Adam Hawkins, advisory chair of this year's Edinburgh Television Festival, has urged the UK TV industry to "embrace change" as the event prepares to move to Greater Manchester in 2027 after 51 years in the Scottish capital. Speaking to Deadline ahead of the festival's final edition in Edinburgh, the Netflix UK documentary executive acknowledged the industry remains split, with figures such as Avalon's Jon Thoday warning the relocation could be damaging given Edinburgh's overlap with the Fringe, while others argue rising costs have made the city unsustainable for many attendees.

Hawkins, who greenlit Netflix titles including Victoria Beckham and Robbie Williams documentaries, noted that basic hotel rooms in Edinburgh during August average at least $300 a night, rising to nearly $700, yet many producers still value the festival as a chance to gauge the industry's mood face-to-face. The piece also notes a possible twist: Screen Scotland has commissioned work, led by former festival creative boss Rowan Woods, exploring what a new Scottish event might look like, suggesting part of the local industry is resisting the move away entirely.