The Media Club · 7 March 2025 · 47 min
Are Film Crews At Breaking Point?
- Film Crew Working Conditions
- Streaming Levy
- BBC Gaza Documentary Controversy
- Oscars Ratings and Youth Audience
- City AM Digital Transformation
- Journalism Training and Diversity
- Media Quiz
In this 300th edition of The Media Club, host Matt Deegan is joined by film critic and broadcaster Rhianna Dhillon and City AM editor Christian May. The episode discusses the pressures on TV and film crews, including broken turnarounds and the BECTU campaign for better rest breaks. It also covers the BBC's streaming levy debate, the Gaza documentary controversy affecting the BBC and Channel 4, and the Oscars' struggle to attract younger audiences. Christian May shares insights into City AM's digital transformation and expansion beyond London. The episode includes a media quiz and various news round-ups.
Key takeaways
- BECTU reports an increase in broken turnarounds, with 40% of surveyed crew members asked to work with less than 11 hours rest.
- BBC Director General Tim Davie faced MPs over streaming levies, with debate on whether streamers should pay for local content.
- The BBC and Channel 4 faced scrutiny over a Gaza documentary involving a Hamas minister's son, leading to RTS pulling awards for Gaza coverage.
- City AM editor Christian May discussed the paper's digital transformation, including a new app with 160,000 daily readers and expansion into Manchester.
- The Oscars saw a slight ratings increase but continue to struggle to attract younger audiences, with only 5% of Americans watching.
In this episode
- Introduction and Plus One
- Film Crews at Breaking Point
- Streaming Levy and BBC Grilling
- Gaza Documentary Controversy
- Paul Marshall's Journalism School
- Oscars Review
- City AM Deep Dive
- Media Quiz
Notable quotes
“I'm not a Warhammer fan or a gamer in that sense, but as a business journalist, we've watched this company, which has their share prices surged like 50% over the year.”
“I think they are the must-have accessory of the year.”
“I don't feel like people need to prove themselves. They shouldn't have to prove themselves in the same way.”
“The idea that you just say that the BBC license fee is now going to also be levied on your Netflix subscriptions is obviously for the birds.”
“I'm afraid I'm just more likely to stay up late to watch a US election than I am a US awards show.”
“I'm the one that always checks, is it cheaper in SD? Wants me to get an HD. That's it, you're just shivering.”
Discussed
Mentioned or recommended
- The Oscars
- Wicked
- Anora
- The Brutalist
- Conclave
- Shuggie Bain
- The Crown
- Scrabble
- Supermarket Sweep
- Spitting Image
- The Now Show
- Dead Ringers
- Peppa Pig
- The Dish Podcast
- Sidetracks
- The Penguin Podcast
- Dear England
