The Media Club · 27 May 2022 · 37 min
The Digital Future: BBC4 & CBBC on demand, Telegraph Subs Soar, Fake News 101
- BBC Digital-First Strategy
- Press Subscriptions
- Fake News and Disinformation
- Cost of Living Crisis
- Media Influence and Proprietors
- Netflix Subscriber Growth
In this episode of The Media Club, host Matt Deegan is joined by Jamie East, co-founder of the Smart 7 news podcast, and Charlotte Tobitt, editor of Press Gazette, to discuss the BBC's digital-first strategy and cuts, the Telegraph's record digital subscription growth, and the future of news amid the cost of living crisis. The episode also features a deep dive with BBC disinformation journalist Shayan Sardarizadeh on responding to fake news during breaking events like the Texas school shooting. The panel analyses the implications of the BBC's cuts, the sustainability of subscription models, and the influence of media proprietors, ending with a media quiz and recommendations.
Key takeaways
- The BBC announced a digital-first strategy, including cuts to CBBC, BBC4, and Radio 4 Extra, and a single 24-hour news channel.
- The Telegraph reported 40% growth in digital subscriptions, nearing its target of 1 million paying subscribers by end of 2023.
- BBC disinformation journalist Shayan Sardarizadeh discussed how false narratives spread on platforms like 4chan and Twitter during the Texas shooting.
- Alexander Lebedev stepped down from the Independent due to Canadian sanctions over the Ukraine war.
- Netflix is facing subscriber challenges and plans to crack down on password sharing.
In this episode
- Intro and News Roundup
- BBC Digital-First Strategy Discussion
- Telegraph Subscriptions and Press Trends
- Deep Dive: Disinformation with Shayan Sardarizadeh
- Media Quiz: Mistakes and Makeups
- Wrap-up and Recommendations
Notable quotes
“If the BBC knows how to do one thing, it's to waste money.”
“It's like the shipping forecast, isn't it? You know, no one uses the shipping forecast really, you know, but it's. You always know it's there.”
“You just have to make good stuff that people want to read. It's not that tricky.”
“I think that they definitely have lost their influence.”
“It's a bit of consolidation. It's similar to your man from Chelsea who had to sell. But you just get the feeling they're just circling. They're just circling the runway until it's safe to land again.”
Discussed
Mentioned or recommended
- Smart 7
- Stranger Things
- Better Call Saul
- Bridgerton
- LA Story
- The Future of Media Explained
- Inside Out
- We Are England
