Lord Puttnam will address this year's Edinburgh television festival, covering the thorny issue of foreign ownership of UK stations.

The film producer's main theme for his Worldview Address at the Edinburgh International Television Festival will be the relationship between European and US film and television industries.

But interest is likely to centre on what he says about the draft communications bill, which would make vast changes in the regulation of broadcasting if passed.

Chris Evans is also among the speakers

There is already controversy over plans to allow foreign ownership of terrestrial television interests in the UK.

Lord Puttnam is chairman of the joint committee on the bill, something that is likely to make him the main attraction to many industry delegates.

The Worldview Address, intended to be a global perspective on the television industry, was inaugurated in 1990.

Previous speakers have included Barry Diller, chairman of cable operator USA Networks, former Sky TV head Elisabeth Murdoch, NTL chief executive Barclay Knapp. Last year Big Brother producer Endemol's chief executive John de Mol addressed the festival.

'Crucial area'

Festival advisory panel chairman Charles Brand said: "In the wake of Lord Puttnam's select committee report on the broadcasting bill there is no-one better qualified to speak on British TV's relationships with the US and the rest of Europe.

"I'm delighted that Lord Puttnam will give us his insight into this crucial area and the UK broadcasters' and producers' creative role within it."

Lord Puttnam will give his address on Sunday 25 August at 1400 BST.

Other keynote highlights of this year's television festival include Chris Evans giving the Richard Dunn Memorial Interview and Channel 4 chief executive Mark Thompson's MacTaggart lecture, which will start the proceedings.

Evans is likely to talk about his unusual management techniques, while Thompson is likely to provoke great interest as his channel passes through troubled times.