Briefed: Strictly Departures and WBD's For Sale Sign
Here's what the media podcasts are covering...
We’ve had a week where Strictly Come Dancing’s Tess and Claudia wrongfooted everyone with their Instagram departure announcement, sending the BBC into overdrive looking for replacements. Warner Bros Discovery put itself up for sale with David Ellison circling like a shark, whilst American Eagle’s CMO Craig Brommers explained how Sydney Sweeney’s jeans campaign went viral with an unexpected Trump boost. The platforms’ teen safety promises continued unravelling, US public radio faced funding cuts threatening shows like On the Media, and Ben Elton joined The Rest Is Entertainment to reminisce about Blackadder. Plus, The Bulwark’s Sarah Longwell discussed the future of independent media, Sheffield journalism students grilled Media Confidential, Prince Andrew’s crisis deepened, and everyone wondered whether Netflix might actually buy chunks of Warner Bros.
If you missed Friday’s The Media Club, I welcomed Broadcast Magazine’s Heather Fallon to dissect the shock Strictly departures and who might replace the presenting duo, whilst InterTalent’s MD Alex Segal explained how talent agencies must evolve for the digital age. We explored Warner Bros Discovery’s sale prospects, Ofcom’s U-turn on Broadcast Code changes, and in the Audio Network Media Quiz, pitched some rather dodgy business ideas. Plus we covered Netflix’s podcast functionality arriving just as their earnings disappointed, and Global’s upfronts revealing more commissions.
The Media Show (22nd October)
Ros Atkins caught up with journalist Paul Salopek who’s literally walking around the world in search of stories, currently trudging through Alaska. The programme examined AI’s impact on news consumption with think tank More in Common’s Luke Tryl and Enders Analysis’ Niamh Burns, revealing how artificial intelligence shapes information trust. Royal biographer Robert Hardman, broadcaster Simon McCoy and correspondent Emily Andrews dissected Prince Andrew scandal coverage, exploring how media navigates royal controversy. A fascinating blend of slow journalism meeting fast-changing technology, wrapped up with palace intrigue. (Guests: Paul Salopek, Luke Tryl from More in Common, Niamh Burns from Enders Analysis, Robert Hardman, Simon McCoy, Emily Andrews)
Media Confidential (20th & 23rd October)
Alan Rusbridger and Lionel Barber delivered two episodes this week. First, Reuters editor-in-chief Alessandra Galloni joined to reflect on covering Gaza, where more journalists have been killed than in any conflict in history. She revealed why Reuters stopped sharing reporter coordinates with the IDF and discussed waiting two years for Israel to investigate their journalist’s killing. Their second episode featured Sheffield University journalism students grilling the hosts on everything from AI in newsrooms to covering Gaza fairly, China’s underreporting, and imposter syndrome. The students asked the tough question: how would you prepare to interview Putin? (Guests: Alessandra Galloni from Reuters, Sheffield University journalism students)
Roger Bolton’s Beeb Watch (23rd October)
Roger Bolton hosted Professor Stephen Cushion from Cardiff School of Journalism to discuss Ofcom’s decision on politicians presenting news programmes and the BBC’s request to reduce prime-time current affairs. Cushion’s new research analysed impartiality in news reporting, representation of political parties, social media’s impact, and generational attitudes towards impartiality. They explored whether we’re at a crossroads between preserving due impartiality guidelines or shifting towards more opinionated programming. A timely examination of broadcasting standards as the rules appear to be changing beneath our feet. (Guests: Stephen Cushion from Cardiff School of Journalism)
Insiders: The TV Podcast (24th October)
Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville dissected the shock mid-series announcement of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman leaving Strictly Come Dancing, pondering what this means for the show’s future. They indulged once more in the Paddington vs Spitting Image saga as StudioCanal filed their first court papers. The duo also questioned what the Our BBC, Our Future survey results really tell us about public sentiment. Plus Jimmy sang Sondheim, revealed William G Stewart’s middle name, and shared which commissioner once slammed the phone down on Peter.
TellyCast (24th October)
Justin Crosby’s second MIPCOM special dove deep into the creator economy reshaping global content. Quintus Studios’ Gerrit Kemming, Viral Nation’s Paul Telner, and former Electric Monster CEO Matt Gielen explored traditional media’s belated creator embrace. ITV Studios’ Cecilie Olsson, Spirit Studios’ Matt Campion, and All3 Media’s Gary Woolf discussed how YouTube creators now dictate terms to traditional broadcasters. The conversation covered everything from creator-first strategies to why the old commissioning model is broken. (Guests: Gerrit Kemming from Quintus Studios, Paul Telner from Viral Nation, Matt Gielen, Tobias Hoss from Lunar X, Cecilie Olsson from ITV Studios, Matt Campion from Spirit Studios, Gary Woolf from All3 Media International)
The Rest Is Entertainment (21st, 23rd & 24th October)
Richard Osman and Marina Hyde produced three episodes. First exploring the cult of British celebrity boyfriends - those scarf-wearing, dog-walking, Lime-biking heartthrobs catching Hollywood’s attention. They examined Warner Music’s radical UK restructure and predicted Christmas bestsellers. Ben Elton joined for fascinating Blackadder reminiscences, discussing Rik Mayall and writing joy. Finally, their Celebrity Traitors week three reaction asked how Jonathan Ross survived, whether Stephen Fry led the faithful, and if Nick Mohammed’s too clever for the format.
The Media Odyssey (23rd October)
Evan Shapiro and Marion Ranchet broadcast live from MIPCOM with Filmhub CEO Alan d’Escragnolle and Vortex Media’s Justin Rebelo, exploring how indie producers reinvent film distribution for the creator economy. They revealed YouTube’s “Free with Ads” tier as a powerful new home for premium content, with Filmhub connecting rights holders directly to millions of viewers on Tubi and YouTube. The discussion covered the “B2C revolution” of entertainment, how small films thrive through smart digital distribution, and why creators who control their IP have real leverage. As d’Escragnolle noted: “You don’t entertain anyone by leaving content on a shelf.” (Guests: Alan d’Escragnolle from Filmhub, Justin Rebelo from Vortex Media)
The Radio Academy Podcast (22nd October)
Spark University Sunderland guest-hosted this special episode from the latest Foot in the Door event at The University of Sunderland. Grace and Granger from Spark interviewed participants from talks to networking sessions, gathering invaluable knowledge about breaking into radio. The episode captured insights from industry professionals sharing their experiences with students and newcomers, demonstrating the Academy’s commitment to nurturing new talent through regional events.
Campaign Podcast (21st October)
Gemma Charles hosted Nicola Merrifield, Louise Ridley and Pencil CEO Will Hanschell to explore whether marketers are replacing agencies with AI, coinciding with Campaign’s Power 100 launch. The list’s survey revealed marketers view AI as giving them “superpowers,” with some shifting media planning in-house using AI platforms. Yet contrary to speculation, most brands expect agency use to remain stable or increase. They discussed the “human premium” in creativity, with one marketer comparing AI to chainsaws for lumberjacks - just another tool. A balanced look at AI’s real impact versus the hype. (Guests: Nicola Merrifield from Campaign, Louise Ridley from Campaign, Will Hanschell from Pencil)
The Media Leader Podcast (20th October)
Jack Benjamin welcomed IPG Mediabrands’ Michael Brown to discuss the “human premium” in consumer research as AI transforms the field. Brown explained how CMOs face information overload whilst still needing genuine human insight for storytelling. They explored trending topics from social listening to Reddit, political controversy in brand safety, and whether companies are retreating from DEI commitments. Brown also addressed staff anxiety around Omnicom’s IPG acquisition, maintaining that true insight requires human understanding AI can’t replicate. A thoughtful examination of research’s evolving role in an automated world. (Guests: Michael Brown from IPG Mediabrands)
MediaLand (24th October)
Tim Burrowes and Vivienne Kelly examined Australia’s regional news crisis with RMIT’s Dr T.J. Thomson, revealing 184 outlet closures since 2019 and 29 council areas with no news coverage at all. They discussed democracy dying in news deserts, Warner Bros Discovery’s sale prospects impacting Australian viewers, and the 2026 content slate announcements. Thomson’s research showed what happens when nobody’s watching local government - a sobering look at journalism’s retreat from regional Australia. The hosts also covered the international media buyout season’s potential local impacts. (Guests: Dr T.J. Thomson from RMIT)
Podnews Weekly Review (24th October)
James Cridland and Sam Sethi tracked Edison Research’s sale to SSRS whilst keeping the team intact, examining what this means for podcast measurement. They discussed Spotify’s TV distribution push via Samsung TV Plus and Netflix, questioning whether video truly grows podcast audiences. The duo debated Oxford Road’s new ad-performance ranker showing stable top shows and fast risers, plus membership models creators can own. They also lamented the messy state of podcast standards and James got excited about washable sofas.
When It Hits the Fan (22nd October)
David Yelland and Simon Lewis examined the Prince Andrew crisis and Buckingham Palace’s attempts to distance the Royal Family from damaging headlines. They questioned why Andrew was allowed to sound like he was voluntarily giving up titles in a statement showing little contrition whilst focusing on innocence. The hosts analysed whether short-term PR pain calculations backfired spectacularly, with the Palace asking the public to focus on the King’s work rather than his brother’s scandals. As they noted: if you’re having to ask, have you already lost the argument? Sharp royal crisis management analysis.
On the Media (22nd & 25th October)
Brooke Gladstone first presented a midweek special on public radio funding cuts, featuring WNYC’s Goli Sheikholeslami explaining how federal clawbacks threaten programming. Shows face tough choices as Corporation for Public Broadcasting operations wind down. The main episode explored Trump’s “Darth Vader” figure and white nationalist Nick Fuentes’s normalisation, examining how extremist influencers gain mainstream platform access. Plus analysis of youth perspectives on current politics. Critical reporting on media’s financial pressures and extremism’s creeping acceptance. (Guests: Goli Sheikholeslami from WNYC)
Mixed Signals from Semafor Media (24th October)
Ben Smith and Max Tani hosted American Eagle CMO Craig Brommers for the inside story of Sydney Sweeney’s viral “Great Jeans” campaign. Brommers revealed how they ignored the “crisis communication industrial complex” after controversy erupted, knowing they’d hit a cultural nerve. He explained how Trump and JD Vance inadvertently boosted sales, why modern marketing resembles running an entertainment company, and whether their Travis Kelce campaign was timed to his Taylor Swift engagement. (Guests: Craig Brommers from American Eagle)
Channels with Peter Kafka (22nd October)
Peter Kafka interviewed Brian Morrissey from The Rebooting to discuss the end of mass media and what comes next. Morrissey, a one-man Venn diagram of media operations and reporting, preached the gospel of small media whilst examining what happens to scale-chasing businesses. They explored Google’s enormous power through its Discover feature driving astonishing traffic amounts, AI’s actual impact on media beyond the hype, and why media companies can’t control the interface. Morrissey argued media has moved entirely to direct marketing mindsets - perhaps too far. (Guests: Brian Morrissey from The Rebooting)
Power Lines with Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino (24th October)
Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino analysed David Ellison’s potential WBD takeover and its serious CNN implications, with all roads seemingly leading to this deal. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt went viral with shocking text responses to reporters, whilst the hosts exposed the pay-to-play operation behind the Golden Globes’ new podcast award. They covered Fox News’s obsession with Zohran Mamdani and broke down concrete numbers showing massive Disney/Kimmel backlash. Plus far-right influencers replacing Pentagon correspondents in the new media landscape.
The Grill Room (21st & 24th October)
Dylan Byers first hosted The Bulwark’s Sarah Longwell for a wide-ranging conversation on their seven-year never-Trump media journey. Longwell discussed navigating industry transitions, Bari Weiss’s $150 million Free Press sale implications, and reaching new audiences. She argued independent creators must either be absorbed by legacy media or band together to build alternatives. Later, Julia Alexander and Dylan debriefed the week’s headlines: Zaslav’s potential WBD sale, the New York Times launching TikTok-style videos, and YouTube’s next pivot. (Guests: Sarah Longwell from The Bulwark)
The Business (24th October)
Kim Masters and Lucas Shaw examined Warner Bros stock surge after CEO David Zaslav confirmed the company’s for sale, with speculation growing about Netflix’s interest despite Ted Sarandos dismissing legacy network purchases. They explored why Netflix might consider partial acquisition of studio and streaming assets. Masters then interviewed indie filmmaker Kelly Reichardt about The Mastermind, sharing how she launched her career financing films on credit cards and selling to distributors for a dollar. Reichardt explained Todd Haynes convincing her to teach at Bard College and why she insists on theatrical releases - her films simply don’t look right on TV. (Guests: Lucas Shaw, Kelly Reichardt)
The Ankler Podcast (23rd October)
Elaine Low, Sean McNulty and Natalie Jarvey delivered an emergency pod on Warner Bros Discovery’s “For Sale” sign triggering a Streaming Wars endgame. They analysed which billionaire suitors make sense, why a Paramount-WBD mashup would create Netflix’s first real rival, and fantasy-drafted the most enticing assets. Richard Rushfield joined to weigh in on “Zazpocalypse Now.” The team questioned whether the billionaire class will Thanos-snap the number of major studios through another M&A round or if salvation awaits the storied studio. (Guests: Richard Rushfield)
The Town with Matthew Belloni (21st, 23rd & 24th October)
Matt Belloni delivered three episodes exploring Hollywood’s shifting landscape. First, Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw joined to discuss Netflix’s podcast deal with Spotify and The Ringer, examining what it signals for Netflix’s future and their AMC theatres agreement for K-Pop Demon Hunters. Next, Wolfe Research’s Peter Supino unpacked WBD’s sale prospects, analysing each potential bidder and merger scenario with Paramount versus other suitors. Finally, data analyst Stephen Follows investigated whether film festival standing ovations mean anything, analysing 500+ reported ovations to see if applause length predicts future success. Plus predictions on Formula One rights moving to Apple TV and Golden Globes’ podcast awards. (Guests: Lucas Shaw from Bloomberg, Peter Supino from Wolfe Research, Stephen Follows)
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