The Media Club · 21 November 2025 · 45 min
Disney’s AI Gamble, MediaCity & Substack Growth
- Disney's AI and User-Generated Content Plans
- Trump's $5bn Lawsuit Against the BBC
- BBC Gaza Film Edit Controversy
- Substack Growth and Media Companies
- Telegraph Sale Attempts
- MediaCity and Regional Media Production
- Edinburgh TV Festival Relocation Debate
- Podcast Industry Trends and Platforms
In this episode of The Media Club, host Matt Deegan is joined by Stuart Morgan, MD & Founder of Audio Always, and Cat Lewis, CEO of Nine Lives Media, to discuss the week's media news. The conversation covers Disney's hints at integrating user-generated content and generative AI into Disney+, the escalating legal battle between Donald Trump and the BBC over a $5bn lawsuit, and the ongoing fallout from the BBC's Gaza film edit controversy. The guests also discuss the Telegraph's repeated sale attempts, Meta's antitrust win, the FT's launch on Substack, and the potential relocation of the Edinburgh TV Festival. The episode is recorded at MediaCity in Salford, highlighting the region's growing media industry.
Key takeaways
- Disney+ is exploring user-generated content and generative AI, with Bob Iger hinting at plans.
- Donald Trump is expected to file a $5bn lawsuit against the BBC, up from $1bn.
- The BBC's Gaza film edit controversy led to resignations of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness.
- The Telegraph is back on the market for the third time in three years.
- Meta won an antitrust case, avoiding a breakup of WhatsApp and Instagram.
- The FT launched a Substack for FT Alphaville to reach younger audiences.
- British TV sales to the US exceeded $1bn for the first time last year.
- Goalhanger launched 'The Rest Is Science' with Hannah Fry and Michael Stevens.
In this episode
- Intro and Guest Introductions
- Disney's AI Gamble
- Trump vs BBC Lawsuit
- Edinburgh TV Festival Debate
- Substack and Platform Trends
- MediaCity and Regional Production
- Audio Network Media Quiz
- Outro and Listener Survey
Notable quotes
“I'm with Paul McCartney. I'm going to start making programmes with nothing with nothing in organic, organic programmes.”
“I think they're almost reaching out to the younger generations who have grown up as gamers.”
“I think it's really important for platforms. But interestingly, in terms of advertising, it's Netflix who were a predominantly subscription model who've now started taking adverts. It's actually reduced the advertising revenue on YouTube rather than it being the other way around.”
“I think they need to shake it up. I think it needs to be much more forward-looking and it needs to be cheaper.”
“I think it's a genius pairing. Hannah's great. I'm not as across kind of Michael's work, but I think it's really telling that they've kind of got that American host in there that's going to be sort of a YouTuber vsource, one of the first kind of successful learning channels, I guess.”
“I think it's really interesting. And I love the fact that it's made broadcasting much more of a level playing field so that you know any kid with a camera, you know, can make a film and put it out on YouTube.”
Discussed
Disney+ · BBC · Audio Always · Nine Lives Media · Substack · MediaCity
Mentioned or recommended
- The Rest Is Science
- The Rest Is History
- Have I Sexted My Boss?
- The Girls' Bathroom
- TikTok Murder Gone Viral
- Panorama
- Children in Need
- Edinburgh International Television Festival
- Creative Cities Convention
- MIPCOM
- London Content Market
- Leveson Inquiry
- A True Story
