<p>All3Media and Banijay have merged to create an eight-billion-dollar independent production giant - and there are whispers that ITV Studios could be next on the menu. Media writer Tara Conlan takes stock.</p><br><p>Also: Paramount Skydance beats Netflix in a marathon bidding war for Warner Bros Discovery. It's the biggest media merger in history - and the debt pile to match. Former Media Leader editor and now consultant Omar Oakes crunches the numbers.</p><br><p>All that plus: News Corp reveals its two-word AI strategy. The BBC publishes its charter wishlist. And in the Audio Network Media Quiz, we put your bluffing skills to the test.</p><br><p>The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network. Alex selects the music for us to score each episode and she and her team can do it for you too at https://www.audionetwork.com</p><br><p>We record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIACLUB at https://www.podshoponline.co.uk/services/podcast-studio</p><p>Become a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at https://www.themediaclub.com</p><br><p>A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.</p><br><p><strong>What The Media Club has been reading this week:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/mar/03/banijay-group-to-form-38bn-television-super-indie-with-the-traitors-producers" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">All3Media and Banijay to merge</a></p><p><a href="https://deadline.com/2026/03/banijay-itv-studios-redbird-interest-consolidation-1236743373/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ITV deal still in contention for Banijay too</a></p><p><a href="https://uk.themedialeader.com/how-big-is-paramounts-debt-problem/?_hsenc=p2ANqtz--TwNzRCNUH_2LuY28eNdSQY7QtPG6MaD_212El9Jyb-JSzQcopDXSzldG5tmmFEFkHjp0y561aIQKBlILAtE7NmHfN9Q&amp;_hsmi=406757066" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Paramount beats Netflix for Warner Bros </a>-</p><p><a href="https://www.engadget.com/ai/meta-signs-a-multimillion-dollar-ai-licensing-deal-with-news-corp-234157902.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Newscorp's AI strategy: Woo &amp; Sue</a></p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/mar/05/bbc-charter-renewal-tv-licence-major-overhaul" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BBC’s Charter Renewal Strategy</a></p><p><a href="https://uk.themedialeader.com/the-future-of-agencies-the-hidden-cost-of-designing-for-ai/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">WPP's Advertising Intelligence Framework report</a></p><p><a href="https://pressgazette.co.uk/media_business/plunging-google-discover-traffic-hits-reach-digital-revenue/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Reach Digital Revenue Down</a></p><p><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-15608895/Kyle-Jackie-O-Henderson-Sandilands-suspended.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kyle &amp; Jackie O's $100m contract terminated</a></p><p><a href="https://deadline.com/2026/03/lovejoy-tv-remake-see-saw-films-bbc-ian-mcshane-1236743392/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lovejoy To Get A Reboot</a></p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/mar/03/telegraph-censured-fabricated-story-banker-struggle-pay-school-fees" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Telegraph Censured Over Fictional Family</a></p><p><a href="https://pressgazette.co.uk/news/staff-journalists-sacked-and-misleadingly-replaced-with-ai-writers/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Journalists Replaced By Misleading AI writers</a></p><p><a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/91497873/epstein-files-ai-podcast-adam-levy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Epstein Podcast is made entirely by AI</a></p><p><br></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>