In the second of our special features for IWD 2025 showcasing some of the women who are helping to shape the media technology industry, we meet Caroline Cooper, chief operating officer at Sky Studios
By TVBEurope Staff
Published: March 4, 2025 Updated: March 5, 2025
In the second of our special features for IWD 2025 showcasing some of the women who are helping to shape the media technology industry, we meet Caroline Cooper, chief operating officer at Sky Studios
target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin>
Talk us through an average day in your role One of the wonderful things about my role is the diversity of tasks I get to work on. An average day can be very variable. I spend a great deal of time with my team, helping them work through knotty issues and problems they may be grappling with.
I engage in interesting work around government and lobbying on behalf of the film and TV industry, focusing on tax credits, business rates for studios, and championing the importance of the creative industries and Sky to the health of the UK. I enjoy this aspect of my role very much. Additionally, I am passionate about team development, ensuring we support the next generation of talent both within my teams and in the industry.
My outward-facing role involves managing our international partnerships, often in conversation with partners in the US, particularly NBCU, our distribution partner and a major client for our studio.
I also do a lot of forward planning - in production, you're often working on projects that won't be on screen for a couple of years. It's crucial to stay ahead of market trends to ensure we're in the best possible position for future developments. This is especially important in content creation, where decisions made now will impact the next two to three years.
Finding partners for our biggest projects is a significant focus, and we strive to be a good partner. I spend a lot of time with my team, thinking about our approach and working with our partners on an ongoing basis.
How did you get started in the media industry? I think there was quite a degree of luck here. I started off as a banker and was an equity analyst working in the City. I realised pretty quickly that wasn't the sort of role that was going to keep me interested long term, although it's a wonderful grounding in many aspects, particularly around financials.
I decided I wanted to go and work for a company and go in-house. I was very lucky to be offered a job at ITV, working in their investor relations department, which is a normal segue way for someone coming out of capital markets. [It] was wonderful because suddenly I found an industry that I really was passionate about, a really interesting sector. Lots of things were changing. When I first joined, we still had only five TV channels and the digital transition was starting to get underway.
So, a bit of luck once I discovered media you were not going to get me out of it!
What training did you have before entering the industry? I had no media-specific training. I went through school and university and then I spent a few years working in banking, which gave me a great grounding in finance and financial management and that financial aptitude has been a thread through my career. I worked my way up through finance roles and commercial and operational roles, rather than on the creative side of the business.
I can put a lot of that back to starting off in a financially driven job which gave me a good understanding of P&Ls, cash flows, balance sheets and that has been a skill set that I've taken forward as I've worked in a broad number of different roles.
It's hard in media in terms of the kind of training that you may or may not need. The training Is often very different. I've seen a huge diversity of different people coming in from different pathways and a lot of it is about getting your foot in the door and learning on the job. For example, many people who've come up through the production side of the business may have had some training, but then they get out there, get their sleeves rolled up and they learn a lot from just working on those productions, working with more experienced team members. That's a path that I think is probably common to many.
Why do you enjoy working in the industry? I can't think of a more interesting industry in which to build a career. I love navigating the dynamic market we operate in and strategically figuring out how to best move forward as things constantly change.
The media sector is fascinating because it never stands still. There are always new competitors, formats, approaches, and strategies from both big players and new, interesting smaller ones. It's never dull or static.
To enjoy working in media, you have to embrace the chaos that comes with it, and I really do. I'm always interested in seeing what the next big thing is and what's coming around the corner, trying to anticipate what the industry might look like in the next 5-10 years. It's very energising.
I also love the people. Working in the TV and media sector means you're surrounded by fascinating, interesting, and wonderful individuals. I get to work with creative people every day, and that's a total joy. It's rare to find someone in media who isn't enthusiastic about what they do, which is another reason I enjoy getting up in the morning.
What piece of advice would you offer someone looking to explore a role similar to yours? You have to be open-minded. I've had a varied career, moving into slightly different roles, and that has given me a breadth of experience that's been incredibly useful. As I've moved up through the business, I now have a broad role reflecting the choices I made earlier in my career, whether in commercial, strategic,
Europe Stories
06/10/2025
France T l visions, France's leading broadcaster, has received the 2025 EBU ...
04/09/2025
Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), in collaboration with Dalet, has been a...
07/08/2025
July 8 2025, 22:30 (PDT) Tata Motors & Dolby Bring Dolby Atmos to Harrier.ev, R...
11/07/2025
If you've ever wondered what might be playing in Clark Kent's headphones...
11/07/2025
AI and Multimedia Authenticity Standards Collaboration launches two papers to guide the future of AI integration, today at the AI for Good Global Summit
The...
10/07/2025
The current holder of the prestigious Thomson Foundation Young Journalist of the Year Award has been forced to stop reporting over fears for her safety in Afgha...
10/07/2025
Spotify is turning up the volume on Australian music with a multipronged initiative designed to highlight the dominance of Australian artists on the global stag...
10/07/2025
This is not a drill: Oasis is back on the road-marking its first live performanc...
10/07/2025
The music industry depends on fresh ideas, bold voices, and emerging talent. Yet across the U.K., too many young musicians lack the space to develop their craft...
10/07/2025
10 Jul 2025
VEON and Cohen Circle Secure Investor Commitments for Kyivstar Listing Kyiv, New York, Dubai, and Philadelphia - July 10, 2025 - VEON Ltd. (Nasdaq:...
10/07/2025
Thursday 10 July 2025
The Very Small Creatures
Jaime's Treetop Tales
Emerald
BooSnoo! Christmas Mashup
Pip & Posy's Spooktacular Party
The Very Sm...
10/07/2025
Thursday 10 July 2025
Brand new rewards are coming to Sky customers, with free ...
10/07/2025
Comscore Achieves Full JIC Certification for National TV Measurement Including...
09/07/2025
Wednesday 9 July 2025
Sky Broadband now has the UK's fastest broadband spee...
09/07/2025
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today announced Jeff Williams will transition his role as chief operating officer later this month to Sabih Khan, Apple's senior...
08/07/2025
In an era where digital threats to journalists are becoming increasingly aggressive and widespread, MediaSafe Africa launches as a vital online resource to help...
08/07/2025
This summer, as the energy builds for one of the biggest moments in women's ...
08/07/2025
UKTV today announces that Richard Watsham, Chief Creative Officer at UKTV and Global Director of Acquisitions for BBC Studios/UKTV, has decided to step down fro...
08/07/2025
SAN JOSE, Calif. - July 8, 2025 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced a reco...
08/07/2025
Arvato Systems Optimizes Customer Communication with AOK Niedersachsen
New project in the statutory health insurance sector
Arvato Systems and AOK Niedersach...
08/07/2025
On August 7, Apple Arcade is adding four exclusive games to its diverse catalogue of more than 200 fun games for players to enjoy, all free from ads and in-app ...
07/07/2025
** MEDIA ALERT **
VIZ Media Ignites AX 2025 with Star-Studded Panels, Exclus...
07/07/2025
CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA As Apple Music marks its 10th anniversary this year, Apple unveils its most ambitious creative project to date: a brand-new state-of-the...
07/07/2025
RT has announced that Mark Bignell has been appointed Commissioning Editor for Comedy following a public competition. This senior editorial position will drive...
04/07/2025
The Summer Reading Challenge has inspired children across the U.K. to embrace a ...
04/07/2025
Friday 4 July 2025
Watch the trailer here https://youtu.be/Od5WpvWmDr8
Further...
04/07/2025
The Pitch comes to RT Radio 1 airwaves this Sunday at 7pm. The Pitch is a brand...
03/07/2025
For our Vario-Jib, as well as for a repertoire of weights, we now have carts that make transport easier...
03/07/2025
One of our latest innovations: Slider Drive Unit!
Our Vario Slider not only comes with improvements and new features, but also with its own drive unit!
Our i...
03/07/2025
The 360 EVO lives up to its name: 360-degree rotation not only on the pan axis, but also on the roll axis, enables filmmakers to take their creative visions eve...
03/07/2025
What a buzzing few days at BSCExpo in London!
We were thrilled to connect with so many talented professionals from the world of cinematography.
A huge thank ...
03/07/2025
ADOLESCENCE - Shot with Panther Tower"The whole rig had to be detachable mid-episode
Netflix limited drama series Adolescence has been gaining attentio...
03/07/2025
** MEDIA ALERT ** Shonen Jump Store Hosting Los Angeles Pop-up During Anime Exp...
03/07/2025
Thursday 3 July 2025
David Harewood and Matthew Broome in Mozart: Genius for Hi...
03/07/2025
The Sky WNT Fund supports Womens National Team players with a 30,000 bursaryThursday 3 July 2025
Sky Ireland has announced the four recipients of the 2025 Sky...
02/07/2025
Calrec expands ecosystem at NAB 2025 giving broadcasters access to dynamic workflows and ultimate flexibility Helping broadcasters meet the shifting needs of me...
02/07/2025
02 Jul 2025
VEON Raises USD 200 Million in Private Bond Placement Dubai, July 1, 2025: VEON Ltd. (Nasdaq: VEON), a global digital operator ( VEON ), announces ...
02/07/2025
Brand new factual series follows mechanic and self-taught engineer Dom Chinea as he makes the move of his life to the far west of Cornwall
UKTV today announces...
02/07/2025
Rohde & Schwarz acquires ZES ZIMMER Electronic Systems GmbH and expands its T&M ...
02/07/2025
Wuppertal July 2, 2025
Riedel Communications Launches RefSuite Ecosystem for S...
02/07/2025
Andrew will serve as Chair of ABC alongside his role at NED, APL Media, where he supports the executive team with strategic insight and global expansion plans. ...
01/07/2025
The launch of Code of Silence, coupled with the Britains Got Talent semi final, gave ITV its best Sunday night of 2025.
The first episode of the new crime dr...
01/07/2025
ITV and Mammoth Screen have announced the start of filming for Betrayal, a gripp...
01/07/2025
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......
01/07/2025
Vocal-processing plug-in joins NOIZ Hub series
Launched in 2024, KIT Plugins' NOIZ Hub series was created with the aim of providing a range of professio...
01/07/2025
New self-paced learning programme announced
Mastering.com have announced the availability of a new online course designed to cover the fundamentals of maste...
01/07/2025
The Traitors are coming: Get your first taste of the global hit as Season 1 of T...
01/07/2025
cetecom advanced certifies Rohde & Schwarz test solution for the verification of...
01/07/2025
RT has announced that Teresa Smith has been appointed Commissioning Editor with responsibility for Factual Entertainment following a public competition. This s...
In the second of our special features for IWD 2025 showcasing some of the women who are helping to shape the media technology industry, we meet Caroline Cooper, chief operating officer at Sky Studios
