Alex Smith drops in to discuss bringing the final series of Big Boys to Channel 4, and what’s coming next for Rough Cut and the wider TV market as London prepares for its first Mip London.

Jim Waterson’s also here to celebrate the success of London Centric, his Substack newsroom for local journalism. With thousands paying for access, we’ll ask why wouldn’t journalists turn their back on legacy media?

Also on the programme: we find out why James Murdoch has been a little indiscreet, preview the first ever MIP London... and, in the Media Quiz, we look at some unbroadcastable media moments.

That’s all happening in this edition of The Media Club. Come on in!

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A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.

We record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIA CLUB at https://www.podshoponline.co.uk

What The Media Club has been reading this week:

Deadline’s MIPcom London preview

James Murdoch rare interview delivers the goods

BBC stops music radio streams internationally

News and current affairs magazine ABCs 2024

BBC begins £6.8m tender process for BBCS formats

Series of new Irish digital radio stations with ‘existing & new content offerings’ set to be launched in coming weeks

BBC asked to remove Gaza documentary over narrator’s father’s ties to Hamas

Trump jokes cut from BAFTA broadcast

Guardian signs licensing deal with ChatGPT owner OpenAI

Bauer Media launches Bridget Jones Radio pop-up station

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Channel 4 reveals their new drama slate. Heat magazine’s Boyd Hilton takes us through the ambitious line-up.

Also on the programme: as Bradford’s year as city of culture continues, Lisa Campbell joins us to talk about the upcoming Creative Cities Convention, where she has just taken over as director.

All that, plus: why Netflix might be turning to podcasts for growth, the BBC provides evidence that AI can’t summarise news stories... and, in the Media Quiz... we look at the reboots. 

That’s all happening in this edition of The Media Club. Come on in!

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A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.

We record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIA CLUB at podshoponline.co.uk

What The Media Club has been reading this week:

Get Creative Cities Convention Tickets

Channel 4's new drama slate

Chatbots Can't Summarise News Stories, BBC finds

Netflix Eyeing Up Podcasts

‘Big Mood’ Renewed For Season 2 At Channel 4

BBC Podcast ‘How Do You Cope?’ Switches To Wondery

BBC Presenter Banned from Hinge For Being Himself

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(00:42) Media Club Guest Invites: A A Dhand - Harry Virdee

(04:40) Media Club Guest Invites: Mike White - The White Lotus

(07:50) Jack Thorne New Show

(09:10) Channel 4 Announcements

(11:30) Funding for Drama

(14:38) Netflix Top 10

(15:25) AI and the News

(22:05) Netflix Video Podcasts

(30:32) Bradford Creative Cities Convention

(35:52) Pilot TV

(36:56) Best TV shows to be watching right now

(40:15) The Media Quiz

(44:57) Goodbyes

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In the club today: it’s RAJARs week - analyst Adam Bowie is here to run the numbers for the radio industry.

Also on the programme: as the BBC celebrates record viewing figures for The Traitors... what can we expect from the celebrity version? Megan Carver (Carver PR) reveals the runners and riders.

All that, plus: The Sun’s rebuilding its paywall... and, in The Media Quiz, we say farewell to some big names (for now) including Kay Burley and Richard McKerrow.

That’s all happening in this edition of The Media Club. Come on in!

Become a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at themediaclub.com

A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.

We record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIA CLUB at podshoponline.co.uk

What The Media Club has been reading this week:

Matt's and Adam's blogs on the RAJARs

The Sun launches £1.99 paywall

The Sun’s Celebrity Traitors line-up

FT policy chief warns MPs watered-down copyright regime for AI is ‘huge mistake’

ITV and All3Media owner in production merger talks

Kay Burley announces retirement

Richard McKerrow exits Love Productions

Persephonica Nabs BBC Sounds Commissioner

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(00:37) Media Club Guest Invites: Holly Walsh, Helen Serafinowicz & Barunka O'Shaughnessy - Amandaland

(01:43) Media Club Guest Invite: Naga Munchetty

(04:19) Radio Listening Figures & New Stations

(08:09) Speech Stations & Morning Radio

(10:59) Celebrity Radio Interviews

(11:54) Radio Efficiency

(13:12) Global Regional Stations Disappearing

(18:23) The Bad News from RAJAR

(22:25) The Sun's Monthly Subscription - Sun Club

(27:33) The Celebrity Traitors

(32:20) The Media Quiz

(37:09) Goodbyes

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Just as News UK wraps up its court battles... ITV announces a new drama all about them, starring Toby Jones as Alan Rusbridger. Media writer Tara Conlan tells us more.

Also on the programme: The toxic world of the comedy industry is back in the headlines - writer and broadcaster Julia Raeside joins us on the member’s sofa to discuss the last few years, and her new book, Don’t Make Me Laugh.

All that, plus: should we follow Europe’s lead and raise a broadcasting levy on streamers? 

That’s all happening in this edition of The Media Club. Come on in!

Become a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at https://www.themediaclub.com

A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.

Further Reading:

• Pre-Order Julia’s Book
• ITV commissions phone hacking drama
• 130 jobs to go at World Service
• Should there be a streamer levy? (a bit like France?)
• Superbowl Ads
• TNT Replaces Eurosport
• talkSPORT Goes FAST

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(00:30) Media Club Guest Invite: Alex Mahon

(04:30) Media Club Guest Invite: Mrs Justice Dias

(06:05) New ITV Tony Jones Phone Hacking Drama

(11:24) BBC World Service to Cut Jobs

(17:40) Next On Netflix Recap

(20:15) Budgets and Funding

(23:52) TV Licence Fee for Netflix

(27:07) Julia Raeside's New Book

(29:17) Me Too Movement in Comedy

(33:10) FFS: Video Podcast Substack

(35:25) The Media Quiz

(38:38) Goodbyes

We record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIA CLUB at podshoponline.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prince Harry settles with News Group Newspapers. Is that finally the end of the phone hacking saga? And has the press learned its lesson? Will Wood, head of PR firm Multitude Media, reflects on over a decade of trials and inquiries.

Also on the programme: could Mr Beast buy TikTok? Jake Kanter, Investigations Editor at Deadline, reflects on a week of turmoil at the Chinese social media firm.

All that, plus: what happens when a TV production loses its star talent during filming? We look at the big trouble in Big Talk’s latest show with Noel Fielding.

That’s all happening in this edition of The Media Club. Come on in!

Become a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at themediaclub.com

A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.

We record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIA CLUB at podshoponline.co.uk

What The Media Club has been reading this week:

Prince Harry settles with The Sun

Mr Beast eyes up TikTok US

Headache for Big Talk as Noel Fielding Drops Out

BBC's AI Guidelines are trailed

Netflix increases prices in North America

Alamy Bills Journalist For Posting His Own Story

Chapters

(00:00) Intro

(00:39) Guest Media Club Invites

(05:40) Prince Harry settles phone hacking case

(09:40) The tension between tabloids and celebrities

(13:45) Will newspapers change how they report on Prince Harry?

(18:50) TikTok shutdown and Mr. Beast purchase

(26:47) Trump going for media

(30:54) The BBC's policies on AI use

(35:46 Noel Fielding drops out of Dick Turpin

(42:19) The Media Quiz

(46:15) Goodbyes

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In the club today - when does Out Of London actually mean... London? Rebecca Cooney, Insight Editor at Broadcast looks at the curious row that’s dominating Scottish TV this week.

Also on the programme: wildfires across LA cause havoc for Hollywood. Karin Robinson, Senior Director of Strategy at Edelman explaisn the effect it will have on production.

All that, plus: just when it looked like David Montgomery had left the stage... has he got a new media plaything in London Live? That’s all happening in this edition of The Media Club. Come on in!

Become a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at themediaclub.com

A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.

We record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIA CLUB at podshoponline.co.uk

What The Media Club has been reading this week:

When 'Regional' Means 'London' - how The Traitors has stoked a big row over Scotland and the BBC

LA Fires impact BAFTA, Oscars and wider production

London Live to close - and is there a return for Montgomery? 

Timothee Chalamet arrives on red carpet on a Lime bike at London premiere of A Complete Unknown

The real-life Rivals: inside the TV franchise battles of the 1980s

Match Of The Day hosts announced

New Local Paper for London

Date Set For New Radio 2 Schedule

Chapters

(00:00) Intro

(00:48) Lila Shapiro & Neil Gaiman Allegations

(03:06) Jane Featherstone on Drama and AI

(04:17) Traitors Scottish Crew issue

(09:41) LA Wildfires Effects on Production

(11:26) Will Trump Support LA & California

(12:41) Will The Wildfires Effect Award Season

(14:18) Timothée Chalame Arriving on Lime Bike

(15:41) Traitors Leicester Square Billboard

(16:47) London Live Ending & Local TV

(22:03) TikTok Shutdown in the US

(24:50) Trump's Inauguration & Tech CEOs

(26:50) YouTube's Biggest News Brands

(30:44) The Media Quiz

(40:22) Goodbyes

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Meta removes fact checking from Facebook: Journalist and digital native Alex Hudson looks at what it means for news organisations.

Also on the programme: Global scraps regional radio and Bauer buys Clear Channel... and why is sport suddenly the streamers’ new focus? Broadcast consultant Paul Robinson looks at recent deals by DAZoNe and Disney.

All that, plus: Hollywood dramas in podcast form - Goldhawk Productions chief John Dryden talks about the explosion in demand for audio fiction.

That’s all happening in this edition of The Media Club. Come on in!

Become a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at themediaclub.com

A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.

We record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIA CLUB at podshoponline.co.uk

The Media Club’s stories of the week:

Meta removes fact-checkers

BBC local radio showed 'systemic failure' on night of disorder

Global Announces Nations Strategy

Bauer Buys ClearChannel Europe

Piers leaves News UK

Apple News AI Update Goes Wonky

Beast Games gets half of Squid Games’ Reach

Eastenders Goes Interactive

Chapters:

(00:00) Hello!

(00:51) Shanaz Gulzar - Creative Director at Bradford 2025

(01:50) Tony Chambers - President of Disney EMEA

(03:05) Mark Zuckerberg changes fact-checking to community notes

(08:59) Bauer buys Clear Channel Outdoor Europe

(15:08) Global ending local and regional radio

(18:25) Streaming platforms getting into live sports

(25:32) BBC projects stuck in soft green light

(28:58) Passenger List radio drama snippet

(32:21) Radio drama's journey

(37:23) Secret Marvel radio drama project

(40:05) The Media Quiz

(43:58) Goodbyes

Spotify

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The Observer becomes part of Tortoise. Charlotte Tobitt of Press Gazette is here to tell us what happens next.

Also on the programme: BBC Radio faces pushback from Ofcom over its DAB expansion plans, and The Radio Times’ Caroline Frost ponders what we have to look forward to on TV in 2025.

All that, plus: all the gossip from the British Journalism Awards, the continued de-Wallacing of TV... And, in the Media Quiz, we brush up those CVs.

That’s all happening in this edition of The Media Club. Come on in!

Become a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at themediaclub.com

A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.

We record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIA CLUB at podshoponline.co.uk

The Media Club’s stories of the week:

Observer sale confirmed - and new editor too

BBC’s DAB expansion plans on hold

Grace Dent to replace Gregg Wallace 

British Journalism Awards and Press Gazette introducing a registration wall

Bluey movie announced

Gavin & Stacey cast in Radio 2 takeover

Rowan Atkinson returns to Netflix

(00:00) Intro

(00:40) Strictly & Amazing Women in Journalism

(03:40) The Observer & Tortoise

(07:30) Guardian competition?

(09:40) Future of Masterchef

(13:34) BBC pause DAB station roll-out

(21:30) Media Concierge takeover

(25:05) Press Gazette's registration wall

(26:32) Radio Times Podcast

(27:40) Harlan Coben's Missing You

(29:06) Brian Walden and Margaret Thatcher

(30:14) Return of Bergerac

(31:23) Charlotte's rom-com hits

(32:10) The revival of TV spy action

(33:02) The Media Quiz

(38:16) Goodbyes

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TV critic Scott Bryan is here to explain the new deal between Sky and HBO, and dips into the Radio Times (old school) to divine what the Christmas schedules tell us about the health of certain broadcasters.

Also on the programme: a report suggests that GB News broadcasts half of all news stories about Muslims? TV Indie chief Faraz Osman from Goldwala tells us more.

All that, plus: from Lucy Letby to Vogue Williams, Jamie East reports back on a year of running Daily Mail podcasts.

And, in the Media Quiz, we’re off headhunting across Disney, News Corp and The Observer.

That’s all happening in this edition of The Media Club. Come on in!

Become a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at themediaclub.com

A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.

We record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIA CLUB at podshoponline.co.uk

The Media Club’s stories of the week:

Sky reaches deal with HBO

GB News broadcasts half of all Muslim news stories

Murdoch succession drama

Observer staff 'horror' at sale

Charlotte Moore reportedly headhunted by Disney

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(00:45) Ayesha Rafaele & Nisha Parti

(02:03) TV Zone

(04:07) Sky & HBO

(10:25) Muslims and GB News

(17:35) Xmas TV

(23:53) Jamie and AI Pods

(31:42) Daily Mail Pods

(33:50) Media Quiz

(42:05) Goodbye

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World of Wonder co-founder Fenton Bailey on the future of television - is there room for cable, streamers AND broadcasters? Fenton thinks so.

Also on the programme: unfinished business at the BBC. With Gregg Wallace causing all sorts of problems, have they got to grips with other thorny talent issues? Roger Bolton of Beebwatch grasps the nettle.

All that, plus media writer Maggie Brown on the TV indies partnering up in Europe, and in the Media Quiz we cover another turbulent week in newsrooms.

That’s all happening in this edition of The Media Club. Come on in!

Become a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at https://www.themediaclub.com

A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.

We record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIA CLUB at podshoponline.co.uk

Further reading:

• Gregg Wallace scandal
• Indies striking deals with international counterparts
• Roger Bolton’s Beeb Watch podcast
• Observer journalist assurances
• Dale Vince, a potential Observer buyer?
• Dylan Jones steps down from The Standard
• Ru Paul’s Drag Con
• Maggie’s Channel 4 books

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Is the golden age of UK-made TV over? We speak to Steven D Wright about his article in The Times on the matter and whether anything can be done.

Also, are you feeling festive? The editor of Campaign, Maisie McCabe gives us her view on some of the best Christmas ads out there and producer Rina Dayalji brings us the latest from the front line in factual entertainment. 

And of course, don’t forget The Media Quiz!

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A Rethink Audio production, produced by Ollie Peart and Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.

We record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIA CLUB at podshoponline.co.uk

(00:00) Intro

(00:50) Richard Brim & Martin Beverley

(01:22) Simone Pennant MBE & Joe Lycett

(02:17) Steven D Wright on TV

(18:05) ITV Sale

(24:12) Overheard

(25:08) Xmas Ads

(34:25) Quiz

(39:37) Goodbye

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