The Media Podcast with Matt Deegan

After a BBC-dominated ARIAs and with the BAFTA TV awards just around the corner, Matt Deegan is joined by host of Countdown to The BAFTAs, Alex Zane and media writer Caroline Frost to take us through it all. Also on the programme: Sky Sports cross the rubicon and broadcast 3pm matches. Disney+ looks to do fewer things better - so where are they putting all that Marvel money? All that plus we talk Eurovision controversy, why publishers are not fans of Google right now and, in the Media Quiz, we play... does it float? A Rethink Audio Production, produced by Matt Hill with support from Ollie Peart. Love our look and sound? Hire thelondonpodcaststudios.com for your next recording - and get 25% off your first booking when you use the code MEDIAPOD. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After difficult weeks for the BBC and Global, we look at why looking after your talent may help your reputation. Media news and analysis with Matt Deegan and guests media writer Maggie Brown and Deadline’s International Investigations Editor Jake Kanter. Also on the programme: as US newspapers take OpenAI to court, we look at what the Financial Times is doing differently. All that plus, we say farewell to The Reader’s Digest, discuss the changes at LBC and, in the Media Quiz, we play our most confusing game ever. Strap in. A Rethink Audio Production, produced by Matt Hill. Love our look and sound? Hire thelondonpodcaststudios.com for your next recording - and get 25% off your first booking when you use the code MEDIAPOD. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The BAFTA TV Awards are coming... and we thought we'd share this fascinating new podcast from BAFTA that explores the nominees. It's calles Countdown To The BAFTAs, and it's made by the producers of The Media Podcast (and has a few familar voices in it too). Alex Zane is your host - in this episode he reveals the documentaries in contention - what does the Spider-Man of Paris have in common with The Enfield Poltergeist? Find out as Alex is joined by TV exec Faraz Osman and foreign affairs journalist, documentary filmmaker and author Ramita Navai to discuss a challenging yet creatively ambitious year for factual production teams. The nominees discussed: FACTUAL SERIES DUBLIN NARCOS Benedict Sanderson, Claire McFall, Sacha Baveystock, Edmund Coulthard, Megan Taylor, Laura Dunne – Blast! Films / Sky Documentaries EVACUATION Production Team - Wonderhood Studios / Channel 4 LOCKERBIE Nancy Strang, John Dower, Claire McFall, Barnaby Fry, Dejan Cancar, Charlie Hawryliw - Mindhouse Productions / Sky Documentaries ONCE UPON A TIME IN NORTHERN IRELAND Production Team - KEO Films, Walk On Air Films, The Open University / BBC Two SINGLE DOCUMENTARY DAVID HOLMES: THE BOY WHO LIVED Dan Hartley, Kevin Konak, Simon Chinn, Jonathan Chinn, Vanessa Davies, Amy Stares - Lightbox, HBO / Sky Documentaries ELLIE SIMMONDS: FINDING MY SECRET FAMILY Jasleen Sethi, David Thompson, Colleen Flynn, Kathryn Jein, Nick Underhill - Flicker Productions / ITV1 HATTON Daniel Dewsbury, Paul Yoshida, Sam Bergson, Ian Davies, John McKenna - Noah Media Group / Sky Documentaries VJERAN TOMIC: THE SPIDER-MAN OF PARIS Jamie Roberts, Dan Reed - Amos Pictures / Netflix SPECIALIST FACTUAL CHIMP EMPIRE James Reed, Matt Houghton, Callum Webster, Matt Cole - KEO Films, Underdog Films / Netflix THE ENFIELD POLTERGEIST Jerry Rothwell , Al Morrow, Stewart le Maréchal, Nicole Stott, Jonathan Silberberg, Davis Guggenheim - MetFilm, Concordia Studio / Apple TV+ FORCED OUT Luke Korzun Martin, Sophie Perrins, Chibuikem Oforka, Josh Green, Tom Pullen, Richard Bond - Dragonfly / Sky Documentaries WHITE NANNY, BLACK CHILD Andy Mundy-Castle, Natasha Dack Ojumu, Rochelle Newman, Zeb Achonu, Ross Leppard, Rachael McLean-Anderson - Doc Hearts, TigerLily Productions, BFI / Channel 5 Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As broadcasters begin to announce their lineups, what will Ofcom do about Nigel Farage? Media news and analysis, this week with media writer and chair of Broadcasting Press Guild Manori Ravindran and The Media Leader’s Ella Sagar. Also on the programme: we’re in Bristol for the Creative Cities Convention and hear reasons to be cheerful from broadcaster David Olusoga and Screenskill’s Laura Mansfield. All that plus, changes at Virgin Radio, why Channel 4 is thinking beyond England.... and, in the Media Quiz, it’s American imports and exports. A Rethink Audio Production, produced by Matt Hill. Love our look and sound? Hire thelondonpodcaststudios.com for your next recording - and get 25% off your first booking when you use the code MEDIAPOD. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The BBC has been criticised this week by MPs for their plans to move production across the UK in a project, the broadcaster calls 'Across the UK'. The corporation are also planning on introducing performance related pay for some of it's top talent. Media news and analysis, with host Matt Deegan, Gold Walla's MD Faraz Osman and Kimberly Godbolt co-founder of Talented People. Joe Lycett returned to Channel 4 on Friday, launching a new series of his late night show with a publicity stunt involving fake stories in the press. The panel discuss what impact this stunt may of had on the discussion around fake news. All that plus we welcome NPR to the election cycle and, in the Media Quiz, it’s all your favourite media stats of the week. A Rethink Audio Production, produced by Matt Hill. Love our look and sound? Hire thelondonpodcaststudios.com for your next recording - and get 25% off your first booking when you use the code MEDIAPOD. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Execs from several newsrooms come together to debate how to cover the next general election in this brave new world of AI, deep fakes and partial broadcasting. Media news and analysis with Matt Deegan. We speak to Sam Woodhouse, the BBC’s Election Night Editor about the updates coming to the broadcaster’s coverage - and why some new technologies are hard to adapt to Britain’s electoral system. Katy Searle ran the BBC’s political coverage for eight years during three elections - and tells Matt why the leaders debate this year will be hotly contested by the new upstarts, GB News and Talk TV. Also on the programme: writer Alex Huson takes a look at the finances at News UK, and why book optioning is getting expensive for studios. And Professor Rob Ford tells us what the key narratives are likely to be... and when that elusive election may take place. Special thanks to James Ball and The Media Society for inviting us. Find out about future Media Society events at themediasociety.com A Rethink Audio Production, produced by Matt Hill. Love our look and sound? Hire thelondonpodcaststudios.com for your next recording - and get 25% off your first booking when you use the code MEDIAPOD. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does Channel 4 plan to run its own production arm? And how long does the BBC have in its current form? Matt Deegan is joined by Dr Jon Wardle (NFTS) and broadcast consultant Ann Charles to digest the week’s media news. Also on the programme: when the local radio market fails, can community radio fill the gap? Trevor Dann reports from Whitehall. All that plus, we look at plans to move MIPTV from Cannes to London, why The Independent had picked up Buzzfeed... and, in the Media Quiz, we ask where all the talent has gone. A Rethink Audio Production, produced by Matt Hill. Love our look and sound? Hire thelondonpodcaststudios.com for your next recording - and get 25% off your first booking when you use the code MEDIAPOD. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Deegan is in LA this week for this annual podcast industry event, talking to the great and good of the US podcast scene. Tom Webster discusses the need to persuade media buyers that podcasting is the safest bet in marketing; James Cridland returns for some updates to Spotify... and podcaster Sangeeta Pilai discusses how her focus on US audiences is reaping rewards. Meanwhile, back in Europe, Paul Robinson speaks to Radio 1 controller Aled Haydn Jones about the past year on the BBC’s youth brand. A Rethink Audio Production, produced by Matt Hill. Love our look and sound? Hire thelondonpodcaststudios.com for your next recording - and get 25% off your first booking when you use the code MEDIAPOD. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the BBC planning to take ads in the UK? We look into a curious story from The Times this week, and its implications for British audio businesses. Independent media news and analysis, with guests Alex Farber (The Times), Faraz Osman (Gold Wala) and James Cridland (Pod News). Also on the programme… The head of BBC England’s radio stations, Chris Burns, talks to us about the next phase of BBC Local’s new strategy. All that plus GB News gets rapped by Ofcom, YMU tools up with new talent... and, in the Media Quiz, we get specific. A Rethink Audio Production, produced by Matt Hill. Love our look and sound? Hire thelondonpodcaststudios.com for your next recording - and get 25% off your first booking when you use the code MEDIAPOD. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does this latest photoshop faux pas tell us about media consumers and levels of trust in the media? Matt Deegan is joined by Charlotte Tobitt (Press Gazette) and Rebecca Cooney (Broadcast) to discuss the major media news of the week. Also on the programme: The Telegraph Media Group deal is not yet done, as our Government intends to legislate to keep the titles out of foreign government hands. So is the race back on? All that plus... we look at how British TV is reacting to AI, why Newsnight could become a podcast and, in the Media Quiz, we choose our pick of the pods. A Rethink Audio Production, produced by Matt Hill. Love our look and sound? Hire thelondonpodcaststudios.com for your next recording - and get 25% off your first booking when you use the code MEDIAPOD. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Talk TV moves online and GB News reveals dire finances... we look back at the health of the start-up news channels. Media news and analysis, with Matt Deegan and guests Jake Kanter (Deadline) and Chris Lochery (Popbitch). Also on the programme… Global looks to STV’s boss to lead the company. What challenges are ahead for the UK’s biggest commercial radio group? All that plus, we discuss George Younge’s assertion that journalists may be too narrow-sighted when reporting the news? And, in the Media Quiz, we play Radio Battleships. A Rethink Audio Production, produced by Matt Hill. Love our look and sound? Hire thelondonpodcaststudios.com for your next recording - and get 25% off your first booking when you use the code MEDIAPOD. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Should we stop building studios? In the wake of the latest AI developments, that’s what Tyler Perry is doing. But is he right to do so? Media news and analysis with Jane Ostler (Kantar) and Professor Lis Howell (City University). Also on the programme… New Zealand’s challenger channel dumps news and takes the country back to 1989. And Vice closes its website - can it survive on social media alone? All that plus there’s changes at Radio 3, why VR may not be the future after all... and, in the Media Quiz, we discover the talent driving change at some established brands. A Rethink Audio Production, produced by Matt Hill. Love our look and sound? Hire thelondonpodcaststudios.com for your next recording - and get 25% off your first booking when you use the code MEDIAPOD. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Broadcasting Press Guild celebrates 50 years of service, we bring together some board members to discuss the future of the sector. Media news and analysis, with guests Caroline Frost (Radio Times) and media writer Kate Bulkley. Also on the programme… All3Media finally gets bought. why did Jeff Zucker want to purchase it for his media empire? All that plus we look at why current affairs magazines are having a blip - and, in the Media Quiz, we manifest the media headlines of the future. A Rethink Audio Production, produced by Matt Hill and Ollie Peart. Love our look and sound? Hire thelondonpodcaststudios.com for your next recording - and get 25% off your first booking when you use the code MEDIAPOD. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Superbowl was big this year. Really big... but not big enough to beat an economic crisis. We look at the issues at Paramount, with broadcast consultant Paul Robinson & media writer Scott Bryan. Also on the programme: Channel 4 pushes back against Richard Osman’s analysis of the troubled broadcaster. But who’s right? Or more right? Our panel debate. All that plus we celebrate the life and work of Steve Wright, find out why Piers Morgan is off to YouTube, check over the differing fortunes of rival newspapers... and, in the Media Quiz... we divine what’s really happening behind the scenes. A Rethink Audio Production, produced by Matt Hill. Love our look and sound? Hire thelondonpodcaststudios.com for your next recording - and get 25% off your first booking when you use the code MEDIAPOD. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Matt Deegan is joined by Senior Director of Strategy at Edelman UK, Karin Robinson and head of Radio Techcon Ann Charles. this week the BBC has announced a slate of new stations, UK broadcasters have clubbed together and a new sports offering is set to hit our feeds. The panel discuss all of this and also test their headline knowledge in The Media Quiz. A Rethink Audio Production, produced by Matt Hill and Ollie Peart. Love our look and sound? Hire thelondonpodcaststudios.com for your next recording - and get 25% off your first booking when you use the code MEDIAPOD. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on The Media Pod, Matt Deegan is joined by Gold Wala's Faraz Osman and Adam Bowie to take you through the weeks media news. This week the panel discuss the changes at Channel 4 and what the future could look like for the broadcaster. With the latest RAJAR figures released, they examine some of the headline grabbing stats and ponder what might be driving some of the falls for BBC speech radio, and of course the media quiz returns. This week it's Superbowl ads! Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s history repeating itself at The Telegraph as another government probe is launched, and the minister who commissioned it firing rounds at the BBC. Is the media industry ready for an election year? Media news and analysis with guests media writer Maggie Brown and Hannah Blake (MD, eliza.co.uk) Also on the programme: Netflix picks up WWE - but can they piledrive their way through the live stream issues? Plus, we’re at the Podcast Advertising Summit to hear the innovations coming to a pair of headphones near you. Plus in the Media Quiz... we bring truth to some old sayings. A Rethink Audio Production, produced by Matt Hill. Love our look and sound? Hire thelondonpodcaststudios.com for your next recording - and get 25% off your first booking when you use the code MEDIAPOD. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the agenda this week: the editor of the Daily Mirror quits, amid swingeing cuts at Reach. Is the paper in serious trouble? Media news and analysis with host Matt Deegan and guests Chris Curtis (editor, Broadcast Magazine), Alex Farber (Media Editor, The Times) and Charlotte Tobitt (Reporter, Press Gazette). Rob Smyth joins Matt to discuss the surge in local news start-ups, driven in part by new companies like The Lead, and why there’s hope for journalism on Substack. Also on the programme: the magic of drama - how did it become the cavalry to Mr Bates and wronged subpostmasters everywhere? All that, plus in the Media Quiz... we consider the week in news for Ed Balls, Carol Vorderman and John Oliver. A Rethink Audio Production, produced by Matt Hill. Love our look and sound? Hire thelondonpodcaststudios.com for your next recording - and get 25% off your first booking when you use the code MEDIAPOD. JOIN OUR PATREON and hear more from Rob on how local football journos are also getting into Substack, plus dozens more inspiring interviews from the past year in media. Want more Mirror talk? Check out the latest episode of The Two Matts, from The New European - listen now! Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our EIGHTH annual predictions special, Matt Deegan welcomes the UK's finest media commentators to discuss the media trends for this year - and to account for last year. On the table is the predicted growth of audiobooks, potential job cuts across publishers, the waning popularity of subscriptions, and changes in TV leadership. Did the consolidation of big streamers come to pass? And how has AI usage increased among publishers? Find out with guests Jake Kanter (Deadline), Ella Sagar (The Media Leader), Charlotte Tobitt (Press Gazette), Faraz Osman (Gold Wala), Megan Carver (Carver PR), Adam MacQueen (Private Eye), Jamie East (Daily Mail) and media writers Scott Bryan and Tara Conlan. Oh, and producer Steven D Wright is our traditional harbinger of doom. A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill. To listen to The Two Matts, The New European's weekly politics takedown, head to podfollow.com/2matts Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does All3Media have in common with The Daily Telegraph? Both may soon be in the hands of Jeff Zucker in billion dollar buyouts. Meanwhile it feels like Samir Shah is already BBC Chair, as he weighs into the latest Lineker controversy. Also on the programme: what kind of paywall is Mail Online building? And why is Future Publishing investing in critics and reviews? All that, plus in the Media Quiz... we play the only possible game we could with those Netflix stats. A Rethink Audio Production, produced by Matt Hill. Love our look and sound? Hire thelondonpodcaststudios.com for your next recording - and get 25% off your first booking when you use the code MEDIAPOD. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.