• Channel 4 Privatisation
• Streaming Consolidation
• AI in Media
• BBC News Amalgamation
• Coronation of King Charles III
• Print Media Decline
• TikTok Data Privacy
• Subscription Bubble

In this eighth annual predictions special, host Matt Deegan and a panel of media experts forecast the trends and events likely to shape the media industry in 2023. Topics include the end of the Channel 4 privatisation saga, consolidation among streaming services, the rise of AI in journalism, the future of print and radio, and the potential impact of the coronation of King Charles III on the BBC. The episode also features personal updates from Matt on his cancer recovery and a call for listener support via Patreon.

Key takeaways

• Channel 4 privatisation was officially scrapped, with the government pulling the plug earlier in the year.
• Experts predict consolidation among streaming services, with some smaller players merging or shutting down.
• AI is expected to play a larger role in media, with predictions of a major AI scandal in 2023.
• Print media faces challenges from rising paper costs, with some magazines expected to close or reduce frequency.
• The BBC's news channel amalgamation and the coronation of King Charles III are seen as key events for the BBC's future.

In this episode

• Intro and Channel 4 update0:00 · Matt introduces the episode and discusses the end of Channel 4 privatisation with Faraz and Tara.
• Maggie Brown's predictions0:00 · Maggie Brown shares her predictions on pay-TV and the sale of Channel 4's HQ.
• Streaming predictions0:00 · Dan Taylor-Watt and Adam Bowie give their forecasts on streaming consolidation and subscription bubbles.
• Newsroom predictions0:00 · Jake Kanter and Charlotte Tobitt discuss AI, TikTok, and print media.
• Radio predictions0:00 · Ann Charles predicts the switch-off of AM and the coronation viewing figures.
• Outro and Patreon plea0:00 · Matt wraps up, thanks contributors, and encourages support via Patreon.

Notable quotes

“I'm not going to lie I am happy that Channel 4 has been saved from privatisation.”

Faraz Osman · 0:00

“I think that the whole area of assuming that people will pay for television that they really like is somewhat fragile because of the squeeze and the fact that we're going into a recession.”

Maggie Brown · 0:00

“I think that probably Channel 4's HQ will be sold.”

Maggie Brown · 0:00

“I think an AI scandal is happening and I think we're all waiting to see what it's going to be.”

Tara Conlan · 0:00

“I think that some Western media organisations are going to sever ties with TikTok.”

Jake Kanter · 0:00

“I think that the viewing figures in the UK for the coronation of King Charles III will be lower than the viewing figures for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, at least on television.”

Ann Charles · 0:00

Discussed

Channel 4 · BBC

Also mentioned: Alex Mahon · Michelle Donelan · Jeff Bezos · Bob Iger · King Charles III · Queen Elizabeth II · Jacinda Ardern · Lewis Goodall · Andy Jassy · Netflix · Amazon · Apple · Disney · Warner Bros. Discovery · Comcast · TikTok · ByteDance · ITV · Sky · WH Smith · Press Gazette · Deadline · The Times · Financial Times

Mentioned or recommended

• The Traitors · tv show · Studio Lambert
• Rise and Fall · tv show · Studio Lambert
• The Menu · film · Mark Mylod
• The Banshees of Inisherin · film · Martin McDonagh
• Encanto · film · Walt Disney Animation Studios
• The Mandalorian · tv show · Jon Favreau
• Coronation of King Charles III · event
• Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II · event
• The News Agents · podcast · Global
• ITVX · product · ITV
• All 4 · product · Channel 4
• HBO Max · product · Warner Bros. Discovery
• Discovery+ · product · Warner Bros. Discovery
• Hulu · product · Disney
• ESPN+ · product · Disney
• Peacock · product · Comcast
• YouTube Primetime Channels · product · YouTube
• Paramount+ · product · Paramount Global
• DALL-E · product · OpenAI
• Semaphore · publication
• Channel 4's Alternative Christmas Message · tv show · Channel 4
• Amica · other
• Big Brother · tv show · Endemol
• Paralympics · event
• Bake Off · tv show · Love Productions
• Taskmaster · tv show · Avalon
• Channel 4 News · tv show · ITN