The Media Club · 28 August 2026 · 72 min

Should YouTube Be Regulated?

With Scott Bryan, Geoff Jein, Fenton Bailey, Jake Kanter, Dino Sofos, Lucas, David Clews, Rina Dayalji, Chris Curtis, Danielle Murphy

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In this special episode recorded at the Edinburgh TV Festival, host Matt Deegan and guests discuss the festival's final edition in Edinburgh before its move to Manchester. The main focus is YouTube's keynote MacTaggart lecture by Pedro Pina, who argued against regulation and for voluntary partnerships with broadcasters. The panel, including TV critic Scott Bryan and indie chief Geoff Jein, dissect the speech and the broader industry mood of consolidation, economic uncertainty, and the rise of creator-led content. The episode also features interviews with Fenton Bailey (World of Wonder), indie bosses from Quay Street Productions, Persephonica, Banijay, and TwoFour, plus a segment on Matt Deegan's 'Public Media 2028' proposal for BBC reform, and the Audio Network Media Quiz with Rina Dayalji and Chris Curtis.

Key takeaways

YouTube's Pedro Pina delivered the MacTaggart lecture, arguing against regulation and for voluntary partnerships with broadcasters.
The panel felt the speech did not change minds, with concerns about YouTube's economics and the threat to public service broadcasting.
Fenton Bailey used a Titanic metaphor to describe the TV industry as sinking, with media players 'lip-syncing for their lifeboat'.
Matt Deegan proposed a radical restructuring of the BBC, including separating BBC News and creating a subscription-funded entertainment arm.
The episode featured interviews with indie bosses from Quay Street, Persephonica, Banijay, and TwoFour, discussing the challenges of funding and the rise of creator content.
The Audio Network Media Quiz tested guests on real and fake commission announcements, with both guests scoring 10/10.

In this episode

Intro and YouTube MacTaggart discussion0:00 · Matt Deegan introduces the episode and discusses Pedro Pina's MacTaggart lecture with Scott Bryan and Geoff Jein.
Fenton Bailey interview0:00 · Fenton Bailey discusses the state of the TV industry using a Titanic metaphor.
Public Media 2028 discussion with Jake Kanter0:00 · Matt Deegan and Jake Kanter discuss radical proposals for BBC reform.
Audio Network sponsor segment0:00 · Danielle Murphy discusses Audio Network's role and stance on AI.
Interviews with indie bosses0:00 · Conversations with Quay Street Productions, Persephonica, Banijay, and TwoFour representatives.
Audio Network Media Quiz0:00 · Rina Dayalji and Chris Curtis play the Commission Impossible quiz.

Notable quotes

Some in the industry are proposing forced prominence for public service media, which could put future partnerships in jeopardy.

Pedro Pina0:56

I share the concerns expressed about democracy and the public interest. But YouTube is a democracy by definition. A democracy of cultural production. Anyone can find an audience. Forced prominence would impair the public interest by unfairly shifting focus from independent creators and production companies and by recommending that all our viewers watch the same things disregarding personal taste. If this becomes law, many UK-based creators and production companies will see their livelihoods threatened.

Pedro Pina1:07

I kind of look at Edinburgh a bit as Titanique. Have you seen Titanique? Not seeing it. Oh my God. Titanique, the story of Titanic, roughly loosely. But the Titanic hits the iceberg, and then the iceberg bitch comes on board and makes the remaining people on the boat lip-sync for their lifeboat. Right, yes. That is what is happening at Edinburgh. These massive media players are lip-syncing for their lifeboat. No innovation, it's all consolidation, chasing after the latest thing, whether it's vertical dramas or creative culture. But fundamentally, this is an oops moment. The ship, HMS Media, has been split in two and it's sinking.

Fenton Bailey6:52

I think asking the BBC to surrender BBC News is a bit like asking the BBC to sign its own death warrant. I just don't think that's going to happen. It's absolutely fundamental to what the BBC does. The BBC will absolutely want to keep hold of it and I don't think you've solved the problem. It will still be attacked by right-wing media because it will be considered to be a massive market intervention. All the questions around impartiality and all the controversies that dog BBC News will persist, I think, regardless of whose hands it sits in.

Jake Kanter19:23

I think the whole speech to me was basically like, hi, we're not the enemy. We're not here to kill you. We're not here to kill the TV industry. Please like us. And I'm not entirely sure whether it worked.

Scott Bryan2:54

I'm not lip-syncing for my lifeboat. I've spent long enough on Edinburgh stage this weekend. I've no intention of going back there.

Geoff Jein8:27

Discussed

Pedro Pina · Matt Britton · YouTube · BBC · Channel 4 · ITV · Banijay · TwoFour · Persephonica · Quay Street Productions