Global splashes out on buying The Fellas Studios - what can these two very different media brands get from the deal? 

Also on the pod: as the Guardian announces a new digital strategy - Jim Waterson of London Centric looks back at what’s changed in the ten years of Kath Viner editorship.

All that plus: a little bit of Celebrity Traitors and all the latest telly trends with critic Rhianna Dhillon and we find out why Paddington Bear may be going to court.

The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network, who select the music to score each episode - they can do it for you too at audionetwork.com

Become a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at themediaclub.com

A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.

We record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIACLUB at podshoponline.co.uk

What The Media Club has been reading this week:

Guardian seeks new strategy

Global Acquires Fellas Studios, launches Global Studios

Steven Bartlett launches Flightcast

Did Google Favour Global News Brands Over Local?

Radio Techcon open for business

Daniel Ek to spend more time with his drones

Sky Nabs Macfadden Comedy

Paddington Sues 'Paddington'

AI Presenters to Host Music Channel

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We are back at the British Podcast Awards - one of the biggest nights in media as the worlds of radio, TV and journalism all have a stake in this still fledgling medium.

Ollie Peart is backstage once again to hear from winners including Carl Miller on Kill List season two and a potential TV adaptation and Pod Save The UK’s Coco Kahn on Crooked Media’s struggles with Trump 2.0.

Along the way Matt meets nominees to discuss changes at Audio Always, the UK’s first female-founded video podcast network Hera, and Rory Cellan-Jones on his Parkinson’s podcast Movers And Shakers... with Jeremy Paxman. 

That’s all happening in this edition of The Media Club. Come on in!

The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network who select the music to score each episode - they can do it for you too at audionetwork.com

Become a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at themediaclub.com

A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.

We record our main show at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIA CLUB at podshoponline.co.uk

What The Media Club has been reading this week:

Daniel Ek Steps Back From Spotify To Spend More Time With His Drones)

Bill Murray’s Golf Show Commissioned

Trump Causing Satire Funding Issues, say Armando Iannucci

Observer Veterans Launch New Title

Diversity In TV Advertising Takes A Dip

Clickthrough Rate Increases When You Do A Deal With OpenAI, Report

HERA, The UK’s First Female-Founder Video Podcast

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With Disney and ABC facing the wrath of viewers, why are the big media beasts struggling with the second Trump presidency? Broadcaster and audio critic Miranda Sawyer looks back on another tumultuous week in talk shows.

Also on the pod: which brands and platforms do advertisers love right now and why? Media strategist Jane Ostler from Kantar joins us to reveal the latest Media Reactions data.

All that plus: MPs enter the chat as YouTubers demand a mortgage - but what about the other freelancers? And, in the Media Quiz, we ‘travelogue’ our way around three more curious stories from the week.

The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network, who select the music to score each episode - they can do it for you too at audionetwork.com

Become a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at themediaclub.com

A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.

We record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIA CLUB at podshoponline.co.uk

What The Media Club has been reading this week:

Jimmy Kimmel returns to TV after highly criticized suspension

Kantar Media Reactions 2025

UK’s YouTube and TikTok content creators deserve more rights, say MPs

Sky Studios Elstree Expansion Given Green Light

YouTube Pushes Back On Regulation

Wondery Suddenly Drops Ad Sales On Big UK Show

Independent on the up

Matt Chorley Interviews Ed Davey On A Zip Line

Reach cuts (and Private Eye's take)

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Is the TV industry ready for the latest advertising ban? And why is radio set to profit from it? TV consultant Stephen Arnell joins us to explain more about the Less Healthy Food restrictions.

Also on the show: the rise of fake journalists and PRs is on the rise. Charlotte Tobitt, UK editor of Press Gazette takes us down the rabbithole. All the news from the RTS Cambridge convention with media writer Kate Bulkley.... And the Financial Times launches a new film starring Stephen Fry; we speak to the FT’s Juliet Riddell about marrying journalism with fiction.

The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network who select the music to score each episode - they can do it for you too at audionetwork.com

Become a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at themediaclub.com

A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.

We're remote recording this week, but when we're in person... we record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIA CLUB at podshoponline.co.uk

What The Media Club has been reading this week:

LHF Ad Ban is looming - and the loophole for radio and podcasters

Channel 4 Makes History By Taking First Ever Majority Stake In A Production Company

YouTube's AI updates in full

Recall Me, Maybe - new FT film starring Stephen Fry

Publisher of Delicious magazine ceases trading

Royal cleaner stories removed by Times and Sun after authenticity questions

Dubious PR agencies are bombarding journalists with fake content 

Channel 4 to mark Trump’s UK visit with ‘longest uninterrupted reel of untruths’

Donald Trump files $15bn lawsuit against the New York Times

Channel 5 launches NFL Big Game Night

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An online spat reveals a new truth about modern journalism. Alex Hudson, Editor-in-chief of Everything Popular is Wrong, takes a trip into Substack to investigate.

Also on the pod: Lachlan Murdoch wins the succession battle. TV critic and media writer Scott Bryan tells us who are the real winners and losers. 

All that plus: why are streamers so reluctant to fund an antibullying body? The Observer staff face up to their new reality... and, in the Media Quiz, our guests take part in a branding exercise.

The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network who select the music to score each episode - they can do it for you too at audionetwork.com

Become a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at themediaclub.com

A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.

We record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIA CLUB at podshoponline.co.uk

What The Media Club has been reading this week:

Lachlan takes control of News Corp

Culture Secretary Pressing Streamers on CIISA

Observer cuts pagination and casuals

Gregg Wallace sues the BBC

Fridge Magnate Takes Channel 4 Job

AI Startup Plans 5000 Podcasts at $1/ep

Journalists vs Influencers

Oh, the glamour! Scott’s NTA behind the scenes article

James Corden & Ruth Jones head to Apple TV

STV announces name of radio station

New York Times adds new subs tier

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Why are the superindies reluctant to spend on new ideas at the moment? Steven D Wright, journalist and TV producer tells us what’s going on.

It’s about to get quieter in the audio sector too, with the cull at Wondery sending shockwaves through the burgeoning podcast sector. Chloe Straw, chief exec of trade body Audio UK, gives us the mood music - and which strategies could help your business.

All that plus: has Destination X been mistreated? Apple TV starts selling its shows to terrestrial broadcasters... and, in the Media Quiz, we fix up some old media properties..

The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network who select the music to score each episode - they can do it for you too at audionetwork.com

Become a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at themediaclub.com

A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.

We record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIA CLUB at podshoponline.co.uk

What The Media Club has been reading this week:

All3Media’s Quiet Year

Wondery's pivot

The top 25 pods suggest video is coming for audio... 

ITV Studios to launch Entertainment label

Roku’s New FAST Channels

BBC Buys Apple TV+ Sitcom ‘Trying’

Has Destination X been mistreated?

Bragg Quits

Pemberton to play Rupert

Blanchard uncloaked

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Is Netflix indulging in ‘TV Tourism?’ And what does it mean? Should Channel 4 have broadcast their Bonnie Blue documentary? And why is a newspaper editor delivering the keynote at a room full of TV makers?

It’s our annual, Edinburgh International TV Festival special - with all the insight from the sessions... and gossip from the conference floor. Featuring Boyd Hilton, Rebecca Cooney, Jake Kanter, Faraz Osman, Heather Fallon and Jordan Laird.

Also on the programme: the new Last One Laughing line up is released. Leon Wilson from Banajay UK reveals the list… and what the future holds for Masterchef. 

Plus, in the Media Quiz, we play The Weakest Format. Start the clock!

That’s all happening in this edition of The Media Club. Come on in…

The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network who select the music to score each episode - they can do it for you too at audionetwork.com

Become a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at themediaclub.com

A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.

What The Media Club has been reading this week:

Harding Warns Of BBC Independence Crisis

‘The Celebrity Traitors’ Gets Fall Release Date On BBC

Netflix Bristles at C4 'tourist' jibe

Last One Laughing line-up announced

Ben Frow takes swipe at Ian Katz

Wired drops AI article

Reach Goes Down Under

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Public service content should be findable on YouTube - so says media regulator Ofcom, in today's announcement of a public service media review.

Cristina Nicolotti Squires speaks to Matt Deegan about treating YouTube as a new form of EPG, the need for media literacy - and looks back at the challenges the regulator has faced this year with impartiality at GB News and BBC Radio's spin-off stations.

We record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIA CLUB at podshoponline.co.uk

We're taking a break now until the Edinburgh TV Festival in August - if you're there, please do say hello!

**SURVEY TIME** We need more info on our listeners and viewers to help improve the show. It takes 2mins and one lucky applicant will win a £50 John Lewis voucher. Take part now

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Is the media industry too toxic for freelancers? Exec producer Rina Dayalji joins us to discuss the wider problems at the heart of the BBC’s Masterchef scandal.

**SURVEY TIME** We need more info on our listeners and viewers to help improve the show. It takes 2mins and one lucky applicant will win a £50 John Lewis voucher. Take part now

Also on the show: how will AI change the way we made and consume media? Meliora CEO Clive Dickens reveals the conversations happening behind closed doors.

Plus: the BBC’s annual report shows healthy profits for its commercial arm - but trouble brewing closer to home.

Become a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at themediaclub.com

A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.

We record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIA CLUB at podshoponline.co.uk

What The Media Club has been reading this week:

LEAN AI leaderboard

Freelancers unable to call out toxic behaviour

Torode also leaving Masterchef

BBC's revenues are up to highest ever

But licence fee payers down 300k 

Bob Mortimer returns

Jonathan Miller, RIP

Millionaire Spin Off Comes To ITV

BBC's Highest Paid Journalists - the numbers are in

Adolescence Picks Up 13 Emmy Nominations

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

**SURVEY TIME** We need more info on our listeners and viewers to help improve the show. It takes 2mins and one lucky applicant will win a £50 John Lewis voucher. Take part as you listen...

When the ad money leaves, what do you do to keep your publication going? Tag Warner, CEO of the Gay Times, joins us to discuss their adventures in a readership share scheme.

Partly fuelling that is Google’s AI Overview: Charlotte Tobitt of Press Gazette takes us through the legal challenge publishers have just launched.

All that plus: Gregg Wallace isn’t giving up without a fight, are we heading for a world with just two public service broadcasters? And, in the Audio Network Media Quiz, Matt consults the Club’s crystal ball.

The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network who select the music to score each episode - they can do it for you too at audionetwork.com

Become a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at themediaclub.com

A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.

We record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIA CLUB at podshoponline.co.uk

What The Media Club has been reading this week:

The Gay Times’ readers share scheme

Peter Bazelgette: only two PSBs will exist in a decade

Greg Wallace preempts BBC report

BBC Clause in Gaza Doc contract

Audio UK’s petition to DCMS

Google AI Overview overview update

Giant Ball format in development

Avalon reboot Spitting Image for YouTube

First AI ad launched on Channel 4

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