The Media Club · 9 October 2026 · 53 min

Should the BBC ‘Be More Elvis’?

Matt Deegan is joined by Gold Wala MD Faraz Osman and The Week Junior editor Vanessa Harriss to dissect the week's media news. The main story is BBC Director General Matt Brittin's 'be more Elvis' speech to staff — a call for 'a little less conversation, a little more action' — which promised decentralised decision-making, a digital-first iPlayer (including an AI agent called Iggy and a 'Vegas mode'), but stopped short of announcing the mooted closures of BBC Three and BBC Scotland. The panel also discusses the axing of Radio 4's You and Yours after 50 years, Channel 4's appointment of David Brindley as content chief under Priya Dogra's three-way structure, and Paramount's completed $110bn takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery to form Skydance. Later, Vanessa Harriss explains the first National Magazine Day (14 October) and why print still works for children, before the Audio Network Media Quiz covers a BBC Radio 2 composer mix-up, The Guardian's casual staff changes and Brian Cox's Sony digital deal.

Key takeaways

BBC Director General Matt Brittin told staff he wants 'a little less conversation, a little more action', promising decentralised decision-making and a digital-first iPlayer with an AI agent called Iggy.
Radio 4's You and Yours has been axed after 50 years, with the BBC promising replacement consumer programming.
David Brindley is set to become Channel 4 content chief, replacing Ian Katz, under Priya Dogra's three-way content structure.
Paramount completed its $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, combining CBS, HBO, CNN and two film studios under David Ellison's Skydance.
The first National Magazine Day takes place on 14 October, with over 70,000 magazines distributed to children via community hubs, breakfast clubs and food banks.

In this episode

Intro and plus-ones0:00 · Matt Deegan welcomes Faraz Osman and Vanessa Harriss, who each nominate a plus one.
BBC 'be more Elvis' and cuts0:00 · Matt Brittin's speech, iPlayer plans, You and Yours axing and BBC Three's future.
Channel 4 content chief0:00 · David Brindley's appointment and Channel 4's purpose debate.
Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery0:00 · The completed $110bn takeover and what it means for UK producers and news.
Ad break and news in brief0:00 · Podshop sponsor read plus Doctor Who bids, Goalhanger sales and BBC News appointment.
National Magazine Day0:00 · Vanessa Harriss on the first National Magazine Day and children's reading.
Audio Network Media Quiz: Media Storage Wars0:00 · Three media stories hidden in a Storage Wars format.
Outro and plugs0:00 · Faraz and Vanessa share what they are working on and where to find them.

Notable quotes

I think Matt Britton is clearly somebody who is pushing for things to actually happen. And I think that that is probably right. You know, I find him incredibly impressive.

Faraz Osman4:42

I find it actually quite triggering, even thinking about it. Just that thing of, I don't know if you've ever had this, but being called to, can everybody come to the boardroom at half past 10 or 11? So they've had enough time to talk to the lawyers beforehand.

Vanessa Harriss6:05

I think that we as video makers need to take some lessons from the printed word to go, what can we do to make sure that people see the value in good visual content as opposed to just good written content.

Faraz Osman42:30

You will never look at a child and go, they're not reading a very good book, right? That might not be a very well-written book. It might have some issues with what's being said. But the fact that they're reading is always seen as a good thing.

Faraz Osman42:16

There were two places in the UK where you would wear the t-shirt of a channel. And that was Channel 4 and MTV, right? People would think you're cool if you had a big Channel 4 logo on your back or a big MTV logo on your back. Today, that's like A24, right?

Faraz Osman23:27