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What we do - Goals & Purpose of the RTS
Founded in 1927, the RTS has promoted the art and science of television from its very beginning.
From agenda-setting debates to our prestigious annual awards, we provide an open and prominent forum for discussion on all aspects of the industry.
As an educational charity, we are committed to widening participation in the media industries and supporting people throughout their careers. Our Bursary Schemes offer financial assistance and mentorship to low-income students, and our pioneering Mini MBA on the Business of TV and Streaming Media empowers professionals to advance their careers with affordable online learning.
RTS membership is open to anyone with an interest in TV and starts at £33 a year. Among a wide range of benefits, it grants you free access to many of our events.
We want to ensure that anyone, anywhere can share their passion and join the industry conversation. This is where our vibrant network of 14 national and regional centres come in. Run by dedicated volunteers, our centres curate their own events and awards across the UK and Ireland to spotlight local talent and explore topics of local interest.
Our annual Television Journalism, Programme, Craft & Design and Student Television Awards recognise outstanding achievements across all genres and disciplines, and on both sides of the camera.
In regular panel discussions and our tentpole Cambridge and London Conventions, we bring together media leaders, ministers, producers and policy-makers from around the world to debate the issues of the day, while Q&As with the industry’s top creatives and technologists reveal how our favourite shows get made, from Adolescence to The Traitors.
How the RTS can support you
Breaking into TV? Learn everything you need to know about your chosen craft from the industry’s most talented professionals at RTS Futures events and the RTS Student Masterclasses. Or explore career pathways at the annual RTS Futures Careers Fair, the UK’s premier entry-level training fair.
In 2013, His Majesty King Charles III launched the RTS Bursary Schemes, which offer financial support and professional mentorship to undergraduate students from low-income backgrounds. To date we have supported over 370 students, and 82% have secured employment in TV and related industries.
In 2025 we launched the RTS Mini MBA, the industry’s first ever online course on the Business of Television and Streaming Media. Harnessing the insights of over 100 industry leaders, it’s designed to plug the TV skills gap and fast track careers.
Join us
Alongside our engaged community of around 4000 full members, the Society is supported by UK and global broadcasters, producers and consultants, including Principal Patrons BBC, Sky, Channel 4 and ITV. View our Patrons here.
We were originally founded as the Television Society in 1927 after a meeting held by John Logie Baird, the renowned Scottish inventor who delivered the world's first demonstration of true television. The Society was granted its Royal title in 1966, and His Majesty King Charles III became Patron of the RTS in 1997.
Rooted in TV’s rich technical and creative heritage, the Society welcomes anyone who wants to celebrate the medium with the same passion and pioneering spirit of our founders.
Click here to find out more about joining us, or to become a patron, please email [email protected].