
A global stage for the next generation
Student presenters Urban Judge, Acacia Daniel, and Mya Harris — all from Youth TV — will be joined by former Gladiator Suzie Cox (Vogue) to guide audiences through the global coverage, following the sun from Sydney to LA.
Partnership is at the core of On Air. With support from more than 20 organisations — including AWS, CNN, Vizrt, Levira, ITV Studios, and Deluxe — this project represents a true collaboration between academia and industry. In addition to this, CNN’s involvement, extends to a segment of the schedule being filmed in its London studios with Year 8 students from Wandsworth schools, part of the London Borough of Culture 2025 initiative, presenting short segments. I truly believe that if we are to change the diversity of our sector we must inspire, educate and inform children and young people and this is step contributing to that mission.
Where ambition meets opportunity
Beyond the technology and logistics, the heart of On Air is opportunity. We’re not just producing content; we’re helping build confidence, creativity, and lasting connections. Students will leave this experience with broadcast-ready portfolios, international collaboration experience, and — just as importantly — lifelong networks. Through our OTTRED Next Gen Space partnership, they’ll be able to continue connecting with mentors and employers globally, turning this one event into an ongoing ecosystem of learning and visibility.
When I look ahead five years, I see a future where students no longer ask, “How do I enter the media industry?” — because they’re already in it. On Air is the first major step toward that future.
So, on 16 October, when the cameras roll and the red light goes live on YouTube, it won’t just mark the start of a broadcast — it will mark the beginning of a global movement. On Air is where the next generation steps forward, and the world tunes in.
Audiences can already subscribe to the channel at youtube.com/@mediatalentmanifesto to receive updates and reminders, and to make sure they don’t miss the start of the broadcast.
