The Media Club · 20 September 2024 · 41 min
Why is Tortoise bidding for The Observer?
- Observer Sale to Tortoise
- Jewish Chronicle Columnist Resignations
- BBC Children's Restructuring
- Murdoch Succession Battle
- Podcast Industry Trends
- Evening Standard Final Daily Edition
- UK TV Success in US
In this episode of The Media Club, host Matt Deegan is joined by Charlotte Tobitt, UK editor at Press Gazette, and Faraz Osman, owner of TV indie Gold Wala, to discuss the week's media news. The main story is the potential sale of The Observer, the world's oldest Sunday newspaper, to Tortoise Media, a digital news startup. The panel analyses the motivations behind the bid, the Observer's diminished digital footprint, and the broader trend of legacy print brands being acquired for their IP and brand value. Other stories covered include the resignation of four columnists from the Jewish Chronicle over a fabricated sources scandal, BBC Children's restructuring and the outsourcing of presentation, the Murdoch family succession battle, and the final daily edition of the Evening Standard. Later, Leanne Alie, head of Unlocked Podcasts, joins to discuss her new podcast accelerator programme Amplify, the state of the podcast industry, and highlights from the Radio Festival. The episode also features a media quiz on US-bound British shows.
Key takeaways
- Tortoise Media is in exclusive talks to buy The Observer, the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.
- Four columnists quit the Jewish Chronicle over a fabricated sources scandal.
- BBC Children's is cutting 11 jobs and outsourcing presentation, with CBBC moving online.
- Rupert Murdoch is in court to change the family trust to give Lachlan more control.
- Leanne Alie launched Amplify, a podcast accelerator for mid-sized independent shows.
In this episode
- Intro and Inductions
- Main Stories
- Interview with Leanne Alie
- Radio Festival Gossip
- Media Quiz
Notable quotes
“I love this idea, but can we get Beyoncé to present it?”
“Commit a crime, get yourself a Netflix show.”
“We continue to be the best in the world making TV programmes.”
Discussed
Tortoise Media · The Observer · Jewish Chronicle · BBC · Unlocked Podcasts · Evening Standard · BBC Children's
Mentioned or recommended
- The Observer
- Sweet Bobby
- Hoaxed
- Celebrity Race Across the World
- Race Across the World
- The Amazing Race
- The Traitors
- Gladiators
- Balamory
- Byker Grove
- Have I Got News for You
- Bridgerton
- Baby Reindeer
- Fool Me Once
- The Gentlemen
- Blitz
- Evil Escapes
- Reggie X
- Hell Price to My Boss
- The Crown
- Sex Education
- The Post Office Scandal
- The Media Club
