The Media Club · 20 December 2024 · 39 min

Tortoise’s Observer deal is done

With Charlotte Tobitt, Caroline Frost

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• Observer Sale to Tortoise
• BBC DAB Expansion Pause
• Gregg Wallace Replacement
• British Journalism Awards
• Press Gazette Registration Wall
• TV Preview 2025
• Media Quiz: Transferable Skills

In this episode of The Media Club, host Matt Deegan is joined by Charlotte Tobitt of Press Gazette and columnist Caroline Frost to discuss the confirmation of the Observer's sale to Tortoise Media, with Lucy Rock set to edit the print edition. They explore the concerns of Observer journalists about job security and the future of the paper under new ownership. The conversation also covers the BBC's pause on DAB expansion plans following Ofcom's investigation, the appointment of Grace Dent to replace Gregg Wallace on Celebrity MasterChef, and a round-up of other media news including the British Journalism Awards and Press Gazette's new registration wall. Caroline Frost previews TV highlights for 2025, and the episode concludes with a media quiz.

Key takeaways

• The Observer's sale to Tortoise Media is confirmed, with Lucy Rock as editor of the print edition.
• BBC has paused its DAB expansion plans pending an Ofcom investigation.
• Grace Dent will replace Gregg Wallace on Celebrity MasterChef.
• Press Gazette has introduced a registration wall for its content.
• Channel 4 News won News Provider of the Year at the British Journalism Awards.

In this episode

• Intro0:00 · Host Matt Deegan welcomes listeners and introduces the episode's topics.
• Strictly & Amazing Women in Journalism0:40 · Caroline Frost nominates the Strictly booking team, and Charlotte Tobitt highlights recent female journalism appointments.
• The Observer & Tortoise3:40 · Discussion on the Observer sale to Tortoise, including journalist concerns and future plans.
• Guardian competition?7:30 · Speculation on whether the Guardian will launch a weekend edition to compete with the Observer.
• Future of Masterchef9:40 · Discussion on Grace Dent replacing Gregg Wallace and the impact on the show.
• BBC pause DAB station roll-out13:34 · Analysis of the BBC's pause on DAB expansion and Ofcom's investigation.
• Media Concierge takeover21:30 · News of National World's takeover by Media Concierge.
• Press Gazette's registration wall25:05 · Charlotte Tobitt explains Press Gazette's new registration wall.
• Radio Times Podcast26:32 · Caroline Frost discusses the Radio Times podcast and its rebrand.
• Harlan Coben's Missing You27:40 · Caroline Frost previews Harlan Coben's new Netflix series.
• Brian Walden and Margaret Thatcher29:06 · Preview of a new drama about the 1989 interview between Brian Walden and Margaret Thatcher.
• Media Quiz30:14 · The quiz segment on media brands moving to new formats.

Notable quotes

“I think if one person saved Strictly, it was Chris McCausland.”

Caroline Frost · 0:00

“It's like one of those coin machines where it's not allowed to tip over because we saw things like the website, didn't we?”

Caroline Frost · 0:00

“The BBC must learn from this.”

Caroline Frost · 0:00

“I think they should just learn from the Dalai Lama and just consult the T Leaves and decide who doesn't want to be a TV presenter and go and recruit them.”

Caroline Frost · 0:00

“It does become a case of will the last male BBC presenter please turn off the lights.”

Caroline Frost · 0:00

Discussed

Tortoise Media · The Observer · The Guardian · BBC · Ofcom · Press Gazette · Radio Times

Also mentioned: Lucy Rock · James Harding · Gregg Wallace · Grace Dent · Chris McCausland · Sherry Phillips · Lizzie Buchanan · David Montgomery · Malcolm Denmark · Caroline Wheeler · Harlan Coben · James Graham · Steve Coogan · Harriet Walter · Brian Walden · Margaret Thatcher · Rowan Atkinson · Joe Brumm · Ted Sarandos · Shonda Rhimes · Netflix · Channel 4 · National World · Media Concierge

Mentioned or recommended

• Strictly Come Dancing · tv show
• Celebrity MasterChef · tv show
• MasterChef · tv show
• British Journalism Awards · event
• Missing You · tv show · Harlan Coben
• Brian Walden and Margaret Thatcher · tv show · James Graham
• Bergerac · tv show
• One Day · tv show · David Nicholls
• Nobody Wants This · tv show
• Black Doves · tv show
• The Agency · tv show
• The Diplomat · tv show
• Bluey · tv show · Joe Brumm
• Gavin & Stacey · tv show
• Man vs Bee · tv show · Rowan Atkinson
• Man vs Baby · tv show · Rowan Atkinson
• Radio Times Smart TV podcast · podcast