The Addition

The BBC is always under scrutiny, but lately, it is having a particularly tough time. In recent weeks, it has faced difficult questions about its chairman Richard Sharp, transitioned to a combined news channel for both the UK and the rest of the world, and been tangled up in a major impartiality row thanks to Gary Lineker. All the while, significant numbers of layoffs are happening, with years of experience walking out of Broadcasting House.Jamie Angus knows the BBC better than most. He edited two of its flagship radio programmes - “Today” and “The World at One.” He also has experience of both the management and global aspects of the corporation, having risen to become the director of the World Service Group. Now COO of Arabic radio station Al Arabiya, he joins the podcast this week to give invaluable insight into what is going on at the BBC.* Gary Lineker is Not the Story [Updated]* Gary Lineker Row: BBC Backtracks After Wasting Weekend of Sports Coverage* Joanna Gosling Confirms BBC Exit Amidst Newsroom Unrest* BBC Newsroom Anger as Lead Presenters For New Channel Confirmed* EXCLUSIVE: The Email Detailing How The BBC is Starting to Merge News Channels* Al Arabiya* Charlotte Henry on Twitter* The Addition on YouTube* Charlotte Henry on TikTokListen wherever you get your podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

It has been a tumultuous time for TikTok. The UK government joined the ranks of those banning the short-form video app on (most) official devices, with the BBC also urging staff to delete it. Then CEO Shou Zi Chew appeared in front of Congress. Wall Street was not that impressed by his performance, but creators were, as he calmly handled increasingly daft questions from US lawmakers. It’s fair to say that creators are starting to get worried about a general ban and are making their voices heard on the platform and elsewhere.But why are these bans being discussed at all? And what happens next? There is only one person to ask. Chris Stokel-Walker literally wrote the book on TikTok. We unpick Shou Zi Chew’s congressional appearance, talk about the sudden move to take action and whether or not a general ban is likely.* TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies before Congres - CSpan* TikTok banned on UK government devices as part of wider app review* BBC advises staff to delete TikTok from work phones* Will TikTok Really be Banned? - The Addition* Chris Stokel-Walker’s website* Chris Stokel-Walker’s books* Chris Stokel-Walker on Twitter* The Addition blog* Charlotte Henry on TwitterThank you to Kolide for sponsoring this episode of the podcast. If you're an Okta user, they can get your entire fleet to 100% compliance. Its method means fewer support tickets, less frustration, and most importantly: 100% fleet compliance.Visit kolide.com/theaddition to learn more or book a demo.* Listen wherever you get your podcasts.ICYMIDo We Still Believe in "Ted Lasso"?Introducing TV+ Talk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

The idea for “TV+ Talk” came about after I joined “MacVoices” to discuss Apple’s streaming service with Chuck Joiner. We had a lot of fun, so we decided to do it more regularly! The aim is to publish an episode about once a month, depending on our schedules. There is a lot happening on Apple TV+ so there should be plenty to talk about. Of course, if there is a show or movie on the service that you either love or hate and you want us to discuss it, make sure you leave a comment in the appropriate places! It would be great to hear from you.In the opening episode of “TV+ Talk”, we discuss where we think Apple TV+  is at and Apple’s position in the media ecosystem.  We also reveal our favourite shows and, of course, discuss episodes one and two of “Ted Lasso” season three. * The Addition on YouTube* Ted Lasso Season Three Review - The Addition blog* Do We Still Believe in "Ted Lasso"? - “The Addition Podcast”* Charlotte Henry on Twitter* MacVoices* Chuck Joiner on Twitter* MacVoices on Twitter* Chuck Joiner on Mastodon This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

You may just have noticed that a new season of “Ted Lasso” has begun on Apple TV+, but is the series still delivering as it once was? Kelly Guimont joins the podcast to discuss the opening episode and what we might expect to come next. There are spoilers for season three, episode one so watch that and then come back and join us!Given that this is likely to be the last season of “Ted Lasso”, and even though we assume there will be specials and spin-offs, Apple TV+ may also have some issues filling the gap left by its biggest hit so far.This is also the 50th episode of the podcast. A huge thank you to all the fabulous guests who have appeared and an even bigger thank you to all of you who have listened. Here’s to the next 50!* Exclusive: Bill Lawrence on the Success of ‘Ted Lasso’ on Apple TV+ - The MacObserver* Ted Lasso Season Three Review - The Addition blog* Kelly Guimont on Mastodon* Charlotte Henry on Twitter* The Addition on YouTubeListen wherever you get your podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

Shannon Morse has been making online video for… a long time. Long before we called doing such work being a “creator”, in fact. She joins the show to discuss the current state of the creator economy. How has vertical video changed the game? Can creators actually make money from it? On TikTok in particular, the benefits may go beyond earning some extra income, but it is noticeable that those who started out on that platform seem to be adding longer-form videos and podcasts to their portfolio.The conversation about the crossover between creators and journalists also continues on this week’s episode. The two sides can learn from each other, but will they?* Journalist, Creator or Both?* Shannon Morse on Twitter* Shannon Morse on YouTube* Shannon Morse on TikTok* Charlotte Henry on Twitter* The Addition on YouTubeThank you to Kolide for sponsoring this episode of the podcast. If you're an Okta user, they can get your entire fleet to 100% compliance. Its method means fewer support tickets, less frustration, and most importantly: 100% fleet compliance.Visit kolide.com/theaddition to learn more or book a demo.Listen wherever you get your podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

It is International Women’s Day and to mark the occasion Charlotte Tobitt, UK Editor of Press Gazette, joins the show to reflect on five decades of Cosmopolitan and discuss the future of women’s media. We explore whether glossy magazines can survive the challenge posed to them by influencers and creators. Cosmo is certainly doing some very interesting and pioneering digital innovation.Some women’s magazines have had to reduce their print output whilst building their digital offerings. Others have stopped print altogether. Sadly, a few brands have disappeared entirely. It is clear though, that women still have loyalty to many of these outlets and value what they produce. * How Cosmopolitan UK moved beyond print with 17m monthly website readers - Press Gazette* Financial Times’ Head of Newsletters Sarah Ebner on the varied role of newsletters - Media Voices* Charlotte Tobitt at Press Gazette* Charlotte Tobitt on Twitter* Charlotte Henry on TwitterThank you to Kolide for sponsoring this episode of the podcast. If you're an Okta user, they can get your entire fleet to 100% compliance. Its method means fewer support tickets, less frustration, and most importantly: 100% fleet compliance.Visit kolide.com/theaddition to learn more or book a demo.Listen wherever you get your podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

There has been a huge amount of news, both good and bad, coming out of the media industry in recent months. Sometimes it is worth taking a breath and looking at where we currently are. There are not many betters guests I could have to do this than Graham Ruddick. He has covered business and media for a number of major publications such as The Times, Telegraph and Guardian, and now runs the Off to Lunch business newsletter and its sister podcast, “Business Studies”.Indeed, we start the show by chatting about Graham’s career so far and what it was like to make the leap into becoming an independent writer. We also unpick the rounds of layoffs currently sweeping the media industry and discuss what the growth of AI tools might mean for the future.* Off to Lunch* Graham Ruddick on Twitter* Charlotte Henry on TwitterThank you to Kolide for sponsoring this episode of the podcast. If you're an Okta user, they can get your entire fleet to 100% compliance. Its method means fewer support tickets, less frustration, and most importantly: 100% fleet compliance.Visit kolide.com/theaddition to learn more or book a demo.Listen wherever you get your podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

Local news is the subject of much agonising within the media industry. This traditional route into journalism, learning the craft at local outlets, is increasingly closed to young hacks on both sides of the Atlantic. Numerous publications are being run down or have closed. Yet they are so important to many communities who want to be informed about what is going on around them.The team at 6AM City seem to have found a model that works. They send out daily, localised emails to 25 different markets at, you guessed it, 6 AM local time every day. It’s all about what is going on in the area, but there is no crime and punishment coverage and very little politics. Certainly nothing partisan. How, though, can you do local news when you don’t touch those traditionally important areas? 6AM City clearly are providing audiences with the information they want, but is the network of newsletters helping fill the void in news deserts? COO and co-founder Ryan Heafy joins to explain how it all works and shares some exciting plans for future expansion.* 6AM City* 6AM City on Twitter* Ryan Heafy on Twitter* Charlotte Henry on TwitterListen wherever you get your podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

If you think this year is going to be big for streaming and the entertainment industry, you ain’t seen nothing yet. That’s the argument put forward by this week’s guest, Tom Merritt. He explains, convincingly, that a variety of deal deadlines mean that some big decisions will have to be made early next year and this could see meaningful change and consolidation in streaming.There’s the question of what Disney is going to with its Hulu stake, what other companies might be interested in Hulu, and what will happen to many of the smaller streaming services. The tech companies like Apple and Amazon will care about being the platform, the hub where you watch things, whilst using their original content to draw subscribers in. We discuss it all on this week’s show.We also couldn’t let this week go by without chatting about Super Bowl LVII. The half time show in particular, and Rihanna’s performance at the Apple Music Half Time Show to be precise. What does Apple’s sponsorship tell us about its interest in sports and media?* 2024 Will Change Streaming TV Forever - Tom Merrit* Watch Rihanna’s Full Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Half Time Show - The Addition blog* https://www.tommerritt.com/* Cordkillers* Daily Tech News Show* “A Word with Tom Merritt”* Tom Merritt on Twitter* Charlotte Henry on TwitterListen wherever you get your podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

Many of us take watching the latest hit Netflix series for granted. But how do you enjoy such content if you’re blind? Steven Scott from “Double Tap” joins the show to discuss the various accessibility features that services make available to help with this. He also highlights their varying quality. First, the show goes back to basics. What accessibility features for blind people are already available on our phones and other devices?Sidenote: I appeared on “Double Tap” on Monday discussing the ongoing saga that is the UK’s Online Safety Bill. Discussing the television and movies we watch is a crucial part of our culture. We do it at work and with our friends and family. If blind and visually impaired people are locked out of watching the thing everyone is talking about, they are excluded from those water cooler moments. Thankfully, the tools available to those with disabilities continue to improve. However, there is still some way to go.* 36 Seconds That Changed Everything: How the iPhone Learned to Talk* “Double Tap”* “Double Tap” on Twitter* Steven Scott on Twitter* Charlotte Henry on TwitterListen wherever you get your podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com