The Media Club · 21 July 2025 · 24 min
Ofcom's Cristina Nicolotti Squires on PSB promience
- Public Service Media Prominence
- YouTube as EPG
- Media Literacy
- BBC Funding
- Ofcom Regulation
- BBC Radio Spin-offs
- Media Act Implementation
- Creative Industry Value
In this bonus episode of The Media Club, host Matt Deegan interviews Cristina Nicolotti Squires, Ofcom's group director for broadcasting and media, about the regulator's public service media review. The conversation covers Ofcom's proposal to treat YouTube as a new form of EPG, ensuring public service content is prominent on the platform, the changing trade-offs for public service broadcasters, funding challenges, media literacy, and streamlining regulation. They also discuss Ofcom's recent decisions, including rejecting BBC Radio 2 and 5 Live spin-off stations, and the regulator's role in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
Key takeaways
- Ofcom has published a public service media review proposing that YouTube and other platforms feature public service content more prominently.
- The review suggests treating YouTube as a new form of EPG for public service media.
- Ofcom rejected BBC proposals for Radio 2 and 5 Live spin-off stations due to market impact.
- The review calls for investment in media literacy to combat misinformation.
- Ofcom is streamlining regulation and considering a single code for broadcast and on-demand content.
In this episode
- Introduction and survey plug
- Main interview with Cristina Nicolotti Squires
- Wrap-up and break announcement
Notable quotes
“Public service content should be findable on YouTube”
“If we don't fund things like the BBC and public service broadcasting properly, then we'll wake up one day and it'll be gone.”
“It's like those things you don't miss it till it's gone.”
Discussed
Mentioned or recommended
- Public Service Media Review
- Small Screen Big Debate
- Media Act 2024
- Glastonbury Festival
- Edinburgh TV Festival
- Dallas
- Strictly Come Dancing
- The Traitors
- Coronation Street
- Adolescence
