And what a week with Ian Katz announcing his departure from Channel 4, and the BBC tells staff that up to 2,000 roles will go in the next round of cuts. Broadcast Magazine’s Rebecca Cooney takes us through a big week in TV.

Also on the show: it’s a rare podcast to TV journey - except that the podcast was never finished. BAFTA-winning TV director Simon Draper joins us to talk about his new documentary Miriam Margolyes Made Me Me, inadvertedly telling his personal story of the commissioning slowdown in the process.

All that plus: Gary Neville buys ‘those bloody YouTubers’... Trump’s libel campaign runs aground... and in the Audio Network Media Quiz, we rise above the politics.

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

Listen or watch on Spotify:

Watch on YouTube:

Meanwhile from our sponsors…

The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network, who select the music to score the quiz each week, and they can do it for you too at audionetwork.com

Partners Podshop Studios are offering Media Club listeners 25% off their first studio booking - for 25% off, just go to podshoponline.co.uk and use the code MEDIACLUB.

And Podcast Discovery is here for all your podcast marketing needs: social video production, ad campaigns, brand glow ups and more: podcastdiscovery.com

Further reading:

Ian Katz leaves Channel 4 After 9 Years

BBC announces latest round of cuts

The BBC has launched it’s first YouTube docs

Gary Neville’s buys ‘those bloody YouTubers‘

Trump’s Libel cases fall apart

Telegraph takeover cleared

ASA rules on Lidl and Iceland junk food ads

SNL UK announces new guest hosts

Boris Johnson heading to Ukraine for 5

Scott Mills’ replacement to be a wildcard

The media landscape has been reshaped by two massive deals this week: All3Media and Banijay’s $8 billion super-indie merger, and Paramount Skydance’s victory over Netflix in the battle for Warner Bros Discovery. On the show, media writer Tara Conlan and consultant Omar Oakes break down what these seismic shifts mean for the industry, from debt mountains to creative consolidation.

We’re exploring the growing crisis in children’s television, where BBC Children’s Director Patricia Hidalgo warns that UK kids’ programming has declined 40% over 14 years while streamers produce barely 12 hours of British content annually. Also on the show, News Corp’s two-word strategy for tackling AI disruption, why gaming websites are firing journalists and replacing them with fake AI personas, and how an entirely AI-generated Epstein podcast rocketed to Apple’s top 10 in just ten days.

Plus in the Media Quiz, we discover that not everything is what it seems - testing whether shocking media stories about AI deception, financial planning scandals, and automated journalism are real or fake.

Listen on Apple Podcasts:

Listen or watch on Spotify:

Watch on YouTube:

Meanwhile from our sponsors…

The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network, who select the music to score the quiz each week, and they can do it for you too at audionetwork.com

Partners Podshop Studios are offering Media Club listeners 25% off their first studio booking - for 25% off, just go to podshoponline.co.uk and use the close MEDIACLUB.

And Podcast Discovery is here for all your podcast marketing needs: social video production, ad campaigns, brand glow ups and more: podcastdiscovery.com

Further reading:

• All3Media and Banijay to merge

• ITV deal still in contention for Banijay too

• Paramount beats Netflix for Warner Bros -

• Newscorp’s AI strategy: Woo & Sue

• BBC’s Charter Renewal Strategy

• WPP’s Advertising Intelligence Framework report

• Reach Digital Revenue Down

• Kyle & Jackie O’s $100m contract terminated

• Lovejoy To Get A Reboot

• Telegraph Censured Over Fictional Family

• Journalists Replaced By Misleading AI writers

• Epstein Podcast is made entirely by AI

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This year’s BAFTAs turned into an unexpected controversy when the BBC’s editing decisions created an uncomfortable viewing experience. Talent agent Alex Segal witnessed the Tourette incident firsthand and explains on The Media Club what really happened in the room, why the atmosphere became so tense, and how Robert Arameo made history by becoming the first person to win both Rising Star and Leading Actor in the same ceremony.

We’re diving deep into the AI revolution with Clive Dickens, who’s raising $3 million for a Meliora fund investing in vertical AI startups. From why “boring” AI companies make the best investments to how Premier League Plus is testing direct-to-consumer sports streaming in Singapore, we’re covering the tech developments reshaping media. Also on the show, why Goalhanger’s Tony Pastor thinks TV commissioners have got young audiences completely wrong, and how Substack agents are becoming the next big thing in talent representation.

Plus in the Media Quiz, we play “Slate or Fake” - London TV Screenings edition, testing whether pitched shows are real commissions or Matt’s creative inventions, from Doctor Foster’s return to Big Media Boss celebrity formats.

As is always the way, the news of Netflix dropping out of the race for Warner Bros. Discovery dropped after we recorded the show - but I’m sure it’ll be a key topic for next week. What will it mean for Netflix, will their be regulatory headwinds for Paramount Skydance and will there be a CNN-CBS News merger? Tune in next Friday!

Listen on Apple Podcasts:

Listen or watch on Spotify:

Watch on YouTube:

Meanwhile from our sponsors…

The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network, who select the music to score the quiz each week, and they can do it for you too at audionetwork.com

Partners Podshop Studios is offering Media Club listeners 25% off their first studio booking - for 25% off, just go to podshoponline.co.uk and use the close MEDIACLUB.

And Podcast Discovery is here for all your marketing needs: social video production, ad campaigns, brand glow ups and more: podcastdiscovery.com

Further reading:

• BAFTA’s Tourette Incident Derails Awards Celebrations - and Alex’s take

• Streamers to come under Ofcom’s jurisdiction

• Goalhanger chief says TV commissioners giving up on young audiences

• BBC Studios eyeing acquisitions,

• Acast says it’s conscious of ad load

• Paramount raises WBD bid to $31 a share

• ITV Studios launches Studio 55 at London Screenings

• Doctor Foster returns for final series with Suranne Jones

• Former Mail on Sunday editor gives evidence in Harry phone-hacking trial

• Variety’s Picks Of The Week

• Police media guidelines updated

Subscribe now

So, Apple Podcasts has finally joined the video revolution with a considered approach that puts creators first - but has the cavalry arrived fashionably late to the party? Daily Mail’s Jamie East explains what Apple’s HLS video format means for podcasters and why their advertising-friendly approach beats Spotify’s rollout.

We’re covering whether Sky’s pursuit of ITV still has legs after months of will-they-won’t-they speculation, why The 1% Club is quietly conquering global television markets, plus Heather Fallon has all the gossip from this year’s Broadcast Awards.

Also on the show, Prince Andrew’s arrest sending newspaper editors scrambling from half-term holidays, why opening up iPlayer to rival broadcasters makes sense, and how subscription models are becoming the future for quality journalism.

Plus in the Media Quiz, we wage war on the media landscape - testing our guests’ knowledge of industry battles through military-style dispatches.

Listen on Apple Podcasts:

Listen and watch on Spotify:

Watch on YouTube:

Introductions:

Main show:

Meanwhile from our sponsors…

The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network, who select the music to score the quiz each week, and they can do it for you too at audionetwork.com

Partners Podshop Studios is offering Media Club listeners 25% off their first studio booking - for 25% off, just go to podshoponline.co.uk and use the close MEDIACLUB.

And Podcast Discovery is here for all your marketing needs: social video production, ad campaigns, brand glow ups and more: podcastdiscovery.com

Further reading:

• Apple Podcasts embraces video (Matt’s blog post)

• SKY-ITV talks reportedly slowing

• 1% Club reaches new sales heights

• Broadcast Award winners

• Nandy Launches CMA Probe Into Telegraph Deal

• 26% of UK Now Listen to Podcasts Weekly (RAJAR MIDAS)

• WBD Gives Paramount Seven Days to Make Best Offer

• Mill Media expands to Leeds

• BBC Considers Opening Up iPlayer

• Channel 4 Brings YT Comedy Channel to Spotify

Subscribe now

Tim Davie has sent the government an ultimatum - BBC World Service funding runs out in seven weeks and drastic action is needed. Former Radio Academy CEO Paul Robinson explains what’s truly at stake for Britain’s global broadcasting reach and why this crisis has been building for years.

We’re also covering Will Lewis’s abrupt exit from the Washington Post (after slashing nearly a third of its staff), Disney striking a multi-year deal with Sky that could reshape UK streaming, and why HBO Max has finally announced its UK launch date for March.

Also on the show, the Today Programme editor’s resignation, Louis Theroux launching Mindhouse Studios, and why PG Tips sponsoring Ken Bruce’s Popmaster feels like the most British thing ever.

Plus in the Media Quiz, we enter the world of dating shows - testing our guests’ knowledge of romance reality TV, from first dates to love islands and everything in between.

Listen on Apple Podcasts:

Listen or watch on Spotify:

Watch on YouTube:

Introductions:

Main Show:

Meanwhile from our sponsors…

The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network, who select the music to score the quiz each week, and they can do it for you too at audionetwork.com

Partners Podshop Studios is offering Media Club listeners 25% off their first studio booking - for 25% off, just go to podshoponline.co.uk and use the close MEDIACLUB.

And Podcast Discovery is here for all your marketing needs: social video production, ad campaigns, brand glow ups and more: podcastdiscovery.com

Further reading:

• Tim Davie sends Govt a World Service ultimatum

• Will Lewis abruptly exits Washington Post

• Carole Cadwalladr’s message to departing WashPost staff

• Disney and Sky strike multi-year deal

• Owenna Griffiths resigns as Today Programme editor

• HBO Max UK launch date announced

• PG Tips sponsors Popmaster

• Supercast acquired by Red Seat Ventures

• New in-car campaign for European radio groups

• Zai Bennett’s Deadline interview

• Channel 4’s Golden Age of BAME Programming

• Louis Theroux launches Mindhouse Studios

• Global launches Up To Speed F1 podcast

• Goalhanger launches The Book Club

Subscribe now

The Media Club heads to Glasgow to explore how Scottish media is meeting the challenge of fragmentation. We’re joined by STV’s Bobby Hain on their audience strategy, Graham Bryce on launching STV Radio (Scotland’s first national commercial station), and Paul Sheehan from STV Studios on navigating the commissioning slowdown whilst doubling revenue targets.

We’re covering this quarter’s RAJAR results with Adam Bowie - who’s up, who’s down, and whether radio listening hours are slowly slipping below the 20 hours-per-week mark. Thanks to radio experts - a sound perspective - for sponsoring this week’s episode.

Also on the show, the BBC are planning another 6 Music spin-off station, how Scottish indies like Specky Productions and The Development Network are adapting to changing markets, and why the Time Team reboot proves legacy IP can thrive in the digital age.

Plus in the Media Quiz, we play “Media Master” - testing knowledge of the week’s media stories in Ken Bruce style, from Mark Thompson’s BBC approach to significant new podcast networks.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen or watch on Spotify:

Watch on YouTube

Part 1: STV and STV Radio

Also watch Part 2 (Scottish Indies) and Part 3 (RAJAR).

Meanwhile from our sponsors…

The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network, who select the music to score the quiz each week, and they can do it for you too at audionetwork.com

Partners Podshop Studios is offering Media Club listeners 25% off their first studio booking - for 25% off, just go to podshoponline.co.uk and use the close MEDIACLUB.

And Podcast Discovery is here for all your marketing needs: social video production, ad campaigns, brand glow ups and more: podcastdiscovery.com

Further reading:

• Washington Post announces mass layoffs

• Matt’s take on the Q4 Rajars - and Adam’s take

• Saturday Night Live cast announced

• Scottish Podcast Awards launch

• Mark Thompson buttonholed

• The Grand Tour Reboots

• Significant Productions Launched

• ITV Announce In-Game Ads For Six Nations

Subscribe now

This week in the media, we’ve had Prince Harry facing off against the Daily Mail in high-stakes court drama, Netflix earnings revealing engagement growth essentially flat despite subscriber wins, and the BBC striking landmark deals with YouTube to produce bespoke content for the platform. Plus Hearst UK implementing AI amnesty programmes for staff training, Google officially surpassing Apple in annual revenue, and Brooklyn Beckham’s explosive Instagram statement against his parents dominating entertainment coverage.

If you missed Friday’s The Media Club, I discussed the Prince Harry’s high-stakes court battle against the Daily Mail with TV critic Rhianna Dhillon and Steven D Wright, examining how both sides bring robust arguments that could make this one particularly messy. We also explored the BBC’s landmark deal with YouTube to produce bespoke content for the platform and what it means for your feed, plus Channel 4’s commercial pivot with their first in-house production chief appointment, the government’s continued interference in the Telegraph deal, and we tackled the gossip columnists in our Audio Network quiz. Have a listen (or watch).

Part 1:

Part 2:

The Media Show (21st January)

Katie Razzall examined how international media are reporting rising tensions between the US and Europe over Greenland, featuring insights from Danish political analyst Elisabet Svane at Politiken and Washington Post White House reporter Michael Birnbaum. Former BBC World Service head Jamie Angus argued that the BBC should move faster into unblockable technologies to reach people in repressive regimes, particularly as Iran has been restricting internet access for nearly two weeks. The show also explored Australia’s under-16s social media ban one month on, with Bronte Gossling from the Sydney Morning Herald reporting mixed results as the UK considers similar moves. They unpacked the media storm surrounding Brooklyn Beckham’s bombshell Instagram post about his family’s relationship with traditional media, questioning whether celebrities still need newspapers when they control their narrative through social platforms.

Listen

Media Confidential (19th & 22nd January)

Alan Rusbridger and Lionel Barber welcomed Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia and author of “The Seven Rules of Trust,” discussing how the online encyclopaedia has evolved to handle new digital challenges like bots and AI. After Elon Musk branded the site “Wokepedia” and launched Grokipedia as a competitor, they explored regulation and how to address threats from the far-right whilst rebuilding trust in an age of disinformation. They also spoke to media researchers Georgina Bourne and Justin Lewis from the British Academy, whose new report on public service media examines what the data really says about BBC reform. They discussed ensuring the broadcaster’s independence and accountability, international lessons from Germany and Scandinavia, and how to future-proof against Nigel Farage’s promises to abolish the licence fee.

Listen

Roger Bolton’s Beeb Watch (22nd January)

Roger Bolton interviewed Professor Lee Edwards from the London School of Economics and Chair of the Media Reform Coalition about the government’s green paper on the BBC’s future. Edwards argued the consultation represents a “blueprint for permanent decline,” examining proposed funding changes including a possible household levy, principles of universality and public service, and questions about government involvement in BBC governance. The discussion covered balancing public purpose with commercial pressures, the BBC’s role in local media, ideas for public engagement and accountability, and funding for the BBC World Service. Edwards provided practical advice on how listeners can respond to the consultation and join the wider debate about the corporation’s future.

Listen

Insiders: The TV Podcast (23rd January)

Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville explored Mediawan’s potential acquisition of North Road, examining the broader risks of buying creative companies built around individual talent. They discussed the BBC’s decision to commission bespoke content for YouTube, though got confused about the economics and what that signals about platform strategy, public service broadcasting, and where audiences are really heading. The conversation also covered Amol Rajan’s decision to step away from Radio 4’s Today programme, prompting wider discussion about control, reach, lifestyle, and whether you should ever “quit the hit.” Plus tales of attempts to buy BBC Three for £1 and an inability to use streaming services. I’m also sure that not knowing that C4’s streaming isn’t called All 4 or that it offers a paid ad-free version is perfectly fine for two people who run major TV production companies.

Listen

TellyCast (22nd January)

Justin Crosby spoke to Samantha Sun from ReelForce to unpack how micro drama really works – the fastest-growing scripted format in global digital video that UK producers are only beginning to understand. Sun shared her journey from early Chinese-backed micro drama platforms to producing some of the biggest-budget vertical dramas made in the UK, explaining how vertical, app-based scripted series operate commercially. The conversation covered the scale, speed and commercial potential of micro drama, how content discovery works through social media advertising, and the business models driving this new scripted economy.

Listen

The Rest Is Entertainment (20th, 22nd & 23rd January)

Richard Osman and Marina Hyde looked at Kevin Spacey’s claim of “life-threatening sex addiction” in his $80 million insurance dispute for House of Cards, the return of K-pop superstars BTS and what makes them different from American bands, and whether writers make good Traitors contestants. Marina delivered a special take on Brooklyn Beckham’s explosive Instagram statement against his parents, detailing the dire tirade about being controlled and commercially exploited by the Beckham family brand. They also looked at the secret PR war over Graham Norton’s sofa seating arrangements, examined whether the Salt Path scandal has actually changed publishing, and questioned if the Marty Supreme marketing campaign represents the greatest film promotion of all time.

Listen

The Media Odyssey (21st & 22nd January)

Evan Shapiro and Marion Ranchet looked at major media milestones. First, they provided a live earnings breakdown of Netflix’s latest quarterly results, separating headline wins from structural concerns. While revenue, profit, and subscriber figures beat expectations, deeper engagement metrics told a more cautious story, with total viewing reaching 191 billion hours annually but only up 1 billion hours half-over-half. They also looked at Google officially surpassing Apple in scale and HBO Max’s long-awaited European launch, explaining why both moments matter for platform economics, global strategy, and competitive positioning in an increasingly crowded and expensive market.

Listen

Campaign Podcast (20th & 22nd January)

Campaign’s journalists who attended the Year Ahead Breakfast Briefing at The National Gallery discussed what industry leaders predict for 2026. Martin Beverley from Ace of Hearts spoke about the importance of joy, whilst Netflix’s Ed Couchman said 2026 will be the year of fandom as consumers want more from brands. They also aired a leadership panel with CEO Dan Clays from Omnicom Media EMEA, Katie Mackay-Sinclair from Mother, and Magnus Djaba from Publicis Groupe discussing AI’s impact, structural agency shifts, and caring for people during times of change.

Listen

The Media Leader Podcast (19th January)

Jack Benjamin interviewed Martin Wooley from What’s Possible Group and Paul Phelps from AMS Media Group, co-founders of the Alliance of Media Independents (AMI). The initiative launched a year ago to share knowledge and support independent media agencies, growing to over 30 members with combined billings rivalling global holding groups. They discussed why the alliance was founded, benefits delivered to members, expansion plans, and why independents might benefit from the consolidating agency landscape. Wooley noted that half the pitches in their business are now indie-only, suggesting something fundamental has changed in the market.

Listen

The Media Voices Podcast (19th & 26th January)

Peter Rustin presented episodes from the Definitive AI Forum for Media. The first featured a panel discussion on how AI is reshaping B2B data and information companies, with leaders from LexisNexis, Lions Intelligence, Global Water Intelligence, and William Reed discussing approaches to partnering and licensing content to AI companies whilst protecting IP and value. The second episode showcased Toby Wiseman, MD for Content at Hearst UK, discussing what AI means to magazine publishers, including staff training through an “AI amnesty,” regular sessions, and crafting AI policies while maintaining that AI should be invisible and never replace human creation.

Listen

The Radio Academy Podcast (21st January)

Georgie Jameson concluded their Meet the Experts series focusing on Production Companies. The episode featured industry leaders Paul Fearnley from Audio Always, Rachel Barton from We Are Grape, Rachel Simpson from Spotify, Rebecca Maxted from Blanchard House, and Steve Rajam from Overcoat Media sharing insights and advice on having a lasting career in radio and audio production. They discussed the evolving landscape of audio content creation, business development strategies, and the skills needed to succeed in the production company ecosystem.

Listen

Podnews Weekly Review (23rd January)

James Cridland and Sam Sethi examined whether subscriptions are outpacing advertising revenue, unpacking Goalhanger’s subscription economics which show £20 million gained from premium memberships versus £2 million lost in ad revenue. They discussed the money and mechanics behind paid memberships, how platforms are reshaping podcast reach, and why quality and openness still matter. The hosts explored YouTube’s AI stance versus tool rollout, the BBC’s YouTube content strategy, and shared exclusive industry insights including major changes in podcast measurement and discovery systems.

Listen

When It Hits the Fan (21st January)

David Yelland welcomed Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty from the BBC podcast Fame Under Fire to examine how public opinion is really being shaped in dubious corners of the internet. They explored the trial of rapper Diddy, explaining how he may have actually benefited from wild social media accusations portraying him as the Devil, allowing his PR team to capitalise on the fact that prosecution evidence seemed tame by comparison. The extended edition examined how the PR world might learn from Candace Owens’ methods – however unpalatable – as she influences millions through her “personal PR powerhouse” approach of turning content into multiple revenue streams.

Listen

Mixed Signals from Semafor Media (23rd January)

Ben Smith and Max Tani interviewed Stephen Dubner, co-creator of Freakonomics and host of one of podcasting’s most enduring shows. Dubner discussed why he never sold to Spotify, how The New York Times shifted from telling readers things to telling them what to think, and his new self-funded TV experiment that’s “like laundering podcast money.” He explained how he accidentally got sucked into the Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni gossip vortex, made the case for prediction markets over pundits, and revealed why he’s considering buying a pizza place with a Michelin-starred chef who hated his soup. The conversation covered the real reason insider trading bans are absurd and why long-form podcasting isn’t dead yet.

Listen

Channels with Peter Kafka (21st January)

Peter Kafka interviewed Chuck Klosterman about his new book “Football” and what the sport’s dominance reveals about American media and culture. Klosterman explained why (American) football is a “completely mediated” experience designed for television viewing, how video games helped rewire fan understanding, and how gambling created a “fake game” sitting on top of the real one. They discussed why the concussion panic faded despite continued hits, football’s role as the biggest show on TV, and why it’s basically the only reason some networks exist. The conversation examined whether this cultural dominance will continue forever.

Listen

The Grill Room (20th & 23rd January)

Dylan and Julia spoke to co-founders Justin Smith and Ben Smith to discuss their recent $30 million financing at a $330 million post-money valuation, addressing industry scepticism and justifying the mathematics behind their events-driven media model. They rejected characterisation as purely events-focused whilst acknowledging the integrated business approach. They also broke down Netflix’s earnings and Ted Sarandos’s candid take on television’s state, plus Neal Mohan’s annual letter outlining YouTube’s AI-shaped future, examining the challenge of capturing attention in an oversaturated media ecosystem.

Listen

The Town with Matthew Belloni (21st January)

Matt Belloni interviewed Eugene Hernandez, director of the Sundance Film Festival, discussing the last year in Park City, the decision to leave Utah, and expectations for Boulder, Colorado. They shared favourite stories from years of festival attendance and examined what the move means for independent film culture. Hernandez explained the practical and cultural reasons behind relocating one of cinema’s most important festivals, plus the challenges of maintaining Sundance’s identity whilst adapting to new locations and industry realities.

Listen

On the Media (21st & 24th January)

Brooke Gladstone and Micah Loewinger provided an extended analysis of Trump’s war on the Federal Reserve, featuring economist Mark Blyth explaining why central bank independence matters and the dangers of political interference. They also explored Trump’s plans and ICE’s recruitment drive, examining surveillance technology including the mobile Fortify app that scans faces and overrides birth certificates. They revealed how ICE launched a full-throttle recruitment campaign using methods similar to selling consumer products whilst carrying out mass deportation policies.

Listen

The Business (23rd January)

Kim Masters interviewed former Viacom CEO and MTV co-founder Tom Freston about his memoir “Unplugged: Adventures from MTV to Timbuktu.” Freston reflected on his vagabond youth, the birth of MTV, and years working under billionaire mogul Sumner Redstone, sharing career highlights from shaping modern media. He weighed in on the Warner Bros succession fight, arguing that Netflix may be the legacy studio’s best-fit suitor. The conversation covered cable television’s wild west years and the challenges of building MTV during the industry’s formative period.

Listen

The Ankler Podcast (22nd January)

Elaine Low, Sean McNulty, and Natalie Jarvey explored what “Heated Rivalry” reveals about minting new stars amid the collapse of monoculture and rise of social media. They predicted 2026’s top stars, shared behind-the-scenes insights from casting directors on finding Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie plus that pivotal chemistry test, and explained how Snap is building success paths for creators. The discussion covered the latest WBD-Netflix merger saga with all-cash offers and Matthew Frank’s update on Netflix earnings calls and talk-show prediction market bets.

Listen

Spot any media podcasts we’ve missed? Reply and let us know! And if you haven’t already, subscribe to The Media Club on your favourite podcast app or catch us on YouTube. Got this forwarded to you? Then subscribe…

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This week the Semafor bosses have been doing the rounds talking about their $30m raise and valuation. There’s been more WBD chat, Prince Harry’s legal challenge of the Daily and Mail as well as general Trump machinations (as always).

If you missed Friday’s The Media Club, my guests were broadcaster Alex Zane and Conrad Withey, Chief Commercial Officer at Goalhanger. Conrad gave us an exclusive - that they had hit 250,000 paying members of their clubs. We also chatted about their business model and how the hosts’ share works too. Watch the full interview below:

The Media Show (14th January)

Katie Razzall and guests explored Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok facing investigation under the Online Safety Act for generating non-consensual images, with Ofcom launching a probe and the UK government preparing new laws to ban ‘nudification’ tools. The show featured Chi Onwurah MP and CNN’s Hadas Gold examining what this means for tech regulation. They also discussed how Iran’s recent protests sparked debate about international media coverage, speaking with BBC Persian’s Behrang Tajdin, Lyse Doucet, and Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat about reporting challenges. Plus, Phil Maguire from the Prison Radio Association reflected on building the world’s first national radio station for prisoners, and Liza Marshall, producer of the new film Hamnet, revealed how she secured the rights early before Maggie O’Farrell’s novel became a global sensation.

Listen

Media Confidential (15th January)

Lionel Barber dialled in from a cycling trip in South Africa whilst Alan Rusbridger reviewed Liz Truss’s recently launched YouTube channel, which appears rife with conspiracy theories. The pair discussed the rise of social media politics and examined the UK’s stance on online safety as Starmer suggested X could lose the right to self-regulate. They shared concerns about the potential sale of the Telegraph to the Daily Mail group, questioning whether the merger of broadsheet and tabloid values can ever work successfully. The hosts explored the ongoing tussle with tech giants and whether the government should go head-to-head with Elon Musk on platform regulation.

Listen

Roger Bolton’s Beeb Watch (14th January)

Roger Bolton welcomed Sir Max Hastings, historian and former editor of the Daily Telegraph and London Evening Standard, for a candid discussion about Donald Trump’s attack on the BBC and the roots of hostility toward the broadcaster. Hastings examined the impact of ongoing financial cuts and what the BBC should prioritise, exploring editorial challenges, leadership dilemmas, and the vital role of the World Service. The conversation covered media coverage of the Middle East and the future of public service journalism, with Hastings offering forthright reflections on where British media must go next. He revealed he’s been prevented from writing about Gaza by several major British newspapers because his views would be unacceptable. (Guests: Sir Max Hastings)

Listen

Insiders: The TV Podcast (16th January)

Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville examined the potential Banijay–All3Media mega-merger and unpacked why “independent TV” may soon exist in name only. They challenged headline claims that YouTube has overtaken the BBC, interrogating what those numbers really mean and questioning who actually pays for content in a platform-first world. The discussion covered Netflix’s all-cash play for Warner Bros and the fragile future of broadcast news, examining the economics of Sky News and Channel 4 and what happens to impartial journalism when linear television fades. They also provided an update on Trump versus the BBC, with the broadcaster set to stand firm in Florida.

Listen

TellyCast (15th January)

Justin Crosby chatted with Steve Ackerman, one of the UK’s leading audio executives and former EVP and Head of Global Podcasts at Sony Music. Ackerman discussed three decades of shaping audio, from starting in hospital radio to building Somethin’ Else into a major content studio before its acquisition by Sony. He explained why audio and video now need to work together, why podcasting is still early in its maturity cycle, how revenue models are evolving, and what traditional TV producers can learn from the creator economy. The conversation covered the new podcast economy and the convergence of traditional and digital content creation.

Listen

The Rest Is Entertainment (13th & 15th January)

Richard Osman and Marina Hyde assessed upcoming TV and film releases for 2026, debating which will hit and which will flop in rescuing the box office. They examined Ashley Tisdale’s drama-filled celebrity WhatsApp group controversy and assessed The Traitors at its halfway point, questioning if the show can get any madder with its increasingly unhinged contestants. Their second episode explored the concept of “Heated Rivalry” and why everyone’s talking about it, plus they tackled how screenwriters check they haven’t penned sci-fi faux pas and identified the hardest working actor in Hollywood.

Listen

The Media Odyssey (15th January)

Evan Shapiro and Alan Wolk, Co-Founder and Lead Analyst of TVREV, recorded their show from CES to unpack what this year’s show revealed about the future of media beyond the hype of AI demos and hardware announcements. The conversation centred on power shifts: who owns how we get information, who controls discovery, and which companies are positioning themselves as new gatekeepers. Wolk predicted media is entering a prolonged era of “feudal fragmentation” with thousands of disconnected content bubbles, marking the end of monoculture and shared cultural moments. They explored how traditional experts are losing power whilst creator-led studios emerge globally, and why sports remains the last true monoculture.

Listen

The Radio Academy Podcast (14th January)

Georgie Jameson presented another in their Meet the Experts series, focusing on Speech Audio. The episode featured Managing Editor of BBC Radio 5 Live Julie Cullen, Programme Director at Times Radio Tim Levell, Commissioning Editor for BBC Radio 4 Julia McKenzie, Head of Radio at RNIB Yvonne Milne, and Global Content Partnerships Director at Acast Sophie Herdman. The experts shared insights and advice on having a lasting career in radio and audio, discussing the evolving landscape of speech content and the skills needed to succeed in the industry. They emphasised the growing importance of video and social media skills alongside traditional audio expertise.

Listen

The Media Leader Podcast (12th January)

Justin Lebbon moderated a panel featuring three key brand marketers discussing how they view TV’s strengths compared to other audio-visual platforms. Richard Brooke, global media trading and operations director at Unilever, Sorin Patilinet, global marketing effectiveness lead at PepsiCo, and Alison Keith, formerly head of global marketing effectiveness at Kraft Heinz, explored what brands want from television and where it sits in marketing strategies versus other video platforms. They unpacked whether TV is still “cool,” if YouTube qualifies as TV, and why Unilever increased its spend on social media platforms. The conversation examined ad investment consolidation in Big Tech platforms and whether independent measurement still matters.

Listen

The Future of Media, Explained (15th January)

Dominic Ponsford examined Prince Harry’s privacy battle against the Daily Mail in what’s set to be one of Britain’s biggest ever privacy trials, with costs for both sides potentially topping £40 million. Harry has accused the Mail of commissioning burglary, phone tapping, and voicemail interception, whilst the Mail denies everything and accuses Prince Harry’s legal team of using cash payments to witnesses. Ponsford traced back to the News of the World front page in 2008 that started the war on UK tabloids and explained the questionable evidence-gathering tactics the Daily Mail believes undermine Harry’s case. He discussed why Elton John’s backing means this final legal battle is set to go the distance.

Listen

Podnews Weekly Review (16th January)

James Cridland and Sam Sethi tackled the year’s early developments, examining iHeartRadio’s addition of OpenRSS video and alternate enclosures alongside Netflix’s exclusivity versus open distribution trade-offs. They discussed Deloitte’s $5 billion forecast and attention data contradictions, plus Spotify’s dynamic video sponsorships and platform fees. The hosts explored Netflix’s deals with companies like iHeart Media for exclusive video partnerships, questioning whether these short-form strategies will succeed where others have failed. Greg Glenday from Acast joined to discuss the platform’s creator-first approach whilst the hosts examined whether twelve months from now, Netflix will abandon this strategy entirely.

Listen

When It Hits the Fan (14th January)

David Yelland and Simon Lewis examined how the discussion around weight-loss injections is subtly shifting as new research suggests that once you come off them, you put weight back on faster than traditional methods. The findings dominated news agendas, leading them to question whether the PR worm is turning on these “fat jabs.” They explored what happens when a product leaves ordinary business and becomes something talked about by everyone, emphasising the importance of looking far enough down the track to see potential pitfalls. The extended edition covered how big oil firms are dealing with President Trump and why big tech has much to learn from oil companies’ communications strategies.

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Mixed Signals from Semafor Media (15th & 16th January)

Ben Smith and Max Tani produced two episodes this week. First, they interviewed their boss Semafor CEO Justin Smith for a candid discussion about why the digital media company raised $30 million late last year and how it reached profitability in just three years. Justin and Ben reflected on lessons from earlier eras of digital media and the triumphs and mistakes Semafor made, discussing the company’s $330 million valuation and planned investments in the Gulf and East Asia. Their second episode featured Sarah Rogers, the State Department’s undersecretary for public diplomacy, discussing free speech, tech regulation, and her confrontations with European governments over X and the Digital Services Act. Rogers traced her worldview back to early internet culture and Gawker comment sections, explaining why she sees today’s speech rules as potentially dangerous.

Listen

Channels with Peter Kafka (14th January)

Peter Kafka interviewed Justin Smith, CEO of Semafor, about how the news startup figured out how to turn a profit in their third year. Smith explained that whilst excellent journalism helps, the company’s success comes from focusing on events, particularly in Washington D.C., where companies pay significant money to reach influential audiences. Kafka explored whether the Semafor playbook can adapt to media companies not oriented around the C-Suite/K Street set, examining the broader lessons for digital media success beyond the Washington insider market.

Listen

Power Lines with Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino (16th January)

Oliver Darcy and Natalie Korak examined Tony Dokoupil’s challenging first week of CBS Evening News ratings following his controversial interview with Donald Trump, suggesting Bari Weiss’ influence on the network might be backfiring. They discussed Joe Rogan breaking with Trump over ICE, comparing the agency to “the Gestapo,” whilst Laura Ingraham took a different approach, working to convince Fox News viewers that an “insurgency” is unfolding in Minnesota. The episode also covered the alarming FBI raid on a Washington Post journalist’s home, with Jeff Bezos remaining silent in defence of his newsroom, causing anger among staffers.

Listen

The Grill Room (13th & 16th January)

Dylan and Julia welcomed Jim VandeHei, co-founder and CEO of Axios, for hot takes on the industry’s biggest challenges including the media’s trust deficit, the imperative to serve hyper-targeted audiences, and how AI is writing journalism’s next chapter. VandeHei predicted a potential golden age for quality reporting provided publishers embrace AI, whilst delivering characteristically blunt assessments of The Washington Post and CBS News. Their second episode examined the controversy surrounding CBS News’ “Whiskey Fridays” with Tony Dokoupil after a set featuring a Jack Daniel’s logo leaked online, sparking debate about corporate sponsorships and journalistic integrity versus viable lifelines for a declining news industry.

Listen

The Town with Matthew Belloni (12th & 15th January)

Matt Belloni was joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to react to Sunday’s Golden Globe Awards, including cringiest corporate moments and studios that overperformed, then they discussed Paramount filing a lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery seeking more merger information and planning a proxy fight. His second episode featured Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, national executive director and chief negotiator for SAG-AFTRA, discussing upcoming negotiations with the AMPTP and the possibility of another strike. They covered what actors want in their new agreement, the state of AI disruptions, and why SAG-AFTRA is starting negotiations before other guilds.

Listen

On the Media (14th & 17th January)

Brooke Gladstone explored “Trump’s War on the Fed” and the investigation into Federal Reserve chairman, analysing the administration’s approach to the supposedly independent institution. She also looked at coverage of Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, examining his plan to reshape federal agencies and his setback in attempts to defund the consumer financial protection bureau. The shows highlighted ongoing tensions between political power and institutional independence.

Listen

The Ankler Podcast (15th January)

Elaine Low, Sean McNulty, and Natalie Jarvey examined the outrage surrounding prediction market Polymarket’s integration into the Golden Globes telecast, with critics calling it “incredibly tacky” and a “cash grab.” They traced the history of entertainment gamification and explored whether betting represents the next frontier of interactive TV, following years of harmless live-voting on shows like American Idol. The hosts analysed the money now pouring into interactive entertainment, including Amazon and FanDuel’s NBA deal, questioning whether this marks a fundamental shift in how audiences engage with television content.

Listen

Spot any media podcasts we’ve missed? Reply and let us know! And if you haven’t already, subscribe to The Media Club on your favourite podcast app or catch us on YouTube. Got this forwarded to you? Then subscribe…

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Goalhanger hit a major milestone this week, passing 250,000 paying podcast subscribers, and we speak exclusively to chief commercial officer Conrad Withey about how memberships, talent deals and fandom are reshaping the audio business. From £6-a-month clubs to Netflix partnerships, he explains to The Media Club why podcasts are starting to look a lot more like entertainment brands.

Broadcaster Alex Zane is with us to unpack why Banijay and All3Media are in merger talks, what that means for producers pitching shows, and whether ITV is at risk of being left out in the cold as the era of the super-indie accelerates. Plus, Google faces tough questions over using “free” content to train AI, and why publishers are nervous about AI Overviews swallowing their audiences.

Also on the show, Stephen Graham lands a first-look deal with Disney+, Kathy Newman leaves Channel 4 for Sky News, and Amol Rajan quits the Today programme to strike out as a creator in his own right.

And in the Audio Network Media Quiz, Grand Designers, we look at self-built media empires.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen and watch on Spotify:

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Part 1:

Part 2:

Meanwhile from our sponsors…

The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network, who select the music to score the quiz each week, and they can do it for you too at audionetwork.com

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And Podcast Discovery is here for all your marketing needs: social video production, ad campaigns, brand glow ups and more: podcastdiscovery.com

Further reading:

• Banijay and All3Media in merger talks

• Google believes it shouldn’t pay for non-paywalled content

• Stephen Graham’s prodco signs first look deal with Disney+

• Cathy Newman jumps ship to Sky News

• Interesting tie up between Global and ITV for a new lottery

• Mock The Week & Dara O’Brien return on TLC

• YouTube joins Barb - and upends the charts

• GB News Consistently Beats BBC & Sky News in ratings

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Happy New Year. Here’s what’s been happing on the media podcasts this week…

We’ve had CBS News in crisis under Bari Weiss’s leadership, the seizing of Venezuela’s Maduro sparking debate about military-media relations, Warner Bros caught in a bidding war between Netflix and Paramount, AI reshaping content discovery, and the ongoing question of who controls our information ecosystem. Plus, streaming platforms doubling down on podcast acquisitions, public service media fighting for survival, and social media politicians taking over democracy one TikTok at a time.

If you missed Friday’s The Media Club, I explored Spotify’s changes to its payments machine and Global’s acquisition of Gary Neville’s network, spoke with Thomas Curry from BBC Studios about the week’s deals, and discussed whether the government should double funding for the World Service with Rebecca Cooney from Broadcast. We also covered Virgin Radio schedule changes and Martin Clunes playing Huw Edwards in a new Channel 5 drama. Listen

The Media Show (7th January)

Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins examined how American media handled advance knowledge of the US military raid on Venezuela, with some outlets choosing not to publish until after the operation. They explored the delicate balance between national security and press freedom, comparing it to the UK’s voluntary D-notice system. The episode also tackled actors fighting back against AI scanning of their images without consent, and the government’s controversial decision to invite more influencers to Westminster press briefings whilst traditional lobby journalists expressed frustration at being treated as “print only” despite creating multi-platform content.

Listen

Media Confidential (5th, 8th, 11th January)

Alan and Lionel served up three episodes this week, starting with a Prospect Podcast rerun examining civil liberties in Britain. Their midweek edition analysed media reactions to Trump’s seizure of Maduro, featuring a documentary on investigative journalist Seymour Hersh and Alan’s life hack for escaping information bubbles through free reading. The week concluded with Sir Howard Stringer reflecting on CBS’s golden years and its current turmoil under Bari Weiss, who reportedly pulled a 60 Minutes episode from the air. Stringer discussed journalism during the Reagan administration, the network’s decline, and offered insights on handling Trump whilst lamenting missed opportunities for BBC leadership roles.

Listen

Roger Bolton’s Beeb Watch (8th January)

Roger spoke to Michael Delahaye, veteran BBC journalist and author of “After the Fall: The Battle to Save Independent Media in the Post-Soviet World.” Delahaye shared firsthand experiences supporting independent journalism across Russia and former Soviet republics, discussing the challenges of building media freedom in countries without that tradition. The conversation explored Putin’s impact, the lack of media markets, Western intervention, the BBC World Service’s significance, and the ongoing struggle for press freedom in increasingly autocratic environments.

Listen

The Rest Is Entertainment (6th, 8th January)

Richard Osman and Marina Hyde examined HarperCollins’s decision to stop publishing David Walliams’s books and explored who the UK voted as their all-time National Treasure. They also analysed Netflix’s aggressive move into podcast exclusivity, questioning why the streaming giant is making such big bets on audio content as podcasts increasingly become video-driven. Their Q&A episode tackled everything from the economics of adult entertainment to Jim Carrey’s Oscar chances, plus whether Kylie Minogue genuinely earned her Christmas number one spot.

Listen

The Media Odyssey (8th January)

Evan Shapiro and Marion Ranchet delivered their first 2026 predictions, warning that the media industry faces another brutal year of layoffs, soft advertising markets, and structural change. They predicted the AI bubble will burst whilst generative engine optimisation undermines traditional SEO-based media models, FAST channels become more crowded with lower yields, and success will depend on distribution and discoverability rather than content volume. The duo also forecast the rise of social media politicians, warning that being good at TikTok may become the only qualification for elected office.

Listen

Campaign Podcast (6th January)

Editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier spoke to deputy creativity and culture editor Charlotte Rawlings and deputy media editor Shauna Lewis to discuss adland’s new year resolutions for 2026. They explored the need to diversify media spend beyond the big three platforms (Alphabet, Amazon, Meta), citing the creator economy’s projected worth of £2.64 billion by 2030 and gaming’s 3.6 billion global audience. The conversation covered investing in journalism, ensuring craft and originality in creative work, and media agencies’ need to retain relevance as platforms increasingly work directly with advertisers.

Listen

The Media Voices Podcast (5th January)

The Publisher Podcast featured a special session from the Definitive AI Forum for Media, with a panel discussion on balancing AI efficiencies with editorial integrity. Chris Duncan moderated as media leaders explored how AI can speed up product development, journalistic research, and content distribution whilst maintaining accuracy and trust. They discussed placing humans firmly in the loop and ensuring quality trumps speed in the tension between efficiency and credibility.

Listen

Mixed Signals from Semafor Media (9th January)

Max and Ben interviewed media veteran Ryan Lizza for a raw conversation about his eight-part Substack series responding to the most personal crisis of his career. Lizza reflected on leaving Politico, burning bridges with legacy outlets, and why Substack provided the only viable platform to tell his story. He discussed the cost of going public, RFK Jr.’s involvement in what he considers the real scandal, and how this episode taught him about our changing media landscape where traditional outlets increasingly shy away from complex personal stories.

Listen

Channels with Peter Kafka (7th January)

Peter Kafka explored how Bari Weiss rose to become head of CBS News with New York magazine’s Charlotte Klein. Klein tracked Weiss’s ascent over five years from her Times resignation to David Ellison’s acquisition of The Free Press, revealing her LA exile and the mogul network that embraced her. The conversation examined why media titans across the industry love Weiss, her networking skills in Hollywood, and how timing, talent, and strategic relationship-building led to her controversial appointment atop one of America’s most prominent news operations.

Listen

On the Media (7th, 9th January)

Brooke Gladstone and Michael Loewinger presented two episodes examining media under pressure. They looked at the forgotten history of Gertrude Berg, creator of the first sitcom, in the context of today’s media precarity, then analysed a deadly ICE shooting in Minnesota alongside Trump’s threats of global expansion. The show featured Rafael Ocio Cabrisas discussing Venezuela’s media ecosystem, where independent digital outlets face blocking whilst legacy media has been wiped out, creating perfect conditions for misinformation as a weapon against democratic organisation.

Listen

When It Hits the Fan (7th January)

David Yelland and Simon Lewis explored the third golden rule of PR: don’t break the fourth wall. Using the Heathrow Airport crisis as an example, they examined how transparency can backfire when too much is revealed, such as the CEO being asleep when the airport shut down. The hosts discussed the importance of maintaining illusions in PR, comparing it to the Wizard of Oz—once the curtain is pulled back and artifice crumbles, it could mean game over for campaigns and reputations alike.

Listen

Power Lines with Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino (9th January)

Oliver and Jon dissected Tony Dokoupil’s disastrous debut as CBS Evening News anchor, cataloguing embarrassing flubs, cringeworthy social media posts, and his “both sides” approach to January 6th coverage. They examined MAGA media’s response to an ICE shooting whilst blindly parroting government talking points, Fox News cheering Trump’s Venezuela intervention, and Elon Musk’s Grok bot going off the rails by undressing women and children whilst Apple and Google remained silent. The episode concluded with Dan Bongino’s return to podcasting after his brief FBI stint, immediately attacking Matt Gaetz.

Listen

The Grill Room (6th, 9th January)

Dylan and Julia surveyed a volatile media week with help from Matt Belloni, charting Warner Bros Discovery’s bidding war between Netflix and Paramount whilst exploring what each side stands to gain. They covered Hollywood’s AI anxiety following Disney’s Sora 2 pact, YouTube’s Oscars rights deal, and the 2026 film slate. Their second episode examined Tony Dokoupil’s rocky CBS debut under Bari Weiss’s leadership, Semafor’s eyebrow-raising $330 million valuation, and the flood of AI-generated content overtaking Instagram and X. (Guests: Matt Belloni)

Listen

The Town with Matthew Belloni (5th, 7th, 10th January)

Matt delivered three episodes exploring Hollywood’s future with different perspectives. Lucas Shaw joined for burning questions about potential strikes, NFL rights negotiations affecting streaming content, and David Ellison’s movie taste as he prepares to run a major studio. Box office guru Scott Mendelson provided a comprehensive 2025 year-in-review, examining Sydney Sweeney and Timothée Chalamet’s star power, superhero fatigue versus horror’s resilience, and studio power rankings. Jeff Sagansky offered an investor’s view of 2026, predicting active M&A markets driven by cheaper debt and plentiful equity, whilst making the case for Warner Bros surviving independently.

Listen

The Business (9th January)

Kim Masters sat down with Tim Blake Nelson to discuss his wide-ranging entertainment career and his second novel “Superhero,” a black comedy about making big-budget comic book films. Nelson shared insights into Warner Bros’ ongoing sale negotiations, favouring Netflix over Paramount whilst acknowledging concerns about fewer theatrical releases. They examined how his fascination with entertainment industry machinations informed the book, whilst Matt Belloni provided updates on the latest developments in the battle for Warner Bros, including theatrical exhibitors’ protests to Congress about Netflix’s potential acquisition.

Listen

Spot any media podcasts we’ve missed? Reply and let us know! And if you haven’t already, subscribe to The Media Club on your favourite podcast app or catch us on YouTube.

This week Trump escalated his legal warfare against the BBC with his damages claim reaching $10 billion, whilst the Oscars announced their move to YouTube from 2029, fundamentally reshaping awards show distribution. Meanwhile, Instagram’s Adam Mosseri defended his platform against “AI slop” concerns as everything seemingly becomes television, Warner Bros formally rejected Paramount’s “illusory” offer despite political pressure, and Disney handed OpenAI the keys to Mickey Mouse’s vault with a billion-dollar AI partnership.

Elsewhere, Jeremy Vine celebrated his legal victory over Joey Barton’s harassment campaign, public media fought for survival across multiple continents, and the industry grappled with maintaining optimism amid relentless consolidation and technological disruption. This is Briefed, your guide to all the media podcasts.

And if you missed Friday’s The Media Club, I looked at Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC and whether the corporation can get it dismissed before legal costs spiral. Also on the show we explored the Oscars’ move to YouTube from 2029 and what it means for broadcast television with journalist Alex Hudson, plus covered DMG’s Telegraph financing with the Press Gazette’s Charlotte Tobitt and looked at the government’s BBC charter review and Warner Bros’ rejection of Paramount’s bid.

Listen

The Media Show (17th December)

Ros Atkins examined the Sydney Morning Herald’s challenge covering the Bondi Beach Hanukkah attack amid rapidly circulating bystander video and fraught community tensions. Jeremy Vine reflected on his hard-fought legal victory against former footballer Joey Barton’s sustained defamatory and harassing campaign. Media correspondent Alex Farber from The Times analysed the BBC’s newly launched charter renewal process, the debate around future funding models, and how this intersects with Trump’s $5bn lawsuit over an edited Panorama clip. The programme finished with Mengchen Zhang from the BBC’s Global China Unit explaining the rapid global rise of microdramas - ultra-short, phone-first video content attracting huge investment and reshaping viewing habits worldwide.

Listen

Media Confidential (15th & 18th December)

Alan Rusbridger and Lionel Barber hosted Zanny Minton Beddoes, editor-in-chief of The Economist, discussing how to cover far-right politics and whether reporters should ever avoid interviewing divisive figures. Minton Beddoes and Barber spoke about the backlash they each received after interviewing Steve Bannon, reflecting on the year’s biggest news stories, the “extraordinary” state of US politics, and mainstream media’s challenges covering the Trump administration. She explained how The Economist created a new AI lab and changed strategy to adapt to modern journalism consumption. They also explored Danish journalism through a rebroadcast featuring Line Vaaben, the “existential editor” at Politiken who writes about life’s complexities, including spending time embedded in palliative care wards as people took their last breaths.

Listen

Insiders: The TV Podcast (19th December)

Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville examined Donald Trump’s $10bn legal action against the BBC in Florida, questioning how the corporation might best respond. They discussed the government’s newly minted Green Paper on Charter renewal and alternatives being considered for future BBC funding, debating whether the licence fee is the worst option except for all the others. The hosts also covered Jimmy’s Christmas in Memphis, Samir Shah’s breakfast preparations, and their continued failure to secure sponsorship from the Edinburgh Woollen Mill.

Listen

TellyCast (18th December)

Justin Crosby interviewed Joe Churchill, former Digital Commissioning Editor for Branded Content at Channel 4 and now co-founder of Fan Club, a digital-first agency built around brands, creators and premium social video. Churchill explained what it really means for brands to behave like broadcasters, why owning audiences now matters more than owning formats, and how branded entertainment has moved far beyond interruptive advertising. Drawing on his Channel 4 experience, he discussed the evolution from traditional media buying to content creation and audience building.

Listen

The Rest Is Entertainment (16th & 18th December)

Richard Osman and Marina Hyde looked at Disney’s highly controversial deal with OpenAI, licensing over 200 iconic characters for the Sora 2 video creation software and questioning whether this opens floodgates for all media companies to capitulate to Sam Altman or represents naivety from the Mouse. Marina argued for more beef between Hollywood actors, discussing the greatest celebrity “drive-bys” in recent years and the cattiest Hollywood interviews of all time. In a special interview episode, Simon Cowell joined them to discuss his new Netflix talent competition “The Next Act,” engaging in a tense exchange about X-Factor, duty of care, becoming a TV villain, and Bernard Cribbins telling him to “piss off.”

Listen

The Media Odyssey (18th December)

Evan Shapiro and Marion Ranchet interviewed Raney Aronson-Rath, Executive Producer of Frontline and Editor-in-Chief of Documentaries at GBH, about public media’s fight for relevance, trust, and survival in a fractured global information ecosystem. Through Frontline’s transformation into a broadcast-plus-streaming powerhouse, they examined how YouTube, social video, theatrical releases, and global distribution have become essential tools for sustaining factual storytelling amid misinformation and declining institutional trust. The conversation revealed why public broadcasters must be everywhere audiences are without sacrificing journalistic integrity.

Listen

The Radio Academy Podcast (17th December)

The podcast featured Paul Kerensa and Helen Quigley discussing “The Truth About Phyllis Twigg,” a new BBC Radio 4 Christmas Eve drama revealing the story of the very first radio drama, which was actually a children’s programme written by a woman. They explored the process of writing and commissioning the play, examining how female firsts in radio have been wiped from history books. The discussion highlighted the collaborative relationship between writer and producer, with hundreds of emails exchanged during development.

Listen

Campaign Podcast (16th December)

Campaign’s editorial team delivered their final episode of the year, looking back over 2025’s most memorable moments including mega-deals, cyber attacks, agency renamings, new chief executives, trend cycles, redundancies, and AI developments. Lucy Shelley hosted discussions with Beau Jackson, Eszter Gurbicz and Maisie McCabe, revisiting the year’s top stories, reviewing the most talked-about figures, and identifying moments better forgotten. They also examined how brands can build stronger connections through values rather than generational targeting.

Listen

The Media Leader Podcast (15th December)

Jack Benjamin interviewed Kate Scott-Dawkins, global president of business intelligence at WPP Media, for their annual tradition unpacking the “This Year Next Year” report. Scott-Dawkins discussed the forecast of 8.8% global ad revenue growth to $1.14tn in 2025 despite macroeconomic headwinds, with further 7.1% growth predicted for next year, largely captured by tech platforms. She offered insights on the global economy’s state, downside risks for marketers including K-shaped recovery concerns, and whether AI will drive growth, plus why the UK ad market remains “pretty healthy.”

Listen

Podnews Weekly Review (19th December)

James Cridland and Sam Sethi gathered 25+ voices from Apple, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon, Acast, Adobe, Pocket Casts, Podcast Discovery, Triton, Bumper, Transistor, creators, and analysts to examine where podcasting landed in 2025 and predict 2026 trends. They revealed a medium that’s fully mainstream, proudly hybrid, and fiercely contested, examining the shift from traditional media to advertising on podcasting networks to brands creating their own media. The discussion covered AI slop concerns, women’s audio engagement, and why podcasting offers enormous engagement with long listening times compared to other media.

Listen

When It Hits the Fan (17th December)

David Yelland and Simon Lewis examined the power of optimism as a vital PR tool, exploring how authentic optimism can inspire and be infectious whilst also feeling totally out of step with people’s experiences. They analysed the tricky PR balancing act of taking people with you without making them think you’re living in a dream world, questioning why “positive spin” is almost always used pejoratively despite pessimistic PR teams being the last thing anyone wants during challenging times.

Listen

On the Media (17th & 20th December)

Brooke Gladstone and Micah Loewinger reviewed an “absolutely insane year for artificial intelligence,” examining how big tech embraced fakeness in 2025 through deepfakes, AI slop, and the erosion of truth online. They analysed Trump Media’s unexpected merger with nuclear fusion company TAE Technologies worth $6 billion, questioning why the media company would merge with energy infrastructure. The programme explored how legacy media wrote extensively about misinformation threats to democracy whilst failing to provide actionable advice beyond “don’t believe everything you read.”

Listen

Mixed Signals from Semafor Media (19th December)

Ben Smith and Max Tani interviewed Instagram’s Adam Mosseri about what the platform actually represents in 2025 and what it isn’t. Mosseri discussed Instagram’s move onto TV screens, the dominance of Reels and DMs, and whether “everything is becoming television.” He explained how the company competes with TikTok and YouTube whilst addressing whether “AI slop” poses a legitimate concern for social media feeds, demonstrating his understanding of East Coast media perspectives compared to many Silicon Valley peers.

Listen

Channels with Peter Kafka (17th December)

Peter Kafka hosted Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw for a comprehensive look at the unprecedented Warner Bros Discovery battle between Netflix and Paramount, examining why this represents a true turning point for Hollywood, streaming, and the great media/tech collision. They discussed how Trump, Middle Eastern money and antitrust regulators complicate deals, who actually needs the merger more, and what happens now that WBD has formally dismissed Paramount’s “illusory” bid. The conversation included AI versus Hollywood developments and viewing recommendations for the holiday period.

Listen

Power Lines with Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino (19th December)

Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino looked at the Vanity Fair bombshell revealing chief of staff Susie Wiles privately criticising Trump and his cabinet alongside unflattering photos of White House staff. They unpacked why Wiles went on record and what it reveals about Trump’s team. The hosts covered Fox News and MAGA media’s rare break with Trump after his shocking post blaming Rob Reiner’s murder on “TDS,” plus Warner Bros rejecting Paramount again, Ted Cruz confronting Brendan Carr, and Bari Weiss’s disappointing town hall with Erika Kirk.

Listen

The Grill Room (16th & 19th December)

Dylan Byers interviewed Andrew Ross Sorkin, founder of The New York Times’ DealBook and CNBC’s Squawk Box co-host, about his media business operations, explaining his typical day, why he prioritises quality over quantity whilst skipping the media-empire chase, and his approach to high-stakes interviews. Dylan then interviewed Orchestra CEO Jonathan Rosen and Jon Kelly with survey data capturing the media industry’s state of mind, examining subscription-based models, FAST explosion, AI’s creeping influence, plus cameo insights from Semafor’s Ben Smith and Feed Me’s Emily Sundberg about where the business is bending and breaking.

Listen

The Town with Matthew Belloni (16th, 17th & 18th December)

Matt Belloni interviewed Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw about Disney’s licensing agreement with Sora 2 and the $1 billion OpenAI investment, allowing the AI company to use Disney characters in video generation. They examined deal details, Disney’s motivations, Bob Iger’s handling of the announcement, whether other companies will follow suit, and implications for Hollywood-AI tensions. Belloni also interviewed Senator Elizabeth Warren discussing what should happen to Warner Bros, why neither Netflix nor Paramount should acquire it, and how Hollywood should survive big tech consolidation. Additionally, he spoke with Gerry Cardinale from RedBird Capital about Paramount’s superior bid over Netflix, Larry Ellison’s involvement, and next steps.

Listen

The Business (19th December)

Eric Deggans interviewed Vince Gilligan about his new series “Pluribus,” with the Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul creator explaining his first-ever bidding war experience and how a long-standing Sony partnership ultimately brought the project to Apple. Gilligan reflected on how writing episodic television for The X-Files shaped his love of serialised storytelling, and shared why he’s learning to let audiences decide what his shows mean rather than explaining everything to fans and critics. Kim Masters and Matt Belloni also examined the Academy’s decision to bring the Oscars to YouTube in 2029, unpacking the deal’s significance and what it reveals about how the industry is rethinking audience engagement.

Listen

The Ankler Podcast (15th, 18th & 21st December)

Elaine Low and Sean McNulty looked at how the tables turned on Paramount Skydance after Warner Bros Discovery’s definitive rejection, analysing the timeline for Netflix-Warner Bros merger and wild CEO payouts regardless of outcomes. Erik Barmack unpacked Disney’s $1B OpenAI investment and Bob Iger’s claim it poses “no threat to creatives.” The team remembered Rob Reiner’s “towering career” from All in the Family to his remarkable 12-year filmmaking run. They also discussed the Oscars’ YouTube move with Katey Rich, and Natalie Jarvey reviewed 2025’s creator economy winners and losers with Lia Haberman, examining how creators surged fully into mainstream media.

Listen

Spot any media podcasts we’ve missed? Reply and let us know! And if you haven’t already, subscribe to The Media Club on your favourite podcast app or catch us on YouTube.

Subscribe now

Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the BBC has ballooned to $10 billion, but is there any merit to his case filed in a Florida court? Press Gazette’s Charlotte Tobitt and journalist Alex Hudson explain why the corporation might actually want to keep fighting rather than settle, especially as the BBC prepares to launch a US paywall that could benefit from being seen as the anti-Trump broadcaster.

We’re covering the Oscars’ shock move to YouTube from 2029 (leaving terrestrial TV behind for global streaming rights), what the government’s 40,000-word BBC charter green paper actually means for the licence fee, and why the audio industry finally got a seat on the Creative Industries Council. Also on the show, Sky Q reaching the end of the road, whether cinemas can survive the Netflix onslaught, and why the metaverse maybe already exists - it’s just not Zuckerberg’s VR dream.

Plus in the Media Quiz, we play “Schedule This” - challenging our guests to pitch new TV formats for empty with a live in-person scoring by Alex from Audio Network.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen and watch on Spotify

Watch on YouTube

Meanwhile from our sponsors…

The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network, who select the music to score the quiz each week, and they can do it for you too at audionetwork.com

Partners Podshop Studios is offering Media Club listeners 25% off their first studio booking - for 25% off, just go to podshoponline.co.uk and use the close MEDIACLUB.

And Podcast Discovery is here for all your marketing needs: social video production, ad campaigns, brand glow ups and more: podcastdiscovery.com

Further reading:

• We’re Up To $10bn...

• Oscars Heading To YouTube

• Govt Launches BBC Green Paper

• Audio industry celebrates a seat on Creative Industries Council

• Telegraph money secured

• Sky Q “unplugged

• WBD rejects Paramount Skydance’s ‘illusory’ offer

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We’ve had a week where the streaming wars reached fever pitch as Paramount launched a hostile counter-bid for Warner Bros Discovery, potentially forcing Netflix into a bidding battle that could reshape Hollywood forever. The media world watched transfixed as billion-dollar deals collided with regulatory concerns, whilst Channel 4 appointed Priya Dogra as its new chief executive and Eurovision faced its biggest crisis in decades over Israel’s participation. Meanwhile, investigative journalism came under fresh scrutiny as legal threats mounted, the BBC’s future sparked debate through a major British Academy report, and Australia’s social media ban finally kicked in amid fierce opposition. Christmas advertising dominated creative discussions, whilst media mergers continued their relentless march across the industry landscape.

If you missed Friday’s The Media Club, I examined the biggest media deal in a decade as Netflix’s Warner Bros acquisition faced that Paramount counter-bid, exploring how this seismic week affects consumers and cinema-goers, hearing from indie MD Faraz Osman about the implications. We also discussed filmmaker Mike Christie’s new Nick Cave documentary and how Red Bull’s space jump transformed branded content, plus Disney’s OpenAI investment and Eurovision’s impending implosion. Listen

The Media Show (10th December)

Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins examined Hollywood’s turmoil as Netflix’s $72bn Warner Bros Discovery deal faced Paramount’s rival bid. They spoke with Natalie Jarvey from The Ankler and Dade Hayes from Deadline about the implications for beloved franchises like Harry Potter and Game of Thrones, alongside author Charlotte Henry discussing streaming’s future. Eurovision dominated another segment as the contest faces its biggest crisis in years, with countries pulling out over Israel’s participation and broadcasters debating whether to air it at all. BBC Music Reporter Mark Savage provided the latest on the unfolding controversy. The programme also featured Radio Times Brand Editor Shem Law discussing the Christmas edition’s fight to remain relevant in the streaming era, plus Alex Hern from The Economist on Meta’s shift from metaverse ambitions to artificial intelligence investment.

Listen

Media Confidential (8th & 11th December)

Alan Rusbridger and Lionel Barber hosted Franz Wild, editor-in-chief and CEO of the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, for a discussion about society’s dire need for investigative reporting and the particular character traits needed to pursue stories that might take years to develop. They explored funding models, the menacing letters Bureau editors receive, and why they refuse to be intimidated by legal threats against their journalists. In his final episode as Prospect editor, Alan reflected on his time at the magazine and compared it to his Guardian years. The pair discussed Netflix’s bid for Warner Bros, the hunt for Channel 4’s new CEO, and the murky world of content moderation.

Listen

Roger Bolton’s Beeb Watch (12th December)

Roger Bolton interviewed Professors Georgina Born and Justin Lewis, co-authors of the British Academy report on the future of the BBC and public service media. Their comprehensive study examined evidence from the UK to Scandinavia, Canada to Australia, presenting findings about what works and what doesn’t. They discussed the importance of democratic governance, the licence fee’s decline, and the urgent need for independent funding mechanisms. The conversation explored public service media’s role, threats from global big tech, governance and political independence, licence fee alternatives, the idea of a permanent charter, strategies for engaging young audiences, and developing new approaches to public service media in the digital age.

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Insiders: The TV Podcast (12th December)

Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville discussed Channel 4’s appointment of Priya Dogra as new Chief Executive, examining how her commercial background will help navigate the channel’s challenges whilst questioning her editorial vision approach. They analysed the latest twists in the Netflix/Paramount bidding war for Warners and gave themselves an early Christmas gift by watching Meghan Markle’s “With Love, Meghan” Christmas special on Netflix and The Liz Truss Show on YouTube, finding surprising commonalities between the two programmes.

Listen

TellyCast (11th December)

Sam Barcroft returned with major news as the new Group CEO of SWNS Media, the UK’s largest independent newswire. He explained how news, social video and the creator economy are colliding faster than expected and what this means for producers, brands and the entire media landscape. Barcroft broke down the future of news in a video-first world, how SWNS is reshaping itself across six companies, and why trust, truth and journalistic rigour remain paramount despite the rapid transformation.

Listen

The Rest Is Entertainment (9th & 11th December)

Richard Osman and Marina Hyde delivered a special episode focused solely on Netflix’s $72bn Warner Bros purchase, explaining why the deal represents the biggest in Hollywood history and examining whether Trump will approve it. They questioned if this marks the end of cinema for good and revealed why Marina was the only person to correctly predict the deal. Richard and Marina also answered questions about toy companies preparing sets before films are released, Tom Daly’s “Game of Wool” alternative titles, and why Apple TV’s ‘The Hunt’ was pulled from streaming, covering bad puns, plagiarism, and Lego sets.

Listen

The Media Odyssey (11th December)

Evan Shapiro and Marion Ranchet delivered their special “Predictions Wrapped” episode, grading their 2025 forecasts for accuracy. They celebrated correctly predicting YouTube’s explosive rise on CTV, Netflix’s unexpected innovation, and creator-driven cultural dominance, whilst acknowledging misses around CTV fragmentation’s slower pace. The conversation revealed the biggest forces shaping 2026: global broadcaster collaboration, a reshaped M&A landscape, a creator economy that’s become central to mainstream media, and an AI boom that’s simultaneously overhyped and quietly transformative behind the scenes.

Listen

The Radio Academy Podcast (10th December)

Broadcaster Anoushka Mutanda Dougherty discussed successfully mixing podcasting with daily reporting through her shows “Diddy on Trial” and “Fame Under Fire.” She explained her approach to cutting through showbiz hype to reveal what’s really happening behind celebrity stories, sharing insights about navigating court systems, handling disinformation, and maintaining journalistic standards across traditional and social media platforms.

Listen

Campaign Podcast (10th & 11th December)

Campaign’s editorial team examined the new Omnicom following its completed Interpublic acquisition, discussing the massive restructure including 4,000 job cuts, agency mergers, new leadership appointments and entire networks ceasing to exist. Lucy Shelley hosted discussions with Gideon Spanier, Maisie McCabe and Will Green about CEO John Wren’s vision for competing against rivals. In a special Christmas edition, creativity leaders David Kolbusz from Orchard, Chaka Sobhani from TBWA Worldwide, Richard Brim from Ace of Hearts alongside Maisie McCabe reviewed festive campaigns from John Lewis, Waitrose, Tesco, Asda, Apple and Peta, analysing the craft, creativity and ideas behind each advertisement.

Listen

TV Show & Tell (8th December)

Justin and David spoke with format development guru Ben Justice, who’s been involved with shows including ‘All Together Now’, ‘Richard Osman’s House of Games’ and ‘Bridge of Lies’. In an innovative move, Justice recently uploaded ‘The Loop’ on YouTube as a shop window for his own format. The hosts discussed the evolving relationship between YouTube and traditional television, examined how niche streaming service Dropout.tv is “changing the game,” and included a postscript about TV industry awards.

Listen

TV Makers (9th December)

Andy Mundy-Castle, founder of Doc Hearts and director of BAFTA-winning ‘White Nanny, Black Child’, joined the show to unpack the real craft of documentary storytelling and what it genuinely takes to run a purpose-led independent in one of the toughest TV markets ever seen. Mundy-Castle shared how his background and lived experience shaped his filmmaking approach: stories rooted in truth, crafted with cinematic ambition, and always led by empathy over exploitation.

Listen

The Media Leader Podcast (8th & 11th December)

Jack Benjamin interviewed The Guardian’s Imogen Fox about their “Shift Happens” research project, examining five major changes in how consumers spend their time throughout the week, including waking up earlier, maximising weekends, early Friday pub visits, and work-life balance reassessment. In a second episode produced in partnership with Roku, Benjamin spoke with Mike Shaw, director of EMEA ad sales, about the company’s commercial strategy, its position within the CTV ecosystem, retail media partnerships, measurement innovations, and how the TV market is becoming more data-led and programmatic.

Listen

The Publisher Podcast by Media Voices (8th December)

Peter Houston and Esther Kezia Thorpe delivered their end-of-year episode, highlighting favourite interviews including chats with DC Thomson’s Rebecca Miskin and Immediate Media’s Sean Cornwell about managing disruption and transformation, plus Liesbeth Nizet from Mediahuis on engaging younger audiences. They shared their outlook for 2026, predicting the industry will face further challenges before improvement, whilst examining why younger audiences pay for games and entertainment but remain reluctant to fund news.

Listen

The Future of Media, Explained (11th December)

Dominic Ponsford spoke with WP Engine director of product management Jason Konen and Bigbite CTO Jason Agnew about the future of content management. Both WordPress experts discussed how publishers are responding to falling referral traffic by making websites more immersive and community-focused. They examined AI’s role in streamlining content production and removing complexity from journalists’ workflows, debating the importance of ensuring content visibility in platforms like ChatGPT.

Listen

MediaLand (12th December)

Tim Burrowes and Vivienne Kelly delivered their final episode, looking back at the year’s major media stories and their implications for 2026 content. They covered massive media mergers, succession changes in major media families, and whether commercial radio can still afford multiple hosts per show. Producer Rob Kelly joined as a guest to discuss the industry’s transformation, from consolidation mania to Australia’s social media ban implementation and its real-world impacts on families and media consumption.

Listen

Podnews Weekly Review (12th December)

James Cridland and Sam Sethi tracked the biggest forces shaping podcasting’s future, examining Goalhanger’s network effect, the pivot to listener-based analytics, and tension between open RSS and closed “podcast” branding from major platforms. They discussed video hosting defaults, live streaming developments, and why honest metrics will determine winners. The hosts analysed Apple’s Show of the Year milestone achievements and explored how cross-promotion and cadence function as scalable growth levers.

Listen

When It Hits the Fan (10th December)

David Yelland and Simon Lewis examined Simon Cowell’s latest PR campaign piecing together publicity around his newest show to understand his attempts at staying relevant whilst offering unintended glimpses into his world. They analysed whether showing a different side benefits the music mogul’s brand, examining how he’s managed his Bad Guy persona across decades whilst adapting to changing media landscapes and audience expectations.

Listen

On the Media (10th & 13th December)

Brooke Gladstone and Micah Loewinger examined a contentious legal battle featuring celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton, exploring journalism’s evolving boundaries and First Amendment protections in the social media age. They questioned what constitutes journalism when traditional and new media intersect, particularly around celebrity coverage and legal subpoenas. In their main episode, they covered Trump’s targeting of the FTC, Supreme Court debates on presidential power, and Hollywood’s existential crisis as the Paramount v Netflix battle intensifies, questioning whether audiences ultimately lose regardless of the outcome.

Listen

Mixed Signals from Semafor Media (12th December)

Ben Smith and Max Tani interviewed comedy veteran Andy Richter, Conan O’Brien’s longtime sidekick, for an existentially funny conversation about surviving three decades in entertainment. Richter discussed becoming late night’s most adaptable performer, whether he worried about becoming “the next Ed McMahon,” why acting work has become elusive in Hollywood, late night’s decline as a cultural force, and how “Dancing With the Stars” accidentally turned him into a TikTok phenomenon.

Listen

Channels with Peter Kafka (10th December)

Peter Kafka interviewed Lachlan Cartwright, who runs the must-read Breaker newsletter and podcast covering New York media gossip. Cartwright, an Australian who started at Rupert Murdoch’s tabloids before moving to the National Enquirer during its Trump catch-and-kill era, discussed how tabloid training shaped his reporting approach, his Enquirer experiences, and why he believes there’s still business appetite for smart, deeply-inside media gossip in an oversaturated market.

Listen

The Grill Room (9th & 12th December)

Dylan Byers and Julia Alexander interviewed Yahoo CEO Jim Lanzone about the company’s transformation four years after private equity giant Apollo bought it for $5 billion—$120 billion below its peak valuation. Lanzone explained Yahoo’s growth strategy, meaningful metrics, scale monetisation, and endgame vision, plus AI ambitions and running a mass-market consumer business in a media landscape increasingly focused on niche content. They also examined Disney’s OpenAI deal pumping 200+ Disney characters into Sora for fan-generated content, analysing the WBD bidding war between Paramount and Netflix, regulatory challenges, and each company’s contingency plans.

Listen

The Town with Matthew Belloni (9th & 11th December)

Matt Belloni interviewed Peter Supino from Wolfe Research to discuss Paramount’s hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros, just days after Netflix agreed to their deal. Supino mapped out the differences in each bid and made cases for and against each bidder, covering the latest comments from David Ellison, Ted Sarandos, and Donald Trump, plus where Paramount-Skydance’s financing originates. Belloni also spoke with casting director Tiffany Little Canfield about casting major franchise roles that draw thousands of auditions, using ‘Wicked’ as an example, discussing the challenges of casting stars versus unknowns, misconceptions about the casting process, and Hollywood’s lack of young movie stars.

Listen

The Ankler Podcast (11th & 14th December)

Elaine Low, Sean McNulty and Natalie Jarvey analysed Warner Bros’ 10-day window to respond to Paramount’s hostile counteroffer, examining Jared Kushner and Middle East money backing the new bid. They discussed industry and union efforts to fight the merger, public sentiment’s role, and the business chill likely until resolution. Katey Rich reviewed the Golden Globe nominations, identifying snubs and surprises, plus how a combined HBO-Netflix would dominate awards season. In a bonus episode, Natalie interviewed creator Noah Beck and Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles about building fandom and careers beyond their primary fields through social media and new opportunities.

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Spot any media podcasts we’ve missed? Reply and let us know! And if you haven’t already, subscribe to The Media Club on your favourite podcast app or catch us on YouTube.

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Netflix has made what’s being called the biggest media deal of the decade - buying Warner Bros’ studios arm for an undisclosed sum. But Paramount isn’t taking this lying down, launching a hostile counter-bid that could reshape the entire streaming landscape. Gold Wala MD Faraz Osman joins to dissect what this seismic week means for consumers, cinema-goers, and the rest of us caught in the middle.

We’re covering how talking to filmmaker Mike Christie how he made a documentary about the enigmatic Nick Cave, why Red Bull’s space jump changed branded content forever, and how Disney’s investment in OpenAI might be the start of something much bigger.

Also on the show, Golden Globes adding podcast categories for the first time, Channel 4 poaching a new chair from Sky, and why Eurovision is having its own identity crisis.

Plus in the Media Quiz, we catch up with the media transfer window - tracking all the executive moves, departures, and surprise appointments that have shaped the industry this week.

Listen on Apple Podcasts:

Listen or watch on Spotify:

Watch on YouTube:

Meanwhile from our sponsors…

The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network, who select the music to score the quiz each week, and they can do it for you too at audionetwork.com

Partners Podshop Studios is offering Media Club listeners 25% off their first studio booking - for 25% off, just go to podshoponline.co.uk and use the close MEDIACLUB.

And Podcast Discovery is here for all your marketing needs: social video production, ad campaigns, brand glow ups and more: podcastdiscovery.com

Further reading:

• Netflix Buys Warner Bros

• Paramount’s hostile bid

• A History Of Warner Deals

• Golden Globes Inaugural Podcast Nominees Announced

• Steve Ackerman To Leave Sony Podcasts

• Emile Nawagamuwa Christmas Campaign

• Mike’s Documentary: Nick Cave’s Veiled World

• Gogglebox Goes To Hollywood

• Nigel Warner to replace John McVay at PACT

• Channel 4’s Neew CEO

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At the end of the week Netflix stunned Hollywood with an $83 billion bid for Warner Bros Discovery, fundamentally reshaping the streaming landscape in a move nobody saw coming. The deal sent shockwaves through an industry that expected Paramount to emerge victorious, whilst raising serious questions about regulatory approval under the Trump administration.

Elsewhere, PBS faced a billion-dollar funding hole, The New Yorker’s David Remnick reflected on a century of magazine publishing, and Austrian nuns became an unlikely social media sensation.

If you missed Friday’s The Media Club, we talked about Friends moving from Netflix to a likely HBO Max, Omar Oakes helped us explore agency giant Omnicom’s acquisition of Interpublic and what it means for the sector, and media veteran Maggie Brown wants Mark Thompson to come back as BBC Director General. We also looked at Acast’s new YouTube partnership and Netflix’s commissioning of Gary Lineker’s Rest Is Football for the World Cup. Listen

The Media Show (3rd December)

Ros Atkins interviewed Private Eye editor Ian Hislop for a wide-ranging discussion about satire, lawsuits, and the enduring appeal of the magazine’s irreverent take on British politics and media. The programme examined the Manchester Evening News’s decision to introduce a paywall, raising questions about local journalism’s sustainability. The show also explored whether YouTubers filming drug and alcohol use on Manchester’s streets can legitimately be called journalists, highlighting the blurred lines between traditional reporting and content creation. Football piracy dominated another segment, with analysis of how billions are being lost to illegal streaming.

Listen

Media Confidential (1st & 4th December)

Alan Rusbridger and Lionel Barber hosted documentary maker Ben Zand, founder of Zandland and co-host of current affairs podcast Untangled, who shared insights about reaching younger audiences in the podcast era and what being “authentic” means in practice. Zand offered practical advice for early-career journalists, including strategies for coping with rejection, and discussed how the democratisation of media has created new opportunities. They also tackled editorial independence and the BBC’s search for a new director general, questioning whether the current structure is fit for purpose. Post-budget analysis dominated their media roundup, with the hosts identifying which publications produced the best coverage. They paid tribute to Andreas Whittam Smith, founder of The Independent, and celebrated playwright Tom Stoppard, whose insights about journalism remain remarkably prescient.

Listen

Roger Bolton’s Beeb Watch (5th December)

Roger Bolton interviewed Jon Williams, Executive Director of the Rory Peck Trust and former foreign editor at BBC News, about the challenges facing freelance journalists worldwide. Williams explained how news organisations increasingly rely on freelancers to fill gaps left by reduced foreign correspondent budgets, making the Trust’s work more vital than ever. The discussion covered the alarming rise in journalist deaths and imprisonments globally, particularly the targeting of media workers in Gaza where at least 250 have been killed. Williams also addressed how broadcasters should handle propaganda wars and the increasing threat of lawsuits against media companies, drawing from his extensive experience at BBC News, ABC News in the US, and RTÉ.

Listen

Insiders: The TV Podcast (5th December)

Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville podcast live from the Content London TV conference, examining the intensifying pressure on BBC Chair Samir Shah following his appearance before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee. They discussed whether effective BBC leadership requires a confrontational approach in the mould of Christopher Bland or Marmaduke Hussey. The hosts answered audience questions about indie production’s future sustainability, whether legacy TV faces terminal decline, and the best approaches to developing television ideas. The episode also covered Gary Lineker’s significant Netflix deal and its implications for sports content distribution.

Listen

The Rest Is Entertainment (2nd & 4th December)

Richard Osman and Marina Hyde examined Donald Trump’s surprising endorsement of Rush Hour 4, questioning whether presidential influence over Hollywood represents a concerning erosion of the industry’s political independence, and analysed Netflix’s strategy as Stranger Things approaches its conclusion. The episode paid tribute to playwright Tom Stoppard, celebrating a literary giant whose work influenced generations. Richard and Marina also looked at why politicians willingly submit themselves to potential humiliation on Have I Got News for You, with particular analysis of what made Boris Johnson so effective on the show. They discussed whether Richard could monetise The Thursday Murder Club through product placement, examined the best on-screen animals in television history, and addressed questions about media training for celebrities.

Listen

The Media Odyssey (4th December)

Evan Shapiro and Marion Ranchet spoke with Holly Graham and Ben Arnold from Little Dot Studios to explore how modern media is rebuilding around fandom, experimentation, and platform-native storytelling. With over 1,000 channels across YouTube, FAST, TikTok, and social platforms, Little Dot has become a blueprint for building fandom and monetising digital ecosystems. The conversation covered Gordon Ramsay’s 13-year evolution into a digital-first global brand and Prime Video’s fandom-led multi-IP strategy, examining why scale, creative experimentation, and audience listening now outperform legacy programming instincts. The hosts emphasised how digital success requires trust, patience, and willingness to let creators and fans shape how intellectual property lives across platforms.

Listen

The Radio Academy Podcast (3rd December)

The podcast featured Amy Wheel from Overcoat Media and freelance producer James Bonney discussing their innovative BBC Radio 4 programme ‘A British Christmas’, which comprises entirely of WhatsApp voice notes from Christmas Day 2024. They explained the social history concept behind the show and the challenges of gathering authentic audio from across the UK to create a unique snapshot of contemporary British Christmas celebrations. The discussion explored how new technologies and communication methods are creating fresh opportunities for radio programming and documentary-making.

Listen

Campaign Podcast (2nd December)

Campaign’s editorial team assessed whether 2025 has truly been the year of independent agencies, as many predicted at the start of the year. Lucy Shelley hosted Gurjit Degun, Beau Jackson, and Maisie McCabe in examining how independent creative and media agencies have benefited from distractions caused by holding company consolidation. They analysed the launch of agencies including Ace of Hearts, Studio.One, and Baby Teeth, whilst established independents like Ark Agency and Uncharted entered their second year. The discussion covered Omnicom’s massive restructuring, job cuts across major networks, and whether independent agencies have capitalised on the resulting opportunities.

Listen

The Media Leader Podcast (1st December)

Jack Benjamin hosted both the outgoing and incoming leaders of ISBA, the advertisers’ trade body, with Phil Smith discussing his eight-year tenure and successor Simon Michaelides outlining his priorities. Smith reflected on his role in architecting Origin, the cross-media measurement service, whilst Michaelides detailed his “relevance” agenda for the organisation. The conversation covered the shifting TV market, challenges around principal media and agency-client trust, plus the rapid turnover of CMOs and difficulties they face balancing short and long-term objectives. They also discussed whether smaller businesses need their own version of Isba to navigate the advertising landscape.

Listen

The Publisher Podcast by Media Voices (1st & 4th December)

Peter Houston interviewed Rebecca Miskin, CEO of family-owned Scottish publisher DC Thomson, about “the gnarly reality of transformation” facing heritage media companies, exploring how 200-year-old family businesses can modernise whilst maintaining their essential character.

Listen

MediaLand (5th December)

Tim Burrowes and Vivienne Kelly examined Australia’s imminent social media ban for under-16s, with formal regulations kicking in on Wednesday 10th December despite ongoing legal challenges. They explored the dramatic ownership changes hitting Australian media companies this week, describing developments worthy of a Succession plotline as companies shed stock in each other. The hosts also covered the continuing “killing season” affecting broadcast industry jobs, questioning why the cuts seem particularly harsh and enduring in 2025 and what they mean for local media diversity in 2026.

Listen

Podnews Weekly Review (5th December)

James Cridland and Sam Sethi broke down the “Recap Apocalypse” across major platforms including Spotify’s Creator Wrapped, YouTube’s US-only charts, and Apple’s Replay feature, examining how these annual summaries function as growth tools for creators. They interviewed Brad Mielke from ABC’s Start Here about reaching 2,000 episodes through prioritising clarity, compelling titles, and audio-first production. The discussion covered how data meets discipline to achieve steady growth without burnout, plus analysis of various platforms’ year-end measurement approaches.

Listen

When It Hits the Fan (3rd December)

David Yelland and Simon Lewis analysed the PR battle surrounding three octogenarian Austrian nuns whose story became a global sensation. Sisters Bernadette, Regina, and Rita broke back into their convent after being sent to a care home, gaining massive social media support in the process. The Church’s response - allowing them to stay but banning their online activity - has backfired spectacularly. The hosts explained why authentic, joyful grassroots support represents the PR holy grail and why it’s almost impossible to counter once established.

Listen

On the Media (3rd December)

Brooke Gladstone examined reports that DOGE, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, had disbanded, despite media claims to the contrary. The midweek podcast explored how DOGE operatives have “burrowed into agencies like ticks,” according to sources, and what this means for government reform efforts. The episode provided context for Friday’s main show, which would feature coverage of the new Pentagon press corps including right-wing personalities Laura Loomer and former Congressman Matt Gaetz.

Listen

Mixed Signals from Semafor Media (5th December)

Ben Smith and Max Tani interviewed The New Yorker’s longtime editor-in-chief David Remnick about a new Netflix documentary examining the magazine’s century-long history. Remnick candidly discussed how a 100-year-old institution adapts to digital disruption, reflecting on nearly three decades leading the publication. The conversation covered subscription models, Max’s previous reporting about Remnick’s potential successors, and why the editor never joined Twitter. Remnick acknowledged being too slow to embrace digital media fully whilst defending the magazine’s approach to balancing tradition with innovation.

Listen

Channels with Peter Kafka (3rd & 5th December)

Peter Kafka interviewed PBS CEO Paula Kerger about the public broadcaster’s response to losing federal funding and facing a billion-dollar budget hole, exploring whether the 1967 funding model still makes sense in 2025 and how PBS can continue serving underserved rural communities. In a breaking news episode, Kafka spoke with Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw about Netflix’s stunning $83 billion bid for Warner Bros Discovery, a deal that shocked industry observers who expected Paramount to win. Shaw explained how Netflix manoeuvred into position and whether the unprecedented acquisition can survive regulatory scrutiny under the Trump administration, marking a dramatic shift for a company that historically avoided major content acquisitions.

Listen

The Grill Room (2nd & 5th December)

Dylan Byers interviewed Wired senior writer Makena Kelly to explore the intersection of politics, internet culture, and technology, discussing Elon Musk’s influential role in the Trump administration and how online fandoms can turbocharge political campaigns like Zohran Mamdani’s successful New York mayoral bid. They examined how creators are reshaping political media and the challenges reporters face maintaining objectivity. Julia Alexander and Dylan also revisited the ongoing Olivia Nuzzi-Ryan Lizza drama, questioning whether coverage has shifted from journalism into documentation of a public breakup, examining collateral damage to Substack’s structural vulnerabilities and Vanity Fair’s brand calculations. They shared Spotify Wrapped results and discussed how the platform transformed annual recaps into global marketing phenomena.

Listen

The Town with Matthew Belloni (2nd & 4th December)

Matt Belloni interviewed Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Shaw’s exclusive reporting that Netflix would continue theatrical releases for Warner Bros movies if its acquisition succeeds, debating whether to believe Netflix’s pledge and how theatrical distribution would work for a streaming-first company. Belloni also hosted Nielsen Global Media executive Brian Fuhrer to examine why NFL ratings consistently break viewership records and how sports measurement has evolved, covering whether apparent increases simply reflect better measurement of fragmented viewing habits and how traditional metrics adapt to streaming and social media consumption.

Listen

The Ankler Podcast (4th December)

Elaine Low, Sean McNulty, and Natalie Jarvey dissected the competing bids for Warner Bros Discovery from Netflix, Paramount Skydance, and Comcast, analysing which combinations make most sense for both studios and Hollywood’s health. They evaluated whether Netflix’s cash, Paramount Skydance’s Saudi backing, or Comcast’s industrial logic offers the best path forward. The hosts discussed which studio executives would be most palatable to the industry as potential leaders of Warner Bros’ television and film divisions. The episode also covered the battle between idealistic Patreon and heavyweight Substack for writers and creators, plus Richard Rushfield’s perspective on why non-Hollywood buyers might be preferable.

Listen

Spot any media podcasts we’ve missed? Reply and let us know! And if you haven’t already, subscribe to The Media Club on your favourite podcast app or catch us on YouTube.

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Friends has left Netflix and viewers are not happy - but is this the return of “windowing” as streamers retreat to their own platforms? Joining us on the podcast - Media veteran Maggie Brown and journalist and consultant Omar Oakes debate whether consumers are getting fed up chasing their favourite shows behind different paywalls. Though with news of Netflix’s Warner Bros acquisition maybe it’s only a short term departure!

We’re covering why agency giant Omnicom’s acquisition of Interpublic might not solve all its problems (scale only matters if you know what to do with it), how the next BBC Director General will likely come from outside the corporation, and why Acast’s new YouTube deal could be a game-changer for podcast monetisation. Also on the show, why Australia’s social media ban for under-16s might spread globally and how remote World Cup commentary from Salford cupboards isn’t exactly adding to the atmosphere.

Plus in the Media Quiz, we revive the Christmas Tapes tradition with 2025’s finest TV bloopers.

Listen on Apple Podcasts:

Listen or watch on Spotify:

Watch on YouTube:

Meanwhile from our sponsors…

The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network, who select the music to score the quiz each week, and they can do it for you too at audionetwork.com

Partners Podshop Studios is offering Media Club listeners 25% off their first studio booking - for 25% off, just go to podshoponline.co.uk and use the close MEDIACLUB.

And Podcast Discovery is here for all your marketing needs: social video production, ad campaigns, brand glow ups and more: podcastdiscovery.com

Further reading:

• ‘Windowing in back, big time’

• Netflix Commission Goalhanger’s Rest Is Football for World Cup

• Omnicom acquires Interpublic

• Acast announces tie-up for enhanced YouTube offering

• Content London Gossip

• YouTube growth down to older viewers

• Why the Next DG Will Come From Outside

• Fire At Radio Scotland

• BBC Plans Remote Commentary For Some World Cup Matches

• New In Our Time Host Announced

• Jungle show swearing faux pas

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We’ve had a week where the Telegraph sale took another bewildering turn with the Mail finally stumping up the cash, the BBC faced yet more uncomfortable questions from MPs whilst trying to defend the editing of the Reith Lecture, and artificial intelligence continued its relentless march through every corner of media from search engines to studio management. Plus Christmas advertising battles reached fever pitch as brands experimented with everything from four-minute rom-coms to bite-sized social clips, whilst public broadcasting on both sides of the Atlantic braced for existential political threats.

If you missed Friday’s The Media Club, I was joined by Private Eye’s Adam MacQueen to dissect the latest Telegraph sale twist and what it means for press plurality, plus Cara Kotschy from Residence Pictures explained why the UK’s studio building boom might not solve all our production problems. We also covered the BBC’s select committee grilling, the missing tax credits from the budget, and that lost Blackadder Christmas script that’s gone up for auction. Listen

The Media Show

Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins covered this week’s media earthquakes, with Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of the Culture Media and Sport Committee, former Financial Times editor Lionel Barber, and Max Goldbart from Deadline to unpack the BBC crisis in all its complexity. From Samir Shah’s increasingly precarious leadership position to the explosive resignation letter from Shumeet Banerji, they examined how deep the dysfunction runs at Broadcasting House. The conversation also tackled the editing of Rutger Bregman’s Reith Lecture to remove criticism of Donald Trump, raising fundamental questions about editorial independence. They rounded out the discussion with analysis of the Telegraph’s £500 million sale to the Daily Mail group—one of the biggest media consolidations in recent British history—and CNN’s Donie O’Sullivan joined to discuss his new documentary MisinfoNation: White Genocide.

Listen

Media Confidential

Alan Rusbridger and Janine Gibson analysed the BBC’s looming select committee appearance and speculating about potential solutions to the corporation’s leadership crisis. They also explored the implications of the Telegraph-Mail merger for Britain’s right-wing media landscape. Later in the week they featured Alan’s first-hand account of Monday’s select committee hearing, where he observed MPs failing to address the elephant in the room regarding BBC governance. With Lionel Barber back from his travels, they examined claims by historian Rutger Bregman that the BBC censored his annual lecture to remove negative mentions of Donald Trump, plus they tackled the OBR’s accidental budget leak and the ethics of reporting on government slip-ups.

Listen

Roger Bolton’s Beeb Watch

Roger Bolton’s main interview featured Dan Thomas, the Financial Times global media editor, for a wide-ranging discussion about the Sky-ITV merger talks and their massive implications for public service broadcasting. Thomas argued that this wouldn’t have been thinkable not long ago and could fundamentally reshape the entire broadcasting landscape, with huge ramifications for both the BBC and Channel 4. Bolton also podcast highlights from the Voice of the Listener and Viewer autumn conference, including a session on impartiality standards chaired by Ritula Shah with Professor Stephen Cushion, Stewart Purvis CBE, and Richard Ayre examining the recent BBC crisis and governance challenges. A separate conference panel featured Mark Damazer and Professor Stephen Barnett discussing what’s next for the BBC, explored everything from the politicisation of the BBC Board to proposals for genuinely independent appointments.

Listen

The Rest Is Entertainment

Richard Osman and Marina Hyde tackled the biggest entertainment comebacks in history across their weekly episodes. They examined Wicked 2’s box office magic in what’s been a difficult year for Hollywood blockbusters, asking whether it’s finally managed to break the curse on 2025’s disappointing figures. The duo analysed this year’s Christmas advertising war, from John Lewis to Waitrose, questioning who’s created the most memorable festive content and whether audiences actually care if ads are created using AI. They also pondered the biggest ever entertainment comebacks, charting resurrection stories from Hollywood’s golden age through to modern musical revivals, offering their typically irreverent take on which stars have managed the most impressive career turnarounds.

Listen

The Media Odyssey

Evan Shapiro and Marion Ranchet looked at a case study on the BBC Studios-YouTube partnership. They interviewed Pedro Pina, VP of YouTube in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, plus Jasmine Dawson, SVP of Digital at BBC Studios, for an in-depth exploration of how traditional media and creator platforms are rewriting international entertainment rules. The conversation revealed how BBC Studios transformed brands like Bluey, BBC Earth, and Top Gear into multi-format ecosystems using YouTube as a fandom-building hub rather than just another distribution channel. Key insights included how YouTube acts as an incremental audience driver rather than cannibalising traditional viewing, why audience-first strategy now beats commissioner-first strategy, and how BBC Studios’ “Creators in Residence” programme gives them crucial competitive advantages in platform-native thinking.

Listen

The Radio Academy Podcast

Georgie Jameson celebrated the announcement of the 2025 class of The Aiir Radio Academy 30 Under 30, sharing the surprise phone calls that revealed the exciting news to this year’s winners. The episode featured reactions from successful candidates across the industry, from senior social media producers at Baron Media in Scotland to audio producers at Bespoke Media in Edinburgh, BBC reporters, and podcast creators who’ve garnered millions of views. Ricki Lee, CEO of Aiir and sponsor of this year’s 30 Under 30, also shared insights about his own journey into the industry, providing inspiration for the next generation of radio talent making their mark across traditional broadcasting, podcasting, and digital platforms.

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Campaign Podcast

Campaign’s editorial team gathered to dissect this year’s Christmas advertising landscape, examining whether TV still reigns as the top channel for festive films in an era of multiplying formats and fragmenting audiences. The discussion covered Waitrose’s four-minute rom-com “The Perfect Gift” by Wonderhood Studios, Tesco’s multi-spot “That’s what makes it Christmas” campaign by BBH, and Disney’s holiday short by Adam&Eve/DDB. Creativity and culture editor Gurjit Degun and deputy creativity and culture editor Charlotte Rawlings joined editor Maisie McCabe to explore why brands like Tesco and M&S Fashion, Home and Beauty replaced traditional longer TV ads with series of shorter videos, whilst Waitrose bucked the trend with their extended romantic comedy approach. They examined the role of Christmas advertising in the broader channel mix alongside social media and questioned whether the evolving format signals a fundamental shift in festive marketing strategies.

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The Media Leader Podcast

Jack Benjamin sat down with Josh Krichefski, the former GroupM EMEA and UK CEO who recently joined PMG as EMEA president, to explore why he left WPP after more than a decade for an independent challenger agency. Krichefski outlined PMG’s go-to-market strategy built around transparency, consultancy, and data—explaining how their clients see all media pricing in complete transparency, a stark contrast to traditional agency models. The conversation covered PMG’s recent investment spree and talent acquisition strategy as it builds a full-service offering to challenge both holding groups and other independents. Krichefski also reflected on his tenure as IPA president from 2023 to 2025, where he championed his People First agenda focusing on industry talent acquisition and retention, and shared his views on agency consolidation and why AI represents an opportunity rather than a threat.

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TV Makers

John Comerford, Head of Naked West, lifted the lid on how iconic legacy shows like Grand Designs, Escape to the Country and Great British Railway Journeys stay relevant after decades on air. The conversation explored what it really takes to future-proof long-running television in a digital-first world, from keeping Kevin McCloud, Michael Portillo and the teams behind the cameras creatively energised to protecting the core of heritage brands whilst adapting to modern viewing habits. Comerford shared leadership lessons learned across an impressive career and explained how producers balance preserving what audiences love with the innovation needed to survive in an increasingly competitive landscape. Essential insights for anyone working in television production about maintaining creative momentum over multiple decades.

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MediaLand

Tim Burrowes and Danielle Seade examined gambling advertising regulation in Australia, exploring the political and business implications of increased restrictions on where and how betting companies can market their products. They spoke to Quentin Beresford, author of “Hooked: Inside the murky world of Australia’s gambling industry,” to discuss his investigation into gambling’s impact on daily Australian life and the industry’s resistance to tighter controls. The hosts also celebrated this week’s Walkley Awards for journalistic excellence, questioning whether journalism awards remain relevant in today’s media landscape. They covered the latest consolidation developments, including the Telegraph sale’s new twist opening doors to fresh buyers, and Warner Bros Discovery’s valuation challenges as it seeks more cash than investors currently believe it’s worth.

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Podnews Weekly Review

James Cridland and Sam Sethi tackled the crucial question of podcast measurement, explaining why download numbers alone don’t tell the full story of podcast success. They spoke to Dan Misener to explore loyalty metrics and how to diagnose whether problems stem from new listener acquisition or returning listener retention. The conversation moved beyond vanity metrics to examine people numbers, playback intent, and time spent as core indicators of genuine growth. They also discussed tactics for turning download spikes into steady, loyal audiences, whilst addressing the ongoing AI content explosion that continues to flood the podcasting ecosystem with low-quality episodes despite industry criticism.

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On the Media

Brooke Gladstone and Micah Loewinger produced two episodes exploring different aspects of media and democracy. Their main episode featured Jesse Thorn from Bullseye discussing surviving 25 years in the podcasting industry, offering insights into building sustainable public media that serves citizens rather than treating audiences as customers. Thorn articulated Bill Moyers’ vision of what public media should accomplish and argued for the essential role of publicly funded broadcasting that operates outside pure market forces. Their second episode tackled X’s overseas bot problem and featured a documentary about librarians under siege, examining how information professionals are caught in America’s culture war crossfires.

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Mixed Signals from Semafor Media

Ben Smith and Max Tani interviewed Paula Kerger, CEO of America’s public broadcaster PBS, for a conversation about public broadcasting’s existential moment. Kerger addressed the political onslaught from the Trump administration and Congress, explaining what losing federal support would mean for hundreds of local stations across America. She made a passionate case for children’s programming and sparred with Ben about broadcast television’s continued relevance in an era of proliferating media options. The discussion explored whether deeply divided societies can sustain public media, with Kerger defending the unique role of government-funded broadcasting in serving all Americans regardless of political affiliation.

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Channels with Peter Kafka

Peter Kafka hosted Tony Haile for a far-reaching discussion about the future of digital media in an AI-dominated landscape. Haile, the former CEO of Chartbeat and founder of Scroll (which Twitter acquired then killed), explained why his new company Filament represents a pivot away from traditional media into media-adjacent territory. The conversation explored what happens to media businesses built for web traffic when audiences increasingly bypass websites entirely, consuming content through AI summaries and social feeds instead. Haile shared insights from years of working with media companies of all sizes, offering a sobering but essential perspective on how AI is fundamentally reshaping the relationship between publishers, platforms, and audiences. Despite the challenging outlook, he identified glimmers of hope for media companies willing to radically rethink their approach.

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Power Lines with Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino

Oliver and Jon looked at Bari Weiss’s proposal to “redraw the lines” of acceptable debate by platforming voices like Alan Dershowitz and Dana Loesch whilst sidelining “extremists” like Tucker Carlson and Hasan Piker. They examined the problematic nature of this “both-sides-ism” approach and how it often requires amplifying individuals willing to distort facts in the Trump era. The hosts also revealed explosive new documents from the Smartmatic lawsuit showing private communications from top Fox News figures who chose ratings over facts during the 2020 election period, driven by fear of losing ground to Newsmax and OAN. They covered the ongoing fallout for Vanity Fair’s Olivia Nuzzi scandal and Donald Trump’s bizarre personal intervention to push Paramount into producing Rush Hour 4, likely due to ties with controversial director Brett Ratner.

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The Grill Room

Dylan Byers and Julia Alexander examined the blurred lines between journalists and influencers in today’s media landscape, exploring how artificial intelligence is transforming tech giants like Apple and Google. They discussed the “Substackification” of legacy media and its implications for traditional publishing models. Dylan also hosted Brian Morrissey and Troy Young from People vs Algorithms to dig deeper into the media culture war between “information entrepreneurs” like Olivia Nuzzi and Michael Wolff versus old-school journalists such as Kara Swisher. The conversation explored the rise of performative reporting, the increasingly theatrical nature of modern journalism, and whether traditional media organisations can adapt quickly enough to compete in the new attention economy where content creation and journalism continue to merge.

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The Town with Matthew Belloni

Matt Belloni sat down with legendary director James Cameron for an extensive interview covering misconceptions about Avatar franchise filmmaking, his preference for motion capture technology over traditional methods, and the true costs of CGI production. Cameron addressed whether he agrees with his reputation as a “difficult” director, discussed how the Avatar films landed at Fox/Disney, and shared his thoughts on AI’s growing threat to Hollywood creativity. The conversation also explored his relationship with Elon Musk, his deep-sea exploration work, and how pre-social media controversies around films like The Last Jedi might be handled differently in today’s environment. Cameron provided rare insights into his creative process and the business realities of making some of cinema’s most ambitious and expensive productions.

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The Business

Kim Masters interviewed writer-director Rian Johnson and producer Ram Bergman about their latest Knives Out instalment, Wake Up Dead Man. Johnson opened up about relying on his producer when panic strikes during the writing process and explained why, oddly enough, he never hit that creative wall while making The Last Jedi. Bergman detailed why he and Johnson prefer to bankroll early development themselves rather than endure studio input during the creative process. They explored the Netflix collaboration in detail—how it provides a global megaphone for the Benoit Blanc mysteries whilst offering limited theatrical runs. Masters and Matt Belloni also tackled the baffling news that Paramount will distribute Rush Hour 4 with the previously cancelled Brett Ratner back in the director’s chair, examining reporting that suggests Donald Trump personally pushed for the franchise revival.

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The Ankler Podcast

Elaine Low, Sean McNulty, and Natalie Jarvey examined how Wicked: For Good’s spectacular $150 million North American opening weekend demonstrated the power of female audiences—who made up 70% of ticket buyers—whilst highlighting how women have been largely underserved at the box office throughout 2025. They contrasted this success with the struggles of male-driven films featuring supposed movie stars like Glen Powell in The Running Man and Jeremy Allen White in Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere. Prestige Junkie’s Katey Rich joined to lay out the key storylines as the Oscar race heats up, sharing insights from voters who still haven’t seen all the contenders and explaining why Warner Bros is sitting pretty with best picture frontrunners One Battle After Another and Sinners.

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Spot any media podcasts we’ve missed? Reply and let us know! And if you haven’t already, subscribe to The Media Club on your favourite podcast app or catch us on YouTube. Got this forwarded to you? Then subscribe…

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The Daily Mail has agreed to buy the Telegraph for a cool half billion - but where exactly is Lord Rothermere finding the money? Private Eye’s Adam MacQueen, writer on the magazine’s Street of Shame column, dissects another twist in the Telegraph saga that’s been rumbling on since the Palaeolithic period.

We’re covering why the budget offered no new tax credits for film and TV (disappointing but not surprising), what the latest studio boom means for the sector, and how Michael Prescott finally faced MPs over his controversial BBC dossier. Also on the show, a lost Blackadder Christmas script goes up for auction, Dale Vince launches an eco-magazine called Babelfish, and why Global’s Stranger Things radio station has won over even the anoraks who usually hate everything they do.

Plus in the Media Quiz, we test our guests’ knowledge of underreported stories with some creative connections.

Listen on Apple Podcasts:

Listen and watch on Spotify:

Watch on YouTube:

Meanwhile from our sponsors…

The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network, who select the music to score the quiz each week, and they can do it for you too at audionetwork.com

Partners Podshop Studios is offering Media Club listeners 25% off their first studio booking - for 25% off, just go to podshoponline.co.uk and use the close MEDIACLUB.

And Podcast Discovery is here for all your marketing needs: social video production, ad campaigns, brand glow ups and more: podcastdiscovery.com

Further reading:

• Mail agrees to buy the Telegraph

• BBC at CMS Select Committee

• Deadline on the lack of tax credits in the budget

• Bid For The Blackadder Chrismas Special That Never Was

• Marlow Film Studios approved

• Trump Secures Rush Hour 4

• Dale Vince’s Newspaper

• Stranger Things Gets The Pop Up Radio Treatment

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We’ve had a week where BBC director general speculation reached fever pitch, Donald Trump escalated his legal threats to £5 billion, and long-buried secrets about Princess Diana’s Panorama interview came roaring back into the spotlight. Between Disney’s AI content experiments, Shawn Levy juggling Star Wars and Stranger Things whilst lamenting Hollywood’s painful contraction, and the Warner Bros Discovery bidding war reaching its midnight hour, it’s been another week that perfectly captures our industry’s existential crisis.

Add vertical drama revolutionising storytelling, the Philadelphia Eagles turning sports fandom into a cinematic universe, Supreme Court leaks becoming journalism gold, and Olivia Nuzzi’s scandal rocking Vanity Fair, and you’ve got the sort of seven days that reminds you why media remains the most unpredictable and unforgiving business on earth.

If you missed Thursday’s The Media Club, I headed off to Salford to speak to Stuart Morgan from Audio Always and Cat Lewis from Nine Lives Media to examine Disney’s AI gamble on user-generated content, Trump’s escalation against the BBC to £5 billion in damages, and how BBC suppliers feel how the crisis is affecting their businesses.

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The Media Show (19th November)

Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins tackled the BBC’s escalating crisis with Donald Trump now threatening multi-billion dollar lawsuits. They interviewed Conservative peer Baroness Tina Stowell, Sunday Times media editor Rosamund Urwin, Boom Radio co-founder Phil Riley, and most notably Jordan Schwarzenberger, co-founder of Arcade Media and manager of The Sidemen. Schwarzenberger’s insights were particularly sharp: Gen Z won’t pay the licence fee, and the BBC needs creator-led, platform-savvy leadership to compete in a decentralised media world. Meanwhile, Ben Winston joined to discuss his latest Netflix project with Ed Sheeran, filmed entirely in one take.

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Media Confidential (17th & 20th November)

Alan Rusbridger and Janine Gibson spent another week dissecting the BBC’s future. First, they examined potential candidates for the top job in British media, with speculation ranging from Carolyn McCall to various BBC veterans. Their second episode featured New York Times lead newsroom lawyer David McCraw, exploring how big lawsuits are weaponised to capture headlines and apply pressure. McCraw’s advice to the BBC was clear: don’t settle, as doing so only invites more threats.

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Roger Bolton’s Beeb Watch (20th November)

Roger Bolton spoke to Andy Webb, author of “Dianarama: The Betrayal of Princess Diana,” for a devastating examination of the BBC’s role in the Princess Diana saga. Webb’s years-long investigation into the Panorama interview revealed the controversial methods used by Martin Bashir and ongoing questions about BBC accountability. His most shocking assertion: Diana might be alive today—64 years old, grandmother of five—had the BBC told her what they knew in April 1996. The conversation highlighted significant challenges accessing BBC archives whilst pursuing the full story of institutional cover-ups.

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Insiders: The TV Podcast (21st November)

Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville discussed the BBC’s legal standoff with Trump, questioning whether the Culture Secretary’s suggestion that the next DG should have news background is the right lesson from this crisis. They also examined Sky’s bid for ITV’s broadcast business, noting that whilst the business case might be compelling, consolidation inevitably means fewer customers for independent producers.

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TellyCast (20th November)

Justin Crosby recorded live from the TellyCast Digital Content Forum with a panel examining whether vertical video drama represents a passing craze or the future of storytelling. Spirit Studios’ Matt Campion, TheSoul Group’s Victor Potrel, and writer-director-producer Katharina Gellein Viken unpacked the micro drama boom, from funding and distribution to audience behaviour. The discussion revealed how platforms are adapting to vertical consumption whilst traditional producers scramble to understand this fundamentally different storytelling format.

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The Rest Is Entertainment (18th, 19th & 20th November)

Richard Osman and Marina Hyde examined I’m a Celebrity booking secrets, including which leading Labour politician almost ended up in the jungle and Sky’s potential £1 billion acquisition of ITV’s broadcasting arm. Their MTV retrospective explored how a ragtag team of VJs upended the music industry in 1981, whilst their interview with BBC Chief Content Officer Kate Phillips provided insights into Strictly’s future, The Traitors’ success, and how the corporation plans to engage younger audiences increasingly turning away from traditional broadcast media.

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The Media Odyssey (20th November)

Evan Shapiro and Marion Ranchet spoke to Philadelphia Eagles SVP of Marketing and Media Jen Kavanaugh for a masterclass in modern sports fandom. Kavanaugh revealed how the Eagles have transformed their locker room into a lovable ensemble cast, building a “cinematic universe” that rivals scripted series. With over 1 million YouTube hours watched this season, female fans reshaping the sport, and global expansion through cultural touchpoints beyond football, the Eagles demonstrate how successful brands build deep emotional ecosystems that keep fans engaged even during losing seasons.

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The Radio Academy Podcast (19th November)

Georgie Jameson spoke with Ahmed Hussain, head of BBC Asian Network, about the station’s evolution since he took over in 2020. The conversation focused on their new speech and current affairs show “Asian Network Trending,” which addresses issues that matter to their audiences but might not be covered elsewhere in the BBC or wider media. Hussain explained how the station has become a launching pad for talent who then move into wider BBC roles, demonstrating the importance of diverse programming in the corporation’s ecosystem.

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Campaign Podcast (18th November)

Lucy Shelley and the editorial team examined how Less Healthy Food restrictions are impacting Christmas advertising and beyond. With creativity editor Gurjit Degun, deputy editor Charlotte Rawlings, and media editor Beau Jackson, they explored how brands are navigating the voluntary period banning high fat, salt and sugar foods from TV and online ads. The conversation revealed how restrictions are reshaping creative campaigns and media planning, with brands finding creative workarounds whilst preparing for mandatory compliance from January 2026.

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The Media Leader Podcast (17th November)

Jack Benjamin interviewed MediaSense’s chief strategy officer Ryan Kangisser to discuss their latest report “The Future of Media Organisations,” based on responses from companies representing $52 billion in annual media spend. The research revealed that media is becoming less siloed, emerging as a key way to connect disparate marketing functions from creative to brand strategy. Kangisser’s insights into how brands are reorganising as media evolves and why “full-service thinking” matters more than “full-service doing” provided a roadmap for agencies adapting to this new landscape.

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The Future of Media, Explained (20th November)

Charlotte Tobitt interviewed Forbes CEO Sherry Phillips about how the business brand has changed strategy in response to massive shifts in Google’s traffic referral patterns. Phillips explained how Forbes is moving away from servicing the digital ecosystem that’s “evaporating quite quickly” and returning to core communities and editorial journalism. The conversation provided crucial insights into how legacy publishers are adapting to the post-search era whilst protecting their editorial integrity.

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MediaLand (21st November)

Tim Burrowes and Vivienne Kelly looked at whistleblowing protections with Dr Rebecca Ananian-Welsh from the University of Queensland, examining how proposed federal reforms might not provide adequate safeguards for those wanting to hold power accountable. They also covered E-Safety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant being summoned to Washington, ABC’s 2026 content showcase, and another tough week for Nine staff as broadcast division heads promise to “squeeze” more from their beleaguered departments.

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Podnews Weekly Review (21st November)

James Cridland and Sam Sethi looked at three major hosting developments hitting simultaneously: Riverside adding hosting to its recording suite, RSS.com launching a true free plan, and PodToo Cloud targeting developers with storage and analytics. They spoke with Kendall Brietman from Riverside about their all-in-one workflow promise and Russell Harrower from PodToo about their S3-compatible stack.

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When It Hits the Fan (19th November)

David Yelland and Simon Lewis revealed the PR secrets behind “The List” – those runners and riders that appear whenever top jobs become available. Whether it’s the BBC, HSBC or Apple, they explained how names get on these lists, how to get off them, and why sometimes the greatest value lies in not appearing at all. The conversation highlighted how media speculation around high-profile appointments often becomes a game of strategic briefing and counter-briefing.

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On the Media (19th & 21st November)

Brooke Gladstone and the team presented two episodes examining American political fractures. They explored the Democratic Party’s spam machine and identity crisis following electoral defeats, analysing how nationalisation of media has increased the proportion of national party brands whilst decreasing local and regional influence. The coverage highlighted how young, dynamic politicians excel at social media but struggle with deeper political complexities.

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Mixed Signals from Semafor Media (21st November)

Ben Smith and Max Tani interviewed New York Times investigative reporter Jodi Kantor to discuss how she’s revealed secrets behind the Supreme Court’s black robes and ceremony. Kantor explained whether the court is actually leaking more, how newer justices are reshaping its public face, and what she’s learned about the culture of secrecy inside this impenetrable institution. The conversation explored how closed institutions cling to prestige and secrecy whilst dealing with our swarming, corrosive social media age.

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Channels with Peter Kafka (19th November)

Peter Kafka interviewed Kevin Reilly, the former TV executive who held top jobs at FX, Fox, NBC, Turner and HBO Max before transitioning to run AI company Kartel. Reilly’s perspective on TV’s golden age and subsequent decline was sobering: he got out just in time, as the industry has become increasingly ugly. The conversation explored why TV leaders didn’t see the streaming threat coming and whether traditional media can survive when Facebook, Google and Amazon control most advertising revenue.

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Power Lines with Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino (21st November)

Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino examined the Olivia Nuzzi scandal rocking Vanity Fair, where her ex-fiancé alleged she had a second romantic relationship with a reporting subject. They also analysed Trump’s defence of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during an Oval Office appearance, noting how Saudi money and influence seem omnipresent, including among attendees at the MBS state dinner. The episode also highlighted the ethical fallout and Condé Nast’s response to the journalism crisis.

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The Grill Room (18th & 21st November)

Dylan and Julia discussed Olivia Nuzzi’s Vanity Fair excerpt and the increasingly tangled relationship between legacy media and celebrity culture as brands try to retain audiences. They also spoke to Alison Roman discussing her evolution as an independent creator, her break from Substack, and the challenges of building sustainable businesses in the chaotic attention economy.

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The Town with Matthew Belloni (17th, 19th & 20th November)

Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw joined to investigate the historically bad fall box office, exploring whether shortened theatrical windows and quality issues explain the downturn. Former Viacom CEO Tom Freston discussed why legacy companies missed YouTube’s boat and whether MTV can be revived. Finally, former DOJ antitrust chief Jonathan Kanter analysed the Warner Bros Discovery sale from a regulatory perspective, questioning whether consolidation is necessary to compete with Big Tech.

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The Business (21st November)

Kim Masters interviewed filmmaker Shawn Levy, who took a brief break from shooting his Star Wars film in London to discuss the final season of Stranger Things, including Netflix’s surprising decision to give the finale a limited theatrical release. Levy shared his bittersweet feelings about an industry undergoing painful contraction, reflecting on his work from Night at the Museum through Deadpool & Wolverine. The conversation also examined the Warner Bros Discovery bidding war, with each potential buyer—Paramount’s Ellisons, Netflix, or Comcast—facing the hurdle of FCC approval.

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Ankler Agenda (20th November)

Elaine Low, Sean McNulty and Natalie Jarvey broke down why a Paramount-Warners merger now feels less like speculation and more like destiny. With final bids due, all eyes remain on Paramount Skydance despite Comcast and Netflix red herrings. Richard Rushfield revealed whispers within the creative community about David Ellison’s cozy ties to Trump and potential pushback. The episode also looked at whether the middle class has been priced out of entertainment as Disney becomes a luxury brand.

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Spot any media podcasts we’ve missed? Reply and let us know! And if you haven’t already, subscribe to The Media Club on your favourite podcast app or catch us on YouTube.

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Disney+ is flirting with user-generated AI content whilst protecting its precious IP - but how exactly do you let people create their own Frozen movie without losing control? Stuart Morgan from Audio Always and Cat Lewis from Nine Lives Media are with us from MediaCity to debate whether Disney’s AI gamble makes sense, and what it means for the rest of the industry.

We’re also covering Trump raising his BBC lawsuit to a staggering $5 billion, why the Edinburgh TV Festival might ditch Edinburgh, and how the Telegraph is back on the market for the third time in three years. Also on the show, the Financial Times launching on Substack to chase younger readers, Goalhanger’s new science podcast with Hannah Fry, and why British TV sales to America have topped $1 billion for the first time.

Plus in the Media Quiz, we play “Shock News” - giving three media stories the full tabloid treatment.

Listen on Apple Podcasts:

Listen or watch on Spotify:

Watch on YouTube:

Meanwhile from our sponsors…

The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network, who select the music to score the quiz each week, and they can do it for you too at audionetwork.com

Partners Podshop Studios is offering Media Club listeners 25% off their first studio booking - for 25% off, just go to podshoponline.co.uk and use the close MEDIACLUB.

And Podcast Discovery is here for all your marketing needs: social video production, ad campaigns, brand glow ups and more: podcastdiscovery.com

Further reading:

• Updates to Disney+

• Trump Raises The Stakes vs BBC To $5bn

• Telegraph Sale Is Off (Again)

• Should there be an independent process?

• FT Launches First Substack

• Meta win AntiTrust Case

• British Sales Top $1bn to US for first time

• The Rest Is Science launches

• Kelvin MacKenzie in Shock Guardian Praise

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