• Media Predictions 2024
• Streaming Consolidation
• Subscription Fatigue
• AI in Media
• Job Cuts in Publishing
• BBC News Changes
• GB News and Talk TV
• Audiobooks Growth

In this eighth annual predictions special, host Matt Deegan is joined by a panel of media commentators to review their 2023 predictions and make new forecasts for 2024. Topics include the rise of audiobooks, potential job cuts across publishers, subscription fatigue and bundling, changes in TV leadership, the future of GB News and Talk TV, the impact of AI on media, and the possibility of streaming consolidation. Guests include Jake Kanter (Deadline), Ella Sagar (The Media Leader), Charlotte Tobitt (Press Gazette), Faraz Osman (Gold Wala), Megan Carver (Carver PR), Adam MacQueen (Private Eye), Jamie East (Daily Mail), Scott Bryan, Tara Conlan, and producer Steven D Wright.

Key takeaways

• Jake Kanter predicted more BBC strikes and a possible merger between GB News and Talk TV.
• Ella Sagar predicted Google would delay cookie deprecation and that Netflix would merge with a gaming company.
• Faraz Osman predicted subscription fatigue leading to bundling, with Apple One and Paramount Plus potentially bundling, and that Twitter would decline.
• Megan Carver predicted continued growth of audiobooks, with AI enabling authors to narrate without studios.
• Charlotte Tobitt predicted more job cuts and site closures, and that publishers would form an alliance against AI companies or Google.
• Tara Conlan predicted tough times for independent production companies and a potential shift away from subscriptions to pay-per-episode models.

In this episode

• Intro and Jake Kanter & Ella Sagar predictions0:00 · Matt Deegan reviews Jake and Ella's 2023 predictions and hears their 2024 forecasts.
• Adam MacQueen predictions0:00 · Adam MacQueen predicts Murdoch-Rothermere deal and a national newspaper going online only.
• Faraz Osman predictions0:00 · Faraz Osman reviews his 2023 predictions and forecasts bundling, streaming consolidation, and Twitter's decline.
• The Two Matts promo0:00 · Matt Kelly and Matt Dathan promote The Two Matts podcast and give predictions.
• Megan Carver and Jamie East predictions0:00 · Megan predicts audiobook growth and celebrity documentary saturation; Jamie discusses podcast fatigue and Celebrity Traitors.
• Steven D Wright doom prediction0:00 · Steven D Wright gives a doom-laden prediction about the industry.
• Scott Bryan and Charlotte Tobitt predictions0:00 · Scott predicts TV leadership changes and streaming consolidation; Charlotte predicts job cuts and publisher alliances.
• Tara Conlan predictions0:00 · Tara reviews her 2023 predictions and forecasts tough times for indies and subscription fatigue.
• Outro and sponsor read0:00 · Matt Deegan wraps up and promotes London Podcast Studios.

Notable quotes

“We're all doomed, Captain Mannering”

Steven D Wright · 0:00

“I think that Paramount is probably going to be the one that gets gobbled up by a bigger player.”

Faraz Osman · 0:00

“I think that there are too many on for free.”

Faraz Osman · 0:00

“I'd love to meet somebody that's subscribed to Lionsgate Plus. Haven't met them yet.”

Faraz Osman · 0:00

“Twitter's going to go to the wall”

Faraz Osman · 0:00

“I think that there will be some creative renewal at some of these places.”

Scott Bryan · 0:00

Discussed

BBC · Channel 4 · Netflix · GB News · Talk TV · Spotify

Also mentioned: Matt Kelly · Matt Dathan · Rupert Murdoch · Mark Thompson · Martin Lewis · Rob Rinder · Elon Musk · Walter Isaacson · Charlotte Moore · Ian Katz · Zai Bennett · Kevin Lygo · James Corden · David Beckham · Victoria Beckham · Wayne Rooney · Robbie Williams · Boris Johnson · Claudia Winkleman · AJ Odudu · Will Best · Michael Madsen · Vanessa Feltz · Jack Dee

Mentioned or recommended

• The Traitors · tv show · Studio Lambert
• Squid Game: The Challenge · tv show · Netflix
• Love Is Blind · tv show · Netflix
• Destination X · tv show
• Gladiators · tv show
• The Piano · tv show · Channel 4
• Rise and Fall · tv show · Channel 4
• Survivor · tv show
• Strictly Come Dancing · tv show · BBC
• The X Factor · tv show · ITV
• The Masked Singer · tv show · ITV
• Celebrity Traitors · tv show · BBC
• Celebrity Big Brother · tv show · ITV
• Big Brother · tv show · Endemol
• The Trial · book · Rob Rinder
• Elon Musk · book · Walter Isaacson
• Beckham · tv show · Netflix
• Rooney · tv show · Amazon Prime
• Robbie Williams · tv show · Netflix
• Dad's Army · tv show · BBC
• The Two Matts · podcast · The New European