Matt Deegan

The Media Club · 17 January 2025 · 42 min

Scotland Takes Aim At Traitors

With Rebecca Cooney, Karin Robinson

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In this episode of The Media Club, hosts Matt Deegan and Rebecca Cooney discuss the controversy surrounding the use of Scottish crew on the BBC show The Traitors, questioning whether productions are genuinely supporting local economies or merely paying lip service. They also cover the impact of the LA wildfires on Hollywood production and awards season, the closure of London Live and potential revival by David Montgomery, and the looming TikTok ban in the US. The episode includes a media quiz and discussions on YouTube's dominance in news, the new Match of the Day hosts, and the launch of London Daily Digital.

Key takeaways

  • The Traitors row has sparked debate over whether Scottish productions genuinely employ local crew.
  • LA wildfires have disrupted Hollywood production and awards season, with potential long-term shifts.
  • London Live has ceased transmission, with possible revival by David Montgomery.
  • TikTok faces a US ban with ByteDance refusing to sell, and the CEO attending Trump's inauguration.
  • YouTube is becoming a dominant platform for news and podcast consumption.

In this episode

  • Intro and listener survey0:00 · Matt introduces the show and asks listeners to complete a survey.
  • Lila Shapiro and Neil Gaiman allegations0:48 · Discussion of Lila Shapiro's investigative piece on Neil Gaiman.
  • Jane Featherstone on drama and AI3:06 · Rebecca highlights Jane Featherstone's comments to the select committee.
  • Traitors Scottish crew issue4:17 · Debate over whether The Traitors used Scottish crew.
  • LA wildfires impact9:40 · Impact on Hollywood production and awards season.
  • London Live closure14:00 · Discussion of London Live's closure and potential revival.
  • TikTok ban and YouTube news20:00 · TikTok ban and YouTube's dominance in news.
  • Media quiz25:00 · Quiz on media launches including Match of the Day hosts.

Notable quotes

“I want local TV and I want local issues, but I don't only want the local issues. I want to be part of the national conversation.”

Rebecca Cooney · 0:00

“I constantly feel like we've slipped into the alternative timeline of dystopia and someone's going to appear and go, see, this is what it could be like if you kill that butterfly and then vanish.”

Rebecca Cooney · 0:00

Discussed

BBC · Studio Lambert · London Live · TikTok · YouTube

Also mentioned: Lila Shapiro · Neil Gaiman · Jane Featherstone · David Montgomery · Jim Waterson · Timothée Chalamet · Scott Mills · Gary Lineker · Gabby Logan · Mark Chapman · Kelly Cates · Jeff Bezos · Elon Musk · Donald Trump · Piers Morgan · Netflix · Amazon · Ofcom · BAFTA · Oscars · Press Gazette · Broadcast · Global · News UK

Mentioned or recommended

  • The Traitors · tv show · Studio Lambert
  • Rivals · tv show · Disney+
  • Match of the Day · tv show · BBC
  • London Daily Digital · publication · LDD News Limited
  • A Complete Unknown · film · James Mangold
  • Grok · product · xAI

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