In this anonymous edition of TellyCast, Justin Crosby is joined by two experienced digital-first producers who speak candidly about the realities of building sustainable businesses in social video, YouTube and podcasting in 2026.

They discuss why digital producers are suddenly in demand, how broadcaster strategies are changing, and why success on YouTube is far from guaranteed for traditional TV indies. The conversation digs into budget expectations, premium versus low-cost production models, the need for multi-skilled teams, and the growing importance of community building over single commissions.

Rights and IP are a major focus, with the guests explaining how current broadcaster deals work, why ownership of audiences and channels matters, and what a future industry framework for digital-first production might look like. They also explore branded content pricing, fears of a race to the bottom, and whether new industry standards are needed to protect producers.

The episode closes with predictions for the rest of 2026, including the impact of the BBC’s new digital initiatives, creator cross-overs into television, and what the next phase of the digital-first production economy could bring.

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