This episode of the TV Live Podcast takes you back to 1991, when British television changed forever. The ITV franchise auctions turned the familiar world of commercial TV upside down — Thames Television, TV-am, TVS, and others lost their licences, while newcomers like Carlton, Meridian, and Westcountry stepped in to take their place.

In this episode, Rob Francis explores the high-stakes bids, political pressure, and the uncertainty that gripped the network. He'll share his own memories as a child watching favourite faces and programmes disappear, replaced by new voices and shows.

Independent Television didn’t slip quietly into British life. It arrived in the 1950s with new voices, bright lights, and a challenge to everything the BBC had done for decades. In this episode, Rob Francis explores how a single switch-on reshaped the national mood, opened the door to competition, and changed the rhythm of the living room. From regional pioneers to the first commercial break, this is the story of how ITV began - and why it mattered.

This episode looks at how British television handled the early hours of Sunday 31 August 1997, when the first reports of the Paris car crash involving Diana, Princess of Wales began to emerge. It follows the BBC’s overnight coverage, ITV’s delayed response, and the moment when every major channel shifted into a single day of rolling news.

Rob Francis reflects on watching events unfold as a twelve-year-old who expected a morning of children’s programmes but instead witnessed one of the most significant broadcast moments of the era.

Audio clips from http://www.meldrum.co.uk/mhp/continuity/diana.html and telly.site/diana/

This episode looks at the future of STV’s news service in Aberdeen and what the planned closure of the North bulletin means for the region. I explore how local news shaped the North East, why losing a dedicated service hits harder than a simple schedule change, and why the identity of this part of Scotland is tied to the stories told about it. There’s history, reflection, and a blunt look at what comes next if Aberdeen’s voice on screen fades.

President Donald Trump is threatening to sue the BBC for a billion dollars over a Panorama documentary that edited his January 6th speech in a way the corporation now admits was misleading.

In this episode, Rob Francis examines what really happened, why it matters, and what it reveals about the fragile relationship between truth, journalism, and political power. Can the BBC survive this without losing public trust? Should it fight Trump in court or face its own failings first?

With sharp analysis and honest opinion, Rob explores whether this moment is a scandal, a turning point - or the beginning of a new era where truth itself goes on trial.

As Director-General Tim Davie and BBC News CEO Deborah Turness step down, Rob Francis asks what their departures really say about the state of Britain’s public broadcaster. In this episode of the TV Live Podcast, he unpacks months of scandal, misjudgment, and fear inside the BBC - from the Trump edit to the Gaza documentary - and explores how an institution built on truth has become paralysed by self-doubt.

From the corridors of New Broadcasting House to the front lines of community radio, this is a raw, reflective look at what happens when leadership loses its conviction — and how public broadcasting might still find its voice again.

Before rolling news, before 24-hour channels and endless scrolls, there was ITN - the independent newsroom that changed how Britain saw itself. In this episode, we trace the history of Independent Television News, from its 1955 launch as a bold challenge to the BBC’s monopoly to its evolution into one of the world’s most respected news brands. Featuring the voices, controversies, and innovations that shaped ITN - from the early days of News at Ten to the digital revolution - this is the story of how commercial television learned to do serious journalism, and how ITN’s legacy still echoes through every newsroom in Britain today.