• TV Production and Commissioning
• Local Journalism and Substack
• Murdoch Family and Media Empire
• BBC Audio Strategy
• MIPCOM London
• Talent and Independence

In this episode of The Media Club, host Matt Deegan is joined by Alex Smith, creative director of Rough Cut, and Jim Waterson, founder of the London Centric Substack. They discuss the upcoming MIPCOM London, the final series of Big Boys on Channel 4, and the challenges of the TV market. Jim shares the success of his local news venture, and they analyse James Murdoch's rare interview, the BBC's decision to stop international radio streaming, and the acquisition of Red Seat Ventures by Fox. The episode also includes a media quiz on unbroadcastable moments.

Key takeaways

• Alex Smith discussed the final series of Big Boys on Channel 4 and the upcoming drama Little Disasters for Paramount Plus.
• Jim Waterson reported that London Centric has reached thousands of paying subscribers, hitting his three-year target in six months.
• The BBC has stopped streaming its music radio stations internationally, citing rights and monetisation issues.
• James Murdoch gave a rare interview to The Atlantic, revealing a breakdown in his relationship with his father Rupert and brother Lachlan.
• The first MIPCOM London is set to take place, with major media sales houses showcasing content.

In this episode

• Intro and Media Club roles0:00 · Host Matt Deegan introduces guests Alex Smith and Jim Waterson, who each add a name to the Media Club roles.
• MIPCOM London preview0:00 · Discussion of upcoming MIPCOM London and notable shows, including Little Disasters.
• James Murdoch interview analysis0:00 · Panel discusses James Murdoch's rare interview in The Atlantic and the Murdoch family dynamics.
• BBC radio streaming changes0:00 · Discussion on BBC stopping international streaming of music radio stations.
• Big Boys and Rough Cut0:00 · Alex Smith talks about the success of Big Boys and Rough Cut's upcoming projects.
• London Centric and Substack0:00 · Jim Waterson discusses the growth of his Substack and the challenges of independent journalism.
• Media Quiz: Unbroadcastable0:00 · Quiz on unbroadcastable media moments, including BAFTA Trump jokes and BBC Gaza documentary.

Notable quotes

“I'd like to champion a young actor, a guy called David Johnson, who won a BAFTA Rising Star at the weekend at the BAFTA movies.”

Alex Smith · 0:00

“I think a guy who has got a massive challenge ahead of him is David Rhodes, who's the boss of Sky News in the UK, who has been out doing a media round rolling the carpet for his vision of turning it from a linear TV news channel into something we'll all be paying for for Sky updates that are sort of on whatever format.”

Jim Waterson · 0:00

“I'm at the point I hope to get to in about 2027.”

Jim Waterson · 0:00

“I wake up every morning terrified that they're all going to cancel.”

Jim Waterson · 0:00

“I would say you have to be borderline, psychotic and driven and a bit lucky to make it work.”

Jim Waterson · 0:00

Discussed

Rough Cut · Channel 4 · London Centric · BBC

Also mentioned: James Murdoch · Rupert Murdoch · Jack Rooke · David Johnson · David Rhodes · McKay Coppins · Lachlan Murdoch · Diane Kruger · Jo Joyner · Sarah Vaughan · Lucia Keskin · Lizzie Durden · Catherine Murdoch · Sky News · Comcast · News Corp · Fox · Red Seat Ventures · Fremantle · Paramount Plus · Substack · The Guardian · BBC Studios

Mentioned or recommended

• Big Boys · tv show · Jack Rooke
• Little Disasters · tv show · Sarah Vaughan
• MIPCOM London · event
• Succession · tv show · Jesse Armstrong
• White Lotus · tv show · Mike White
• Baby Reindeer · tv show · Richard Gadd
• Anatomy of a Scandal · book · Sarah Vaughan
• Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone · tv show · BBC
• Bridget Jones Radio · other · Bauer Media
• We Might Regret This · tv show · Rough Cut
• Things You Should Have Done · tv show · Lucia Keskin
• Alien: Romulus · film · Fede Alvarez
• Rye Lane · film · Raine Allen-Miller