The Media Club · 30 June 2023 · 43 min
Netflix vs the UK, Poaching Googlebox & A Farewell to National Geographic
- Netflix vs Ofcom Regulation
- National Geographic Layoffs
- ITV Poaching Gogglebox
- NUJ Membership Decline
- BBC Chair Appointment
- Ryan Reynolds S4C Deal
- Podcast App Landscape
In this episode of The Media Podcast, host Matt Deegan is joined by journalist and broadcaster Miranda Sawyer and Edelman's Karin Robinson to discuss the week's media news. Topics include Netflix's concerns over the draft Media Bill and Ofcom's jurisdiction, National Geographic laying off its remaining staff writers, ITV's attempt to poach Gogglebox from Channel 4, a decline in NUJ membership, the appointment of Elan Closs Stephens as acting BBC chair, and Ryan Reynolds' deal with S4C to bring Welsh-language programming to the US. The episode also features a media quiz segment titled 'Blood, Sweat, and Tears'.
Key takeaways
- Netflix has raised concerns about Ofcom's jurisdiction under the draft Media Bill, fearing it could become a global regulator.
- National Geographic is laying off its remaining staff writers and will no longer be sold on US newsstands, relying solely on freelancers.
- ITV attempted to poach Gogglebox from Channel 4, but Channel 4 retained the show.
- NUJ membership has dropped 21% in a decade, despite journalist numbers reportedly increasing.
- Elan Closs Stephens has been appointed acting BBC chair, aiming to rebuild the BBC's reputation after the Richard Sharp debacle.
- Ryan Reynolds has signed a deal with S4C to produce Welsh-language programming for the US market.
In this episode
- Introduction and news round-up
- Interview with Miranda Sawyer on Paper Cuts
- Netflix vs Ofcom discussion
- National Geographic layoffs discussion
- ITV poaching Gogglebox discussion
- News in brief: NUJ membership decline
- BBC chair appointment discussion
- Ryan Reynolds S4C deal discussion
- Media quiz: Blood, Sweat, and Tears
- Wrap-up and credits
Notable quotes
“I'll never understand how something can sell 1.8 million copies a month and still not be profitable.”
“It's going to come off the newsstands, but it's still going to be a great magazine.”
“I think back off. You know, that's not the, you know, I'm aware that the BBC is publicly funded, but actually, to me, that means that you answer to the people, not to the politicians.”
“I think it's a loss, and it's a loss not just because we're shifting from paper to online, because you can deliver good stories in either way, but because the stories themselves will be different, and that's a shame.”
Discussed
Netflix · Ofcom · National Geographic · ITV · Channel 4 · BBC · S4C · NUJ
Mentioned or recommended
- Paper Cuts
- Gogglebox
- The Traitors
- Big Brother
- Love Island
- The Great British Bake Off
- Pointless
- Extraction 2
- Stitcher
- Wrexham AFC
- The Media Bill
