The Media Club with Matt Deegan

Rethink Audio

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Media news from the UK, looking at television production, streaming, radio, audio, journalism, the internet, publishers and more. Each week expert analysts and media practitioners join the host, media consultant Matt Deegan, to talk about the top media stories and work out what it means for the sector and the people in it. Recent experts have included Broadcast's Rebecca Cooney and Chris Curtis, The Guardian's Michael Savage, Deadline's Jake Kanter, the Press Gazette's Charlotte Tobitt, Ankler's Manori Ravindran, plus writers Tara Conlan, Scott Bryan, Jane Martinson, Jim Waterson and Boyd Hilton. Our industry practitioners have included Expectation's Peter Fincham, Gold Wala's Faraz Osman, Multitude's Will Wood, Nest's Derek Drennan, BBC Radio 3's Sam Jackson, Persephonica's Dino Sofos, City AM's Christian May, ITN's Lisa Campbell and Daily Mail's Jamie East. Find out more at https://www.themediaclub.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recent Episodes

SEP 25, 2026
Trump TV, Talent Reboots & Who Loves The Ads?
Where do people actually want to see your adverts – and where would they rather you just didn't? Kantar's Global Media Director Gonca Bubani gives us an early look at Media Reactions 2026. Also on the show: Strictly, Bake Off and the Grand Tour get a talent reboot. InterTalent MD Alex Segal – author of the Dealmakers Substack – on the stars refreshing old formats. All that plus: Trump’s latest salvo against the press sees him launch a YouTube channel, Piers Morgan gets an apology from Earl Spencer, Andy Burnham declares war on disinformation, the BBC blows the final whistle on its sports bulletins... and, in the Audio Network Media Quiz, we learn how to get rich quick. The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network. Alex selects the music for us to score each episode and the team can do it for you too at: https://audionetwork.com We record at Podshop Studios – for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIACLUB at: https://www.podshoponline.co.uk/services/podcast-studio Become a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at: https://themediaclub.com A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery. What The Media Club has been reading this week: White House launches Trump TV on YouTube Burnham announces National Centre for Information Defence BBC to axe sports bulletins on its news channel Earl Spencer apologises to Piers Morgan Kyle Sandilands to deliver an unforgettable keynote MipcomUK RIP Hearst returns to revenue growth Global Player offers ad-free subscriptions Disney+ Interupts Game For Ad Break Dealmakers with Alex Segal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
46 MIN
SEP 18, 2026
When 1m readers isn’t enough: Metro seeks 'radical change'
Metro's editor-in-chief has quit and a familiar face is back to steady the ship. Alex Hudson, who spent years as deputy editor of Metro.co.uk, sizes up his old newsroom. Also on the show: Channel 4 and Channel 5 make advertising history together, just days after Channel 4 confirmed a quarter of its workforce is going. TV and media journalist Tara Conlan on what the deal – and the cuts – mean for the wider industry. All that plus: playwright Jack Thorne accuses fellow screenwriters of using AI to cheat, the BBC gets serious about Birmingham, Radio 2 goes shopping for a £300k visualised podcast, Emily Maitlis goes digging into Jeffrey Epstein's British circle, and Acast says the format wars are finally over... and, in the Audio Network Media Quiz, we go looking for good news at the pictures. The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network. Alex selects the music for us to score each episode and the team can do it for you too at: https://audionetwork.com We record at Podshop Studios – for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIACLUB at: https://www.podshoponline.co.uk/services/podcast-studio Become a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at: https://themediaclub.com A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery. What The Media Club has been reading this week: Metro editor and executive editor exit amid radical change Reach cuts 220 staff in reaction to AI Overview Jack Thorne says fellow writers are using AI to cheat Channel 4 and Paramount's 5 make advertising history Emily Maitlis to host Global podcast on Epstein's British links BBC launches partnership with Birmingham City University Visualised Podcast Brief at R2 Acast releases Podcast Pulse 2026 Guardian grows revenue to record £282m Newsquest grows profit as digital subscribers rise Washington Post on track to break even after four years of losses Tara’s Job Finding Platform, How Do You Do? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
43 MIN
SEP 11, 2026
Channel 4 to become Channel ¾
A quarter of Channel 4’s workforce will be gone by the end of the year in Priya Dogra’s grand vision. Broadcast's Rebecca Cooney on whether the broadcaster can afford it, and what happens to its promise to the nations and regions. Also on the show: as advertisers pile back into audio, Bauer Media Advertising's Simon Kilby joins the club for the first time to tell us where the money's actually going. All that plus: the independent production sector's cash reserves are wearing dangerously thin, Ofcom throws public broadcasters an olive branch on advertising rules... and in the Audio Network Media Quiz, some old favourites bow out while a flashy new arrival gets no takers. 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://audionetwork.com We record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIACLUB at https://www.podshoponline.co.uk/services/podcast-studio Become a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at https://themediaclub.com A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery. What The Media Club has been reading this week: Channel 4 Confirms Biggest Job Cuts In Its History Priya Dogra Sets Out Her Rationale Tiny Cash Buffers Leave Small UK TV Firms At Risk Ofcom Sets Out Measures To Help Under-Pressure PSBs BBC Staff Reject Improved Pay Offer As Strike Looms Trump Administration Attacks UK Plan To Boost BBC On YouTube Netflix Hikes UK Prices, Cheapest Plan Up A Third STV Studios Reviews Its Labels Zoe Ball Launches New Afternoon Show On GHR Monty Don Steps Down From Gardeners' World Tom Jones Fired From The Voice UK Antiques Roadshow Repeat Overwhelms The Box Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
43 MIN
AUG 28, 2026
Should YouTube Be Regulated?
We're in Edinburgh for the last installment of the Edinburgh International TV Festival before it moves to Manchester next year. But there's plenty of energy on show in this season finale, as YouTube's Pedro Pina delivers the Festival's keynote - the MacTaggart lecture - and unsurprisingly, was not keen on more regulation or of their platform. Also on the show: where's innovation? Fenton Bailey - World Of Wonder - joined us for an in depth interview this week which you can see on YouTube. During the chat he had a very particular metaphor for the crisis in television... TV Critic Scott Bryan and indie chief Geoff Jein (Biscuit Jim) dissect the theory. All that, plus conversations with award winners TwoFour, Banijay, Persephonica and Quay Street Productions - and, in the Audio Network Media Quiz - we rundown the big commission announcements of the week with Entertainment Exec Rina Dayalji and Broadcast Magazine's Chris Curtis. 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://audionetwork.com We record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIACLUB at podshoponline.co.uk Chapters: 0:00 - Edinburgh TV Festival special 0:33 - YouTube’s Pedro Pina on regulation and public service prominence 6:42 - Fenton Bailey’s Titanic metaphor and TV’s innovation crisis 13:16 - Matt Brittin, the BBC and the future of public broadcasting 18:31 - Rethinking the BBC licence fee and Public Media 2028 25:52 - Audio Network on human-made music and AI 30:22 - Quay Street Productions' Nicola Shindler on drama, funding and what commissioners want 36:34 - Persephonica on podcasting, YouTube and Amol Rajan’s next move 43:20 - Banijay on global formats, creators and building the next big franchise 53:34 - TwoFour's David Clews on 'Educating...', Destination X and taking risks in TV 1:00:27 - Audio Network Media Quiz: Commission Impossible 1:06:46 - Festival takeaways: noisy TV, YouTube and an industry in flux Become a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at themediaclub.com A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
72 MIN
JUL 17, 2026
Is The BBC In Jeopardy? Plus: Zeteo UK soft launch
The BBC's annual report lands with a sharp rise in licence fee dodgers and a stark warning from new Director General Matt Brittin that the corporation is being held back by its own funding model. LBC's Iain Dale gives us his verdict on where Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's plan to widen the licence fee to streamers goes next. ** WIN A £50 John Lewis voucher - simply fill in our listener survey, and help us shape the future of the show. You’ll be entered into a prize draw. Do it now. ** Also on the show: a new name in British political journalism. Shehab Khan has left ITV News to become political editor of Zeteo UK, the British outpost of Mehdi Hasan's insurgent US operation. He tells us why. All that plus: as AI learns to remix the news into whatever shape you fancy, we ask what's left for journalists to do... Banijay and All3Media complete their merger to create an £8billion giant, and Edinburgh says goodbye to its TV Festival... and in the Audio Network Media Quiz, an annual tradition returns, as we play Play Your BBC Salaries Right. 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://audionetwork.com We record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIACLUB at podshoponline.co.uk Become a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at themediaclub.com A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery. What The Media Club has been reading this week: BBC Annual Report: licence payers fall fastest in years Nandy floats a streaming levy for BBC funding Zeteo UK unveiled with Shehab Khan as political editor Claude's 'liquid content' a serious challenge for news media Banijay and All3Media complete $8bn merger Edinburgh TV Festival's last schedule before Manchester move BBC's highest paid journos Iain Dale's memoir Have I Said Too Much? published Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
43 MIN