Discussion with .....

Marie-Claude Robichaud Télé-Québec	Kimberly Persona Balloon House Productions		The YMA is thrilled to welsome an esteemed group of indudtry leaders who will offer their expertise and discuss with you how they have succeeded to navigate the digital world.
Jayna Rana 9 Story Media Group	Renaud Sylvain Happy Camper		Athena Georgaklis YMA Co-President - Moderator

 

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Networking Forum: Rethinking the Model:
Beyond Broadcasting and Streaming

The Youth Media Alliance presents an overview of its networking forum, taking place on October 1, 2026, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., dedicated to a strategic discussion on the future of the youth media industry.

Under the theme “Rethinking the Model: Beyond Traditional Broadcasting and Streaming”, the event will explore the rapid evolution of content financing, distribution, and discoverability. While streaming has fundamentally transformed audience habits, it has yet to establish a sustainable business model for the industry as a whole.

A Panel Discussion and Breakout Sessions

This forum will bring together international industry leaders for an open discussion on emerging business models, collaboration opportunities, and monetization challenges in a rapidly changing marketplace. Conversations will focus on topics such as distribution in the platform era, content discoverability, audience engagement, and the emergence of innovative partnerships.

Designed as an interactive experience, the event will combine a keynote presentation or panel discussion, breakout group sessions, and dedicated networking opportunities, followed by access to a community platform that will allow participants to continue the conversation beyond the event.

Participants—including producers, broadcasters, platforms, distributors, creators, investors, and decision-makers—will leave with fresh perspectives, practical ideas, and valuable connections to help shape the future of youth media.

Participants will leave with new perspectives, actionable ideas, strategic contacts, and access to an ongoing network dedicated to advancing the youth content industry.

2026 Online Meeting - Bilingual - Simultanous Translation

For decades, the traditional broadcasting model has shaped the financing, distribution, and discoverability of content created for children. Today, this model is rapidly evolving. While streaming has profoundly transformed how young audiences consume content, it has yet to establish a sustainable business model for producers, creators, broadcasters, and distributors.

This exclusive networking forum will bring together industry leaders to challenge established models and explore new business opportunities for the global youth media industry.

Rather than focusing on what has been lost, the discussion will look toward the future of our industry. How can streaming be better monetized? What new partnerships are emerging? Is traditional distribution still relevant? How can content discoverability be ensured in an increasingly competitive market? What innovative approaches will define the next generation of content for children and youth?

Designed as a true forum for reflection and leadership, this event will combine expert perspectives with collaborative discussions, offering participants not only the opportunity to hear from industry leaders but also to actively contribute to developing solutions for the future.

The conversation will not end when the event concludes. Participants will be invited to join an ongoing networking community to continue discussions, share business opportunities, and develop new collaborations throughout the year.

Objective

Bring together international industry leaders to openly discuss the evolution of youth content business models and explore innovative approaches in the streaming era.

Format

• Opening keynote or moderated panel discussion (60 minutes)
• Facilitated breakout group discussions (30 minutes)
• Networking and ongoing collaboration through a dedicated WhatsApp community

Discussion and Workshop Topics

• New collaboration models within the industry
• Rethinking distribution in a streaming-dominated market
• Improving content discoverability and audience engagement
• Monetization beyond traditional broadcasting
• New opportunities for producers, broadcasters, streaming platforms, and distributors

Registration Fee:
Free.

Location:
Online via a link that will be sent to you the day before the event.

When:
October 1, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

• 50 minutes of panel discussion - bilingual - simultanous translation
• 10 minutes of Q&A;
• 30 minutes of breakout group discussions - move yourself from one group to another

Meet the Panel

Jayna Rana — Director of Digital, 9 Story Media Group

Jayna Rana is a digital media specialist with extensive experience developing and managing children's content for digital platforms. At 9 Story Media Group, she has worked on the company's digital strategy and YouTube presence, helping bring major children's brands to audiences across digital platforms. Earlier in her career, she worked extensively with 9 Story's YouTube channels and digital programming, including managing content across multiple brands and languages.

Renaud Sylvain — President & Executive Producer, Happy Camper Média

Renaud Sylvain is the co-founder, president and executive producer of Happy Camper Média, a Quebec City-based production company and 2D animation studio. Under his leadership, the company has developed, produced and distributed successful children's properties, including Agent Jean!, Les Dragouilles and Mini-Jean et Mini-Bulle, with projects extending into formats such as podcasts and web games. His background in communications, marketing, distribution and production gives him a strong entrepreneurial perspective on the evolution toward multiplatform content.

Kimberly Persona — Executive Producer & Creator, Balloon House Productions

Kimberly Persona is an executive producer and creator at Balloon House Productions, where she develops and produces children’s and family content with a focus on innovative approaches beyond the traditional broadcasting and streaming models. Her work offers a valuable perspective on alternative ways of developing, financing, producing and connecting content with audiences. As the industry continues to evolve, Kimberly brings an entrepreneurial and creative perspective on building content and new opportunities outside conventional media pathways.

Marie-Claude Robichaud — Vice-President, Multiplatform Strategy, Research and Innovation, Télé-Québec

Marie-Claude Robichaud has more than 20 years of experience in the media industry, with a career spanning advertising agencies, TVA and Télé-Québec. She leads strategic transformation initiatives at Télé-Québec, helping the public broadcaster evolve within a rapidly changing media environment. Her expertise spans strategy, audiences, digital transformation, research and innovation, providing an important broadcaster's perspective on the future of children's media.

Moderator

Athena Georgaklis

Athena Georgaklis is a highly respected Canadian children's media executive with extensive experience in development, production, broadcasting and content strategy. Now-a-day, Athena is an independent Executive Director handling a variety of projects. During her career at Nelvana and TELETOON, she led the development and production of numerous Canadian children's series in both English and French, working with creators, producers and talent. Her broad experience across the children's media ecosystem makes her ideally suited to lead this forward-looking conversation.

 

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