Deadline: Warner Bros Discovery and Liberty Global Eye £1B Sale Of ‘The Traitors’ Super-Producer All3Media

Story from Deadline:

All3Media, the British super-producer behind hits including The Traitors and 1917, is up for sale.

Morninggate - Deadline: ITV Instructs Lawyer To Review Phillip Schofield Scandal After His ‘This Morning’ Exit

Story from Deadline:

ITV has instructed a lawyer to carry out a review of the facts surrounding Phillip Schofield’s relationship with a younger colleague following his exit from This Morning.

Media Guardian: Drive to Survive commentator sacked from Formula E over ‘inappropriate behaviour’

Story from Media Guardian:

A commentator on the hit Netflix show Formula 1: Drive to Survive has been sacked from his job with a rival racing championship after complaints of inappropriate behaviour towards women.

Morninggate - Daily Mail: What did ITV boss Dame Carolyn McCall know about Schofield scandal?

Story from Daily Mail:

As chief executive of ITV, Dame Carolyn McCall has a role that spans all aspects of the business.

Daily Mail: Jeff Stelling reveals heart-warming Elton John phone call

Story from Daily Mail:

Jeff Stelling bowed out of Soccer Saturday by thanking his colleagues at Sky and revealing he even got a call from Elton John wishing him well ahead of his last show.

Daily Mail: Fans left bewildered by 'anti-climactic' Soccer AM finale

Story from Daily Mail:

Soccer AM's final episode aired today after the show was cancelled earlier this season by Sky bosses amid a big shake-up at the organisation.

BBC News; Donna Traynor: BBC harassed and bullied TV presenter, tribunal hears

Story from BBC News:

Donna Traynor was treated in a manner that amounted to bullying and harassment by the BBC, an employment tribunal has heard.

Media Leader: What will ITV do with This Morning?

Story from Media Leader:

Phillip Schofield is the latest breakfast TV presenter to fall foul of a scandal. But is the press focussing on the right thing?

Media Guardian: Channel 4 boss could receive record annual pay of £1.4m

Story from Media Guardian:

Alex Mahon could receive the highest annual income for a chief executive in Channel 4’s history, after the broadcaster avoided being privatised earlier this year.

Daily Mail: Women's World Cup is back at risk of a UK TV blackout

Story from Daily Mail:

The Women's World Cup is back under risk of a UK TV blackout, after the government called on FIFA, BBC and ITV to reach a deal.

Broadband TV News: SVOD subs fall in UK

Story from Broadband TV News:

The number of households in the UK with access to an SVOD service stood at 19.08 million at the end of the first quarter.

Morninggate - Media Guardian; MPs are right: This Morning is a hotbed of scandal. Thank goodness parliament isn’t

Story from Media Guardian:

Total and utter indifference on behalf of the ITV share price today, despite the UN formally designating This Morning a failed state.

Deadline: Warner Bros. Discovery & Fremantle Weigh In On Controversial Creation Of Channel 4 In-House As UK Media Bill Enters Next Stage

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros. Discovery and Britain’s Got Talent maker Fremantle have weighed in on the debate about the controversial creation of Channel 4 in-house.

Radio Today: More details announced regarding BBC Radio 4 long wave switch off

Story from Radio Today:

Trails have started running on BBC Radio 4 LW advising listeners about the upcoming closure of the 198 frequency.

Morninggate - The Morror: Alison and Dermot 'sad and tired' hosting This Morning after Schofield scandal

Story from The Morror:

Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond appeared "sad and tired" as they put on a brave face while returning to This Morning.

Morninggate - Daily Mail: Eamonn Holmes slams 'delusional' Phillip Schofield

Story from Daily Mail:

Eamonn Holmes today branded Phillip Schofield 'delusional' after the under-fire host issued a statement insisting there had been 'no toxicity' at This Morning.

Digital Spy Forum: Virgin Media UK give UEFA Europe Cup Finals new EPG number this year

epsilon is now reporting on Digital Spy Forum that "BT Sport 1 HD Final" will broadcast on Virgin Channel 524 when the following games are on:

Broadband TV News: Sky to cut hundreds of UK jobs

Story from Broadband TV News:

Sky is about to embark on restructuring that will result in the loss of hundreds of jobs across the UK.

Morninggate - Daily Mail: Could This Morning be AXED? Staff fear for their jobs

Story from Daily Mail:

Staff working on This Morning fear the show could be axed completely following Phillip Schofield's confession that he had an affair with a young colleague and lied about it.

Two new UHD Channels has now launch on Virgin Media UK

Virgin Media UK launches two new UHD Channels:

• 523. Eurosport UHD - Until June 12th.
• 535. Sky Sports UHD 2

 

EXCLUSIVE: Media Boy UK Sources says UP TO 90 EPG Changes set to happen by 2024

Two Media Boy UK Sources has reveal to Media Boy UK HQ the following:

All THREE UEFA Cups final FREE again on Virgin Media UK

epsilon is reporting on Digital Spy Forum: 

It would appear that "BT Sport 1 HD Final" is set to return as a pop-up channel as Virgin and BT Sport bring the 2023 UEFA Europa League Final to all Virgin TV customers on May 31st.

Deadline: BBC Comedy Boss Calls For Tax Credit Plus “Package Of Measures To Safeguard Future”

Story from Deadline:

BBC comedy boss Jon Petrie is to spend the year identifying a “package of measures that industry, government and regulators can come together on to safeguard comedy’s future,” while calling for a comedy tax credit.

Broadband TV News: Ofcom reviews BBC performance framework

Story from Broadband TV News:

Media regulator Ofcom has published a consultation on proposed changes to the performance measurement framework (PMF), used to assess the BBC’s performance in delivering its Mission and promoting its Public Purposes.

Media Guardian; Conspiracy theories, Moggologues and ‘zombie’ stats: all in a week’s work for GB News

Story from Media Guardian:

Rishi Sunak came to power in an “anti-democratic coup,” and is in hock to a shadowy “globalist elite”; mass migration is “replacing” British culture, and net zero is a “suicide note” – not the rantings of an internet troll, but a snapshot of views espoused by presenters on GB News across seven days last week.

EXCLUSIVE: Sky Sports UHD 2 coming to Virgin Media UK on Friday

Media Boy UK Sources has tonight confirmed to me that Virgin Media UK are set to launch Sky Sports UHD 2 on Virgin UK Channel 535 on May 26th.

Advanced Television: Channel 4 unveils single brand

Story from Advanced Television:

UK commercial PSB Channel 4 says it is boldly bringing all its digital, social, and linear channels together under one single brand as All 4 becomes ‘Channel 4’, elevating the broadcaster’s streaming-first commitment for the digital age.

Deadline: Benedict Cumberbatch & Claire Foy Board Channel 4’s ‘Mog’s Christmas’; MGM John Torode Show; ITV ‘Harry Potter’ Deal; Sky Studios Hire

Story from Deadline:

Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy are leading the voice cast for Channel 4’s latest Judith Kerr Christmas animation, Mog’s Christmas.

Digital Spy Forum: Virgin Media UK set to launch new UHD Channel

New Sky Sports UHD set to launch on Virgin.

Morninggate - Media Guardian: This Morning review – the first post-Phillip Schofield show treats him as if he’s died

Story from Media Guardian:

Watching This Morning last week was a surreal experience.

Broadcast Sport: Sky Sports to air entire Netball World Cup

Story from Broadcast Sport:

Sky Sports has agreed a deal to broadcast the entire Netball World Cup this summer.

Broadcast Sport: Matt Stagg to leave Warner Bros. Discovery

Story from Broadcast Sport:

BT Sport director of mobile and immersive Matt Stagg is to leave Warner Bros. Discovery.

Broadcast Sport: Sally Brown to depart BT Sport

Story from Broadcast Sport:

Sally Brown is to leave BT Sport at the end of the month, after being with the broadcaster since its inception in 2013.

Morninggate - Daily Mail: Ex-This Morning star Eamonn Holmes tears into Willoughby and Schofield

Story from Daily Mail:

Former This Morning host Eamonn Holmes tore into Phillip Schofield for claiming he was leaving of his own accord after 20 years, declaring: 'He was sacked', as the crisis-hit show kicked off with a short tribute to the star today.

Independent: Why is BT Sport being rebranded to TNT Sports? Eurosport merger explained

Story from Independent:

BT Sport will disappear from television screens in the United Kingdom in July as the channel rebrands to TNT Sports, with Premier League football, Champions League football and Premiership Rugby next season to be shown on the new channel.

Broadcast Sport: BBC unveils summer cricket plans

Story from Broadcast Sport:

The BBC has revealed its cricket broadcast plans for the summer, which see both men’s and women’s Ashes taking place in the UK.

Daily Mail: Jeff Stelling breaks down in tears on his penultimate Soccer Saturday

Story from Daily Mail:

Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling broke down in tears after talking about the dangers of eating disorders.

Daily Mail: Jake Humphrey to leave BT Sport after a decade

Story from Daily Mail:

Jake Humphrey has announced he is leaving his role as main anchor at BT Sport after ten years.

Media Guardian: Michael Vaughan returns to BBC cricket coverage for Ashes summer

Story from Media Guardian:

Michael Vaughan is to return to the BBC and play a key part in its cricket coverage this summer after being earlier this year cleared of making a racist remark during his time as a player at Yorkshire.

Daily Mail: BT Sport want Laura Woods to host next season's PL coverage

Story from Daily Mail:

BT Sport want Laura Woods to present their live Premier League coverage when they rebrand as TNT Sport next season.

Virgin Media UK give Sky Racing HD new EPG slot

Virgin Media UK has today moved Sky Racing HD from Virgin UK Channel 535 to Virgin UK Channel 519.

Broadband TV News: Sky Sports secures new multi-year deal for US Open Championship

Story from Broadband TV News:

Sky has renewed another key element of its sports coverage with a three-year extension to its coverage of the US Open Championship.

ITVX reveal ITVX Kids launch date

ITV streaming network ITVX has today confirmed that ITVX Kids will launch on ITVX on July 20th ahead of CITV closing in early Autumn.

Digital TV Europe: BT Sport JV underperforms as World Cup and cost of living hit subs

Story from Digital TV Europe:

BT has recorded a loss for the year to March from the now deconsolidated BT Sport JV with Warner Bros. Discovery of £121 million as the outfit struggled with downward pressure on subscriptions from the UK’s cost of living crisis and the impact on European football of the Qatar World Cup.

Deadline; BBC DG Tim Davie: “I Am Not In This Job Simply To Defend An Institution”

Story from Deadline:

“I am not in this job to simply defend an institution,” BBC Director General Tim Davie declared this afternoon, as he attempted to get the corporation back on the front foot following a tricky few months.

Broadband TV News: Sky and Sony Pictures Television extend UK partnership

Story from Broadband TV News:

Sky and Sony Pictures Television have agreed a multi-year extension of the first pay window that will continue the pipeline of feature films and popular SPT television series for Sky Cinema and Entertainment customers in the UK & Ireland.

Broadband TV News: April 2023 sets Channel 4 streaming record

Story from Broadband TV News:

Channel 4 achieved its largest-ever month for streaming in April, with audiences consuming over five billion minutes of content, according to figures released by Barb.

E4 Extra no longer broadcasting Music Videos

E4 Extra is no longer broadcasting any Music Videos but Virgin Media UK still got E4 Extra listing under Music on it EPG.

Digital Spy Forum: TNT Sports to launch on July 18th

A major employee of BT Sport has made a post about it's closure on Linkedin. He said that BT Sport will cease broadcasting on the 17th of July.

Media Guardian: Netflix warns UK broadband firms of crackdown on password sharing

Story from Media Guardian:

Netflix has warned telecoms companies including Sky, Virgin Media and BT to brace for a potential backlash from customers who view its films and TV shows through their services, as the streaming service prepares to crack down on the widespread practice of password sharing that allows millions of British homes to watch for free.

Broadcast Sport: How Sky Sports has reinvigorated its F1 coverage

Story from Broadcast Sport:

The F1 season has been slightly predictable at the front of the pack this season, with Red Bull leading the way.

Digital Spy: Paramount+ launches on Virgin Media UK

Digital Spy Forum is reporting that Paramount+ was launched on Virgin 360 boxes on May 9th.

Deadline: BBC Unveils Action Plan To Help Women “In Severe Financial Hardship” Pay Their License Fees

Story from Deadline:

The BBC has unveiled an action plan to help “reduce the number of women in severe financial hardship who are prosecuted for licence fee evasion.”

Deadline: Prime Minister “Ought To” Give Up Role In Future BBC Chair Appointment, Says Former Director General Tony Hall

Story from Deadline:

The Prime Minister “ought to” give up their involvement with the hiring of the BBC Chairman in the future following the Richard Sharp scandal, according to former Director General Tony Hall.

Deadline: BBC Content Chief Charlotte Moore Says Staff Face “Great Jeopardy” Amid Funding Squeeze

Story from Deadline:

The BBC’s content chief has warned that employees face a moment of “great jeopardy” as the British broadcaster wrestles with funding pressures and fierce competition from U.S. streamers.

Deadline: BBC Publishes Richard Sharp Probe Findings

Story from Deadline:

The BBC has cleared the resigning Richard Sharp of any potential conflict of interest issues arising during his time as Chairman but has said he should have made “relevant declarations at the outset of his tenure.”

Deadline: BBC News Channel Loses 1M UK Viewers After International Merger & Presenter Purge

Story from Deadline:

The BBC News channel has lost 1M viewers in the UK after it was merged with BBC World News as part of the corporation’s efforts to slash costs.

Deadline: BBC Boss Charlotte Moore, Kevin Macdonald & Sky’s Meghan Lyvers Set For Edinburgh TV Festival’s Climate Content Summit In London

Story from Deadline:

BBC boss Charlotte Moore, director Kevin Macdonald and Sky UK drama chief Meghan Lyvers are set to appear at an Edinburgh TV Festival conference on climate-focused content.

Broadband TV News: Warner Bros. kids channels join Sky Media

Story from Broadband TV News:

Sky Media is to represent kids channels Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Cartoonito as part of an expansion of its agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery UK & Ireland.

Broadband TV News: GB News summoned to Ofcom meet after new breach

Story from Broadband TV News:

Communications regulator Ofcom has ordered GB News to attend a meeting to discuss its compliance.

Media Guardian: BBC board members to be required to declare drinks with cabinet ministers

Story from Media Guardian:

BBC board members will have to declare when they have social drinks or attend dinner parties with cabinet ministers, in the wake of Richard Sharp’s resignation as chair of the broadcaster.

Media Guardian: ITV reveals slump in ad revenues and predicts tougher times ahead

Story from Media Guardian:

ITV has reported a 10% drop in advertising revenues in the first three months of this year, and said it expected the situation to get even tougher in the coming months.

Daily Mail: BBC calls coronation 'the strangest show in town' sparking backlash

Story from Daily Mail:

The BBC has branded Charles's Coronation 'the strangest show in town' - sparking backlash at royal correspondent Jonny Dymond.

Media Guardian: English Football League agrees new £935m deal with Sky Sports

Story from Media Guardian:

English Football League clubs have unanimously voted to accept a £935m deal with Sky Sports which will lead to more than 1,000 matches a season being broadcast but which keeps the Saturday blackout in place.

Digital TV Europe; UK Media Bill: “It won’t be a revolution but is an important evolution”, says Ofcom’s Kate Biggs

Story from Digital TV Europe:

The UK Media Bill “won’t be a revolution but it is an important evolution” for public services according to Ofcom’s director of content.

Media Leader: ITV CEO urges govt to get on with making Media Bill law

Story from Media Leader:

ITV’s CEO Carolyn McCall has urged the UK Government to urgently pass the proposed Media Bill as it is “fundamental” to its future as a public-service broadcaster (PSB).

Advanced Television; ITV: ‘Still learning with ITVX’

Story from Advanced Television:

Rufus Radcliffe, MD, Streaming, Interactive & Data, ITV, has admitted it is early days for the broadcaster in the positioning of its ITVX streaming service, but that it was already learning from user feedback.

Advanced Television: ITV applies for renewal of licence

Story from Advanced Television:

Following the publication of the draft Media Bill, ITV has confirmed that it has applied to Ofcom to begin the process of renewing the Channel 3 nations and regions licences in England, Border Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as applying to renew the national Channel 3 breakfast licence.

Media Guardian: Of course the BBC needs to change – but Britain must decide what kind of broadcaster it really wants

Story from Media Guardian:

Over the next 10 days, the BBC will, once again, be at the heart of the nation’s communal life.

Media Guardian: Investigation launched over claims of bullying at Welsh TV channel S4C

Story from Media Guardian:

An investigation has been launched into allegations of bullying and a culture of fear at the Welsh-language television channel S4C.

Deadline: BBC Defends Acting Talent Competition Series After Performers Compare It To ‘The Hunger Games’

Story from Deadline:

The BBC has defended plans to film an American Idol-style acting competition series after performers compared the format to The Hunger Games.

Media Leader: Was Richard Sharp an unlucky BBC chairman?

Story from Media Leader:

The investigation into Richard Sharp has highlighted not only how public appointment process should be reformed, but what happens when you get too close to Boris Johnson, writes Raymond Snoddy.

Broadcast Sport: How DAZN will approach the UK, rights bids, and diversifying

Story from Broadcast Sport:

Earlier this year, CEO Shay Segev marked the UK as a ”high priority” for the streaming platform, but Waterman told Broadcast Sport that this doesn’t mean DAZN wouldn’t be able to survive without it. DAZN already holds domestic rights to LaLiga, Serie A, and the Bundesliga in its European businesses.

Digital TV Europe: UK government calls on BBC to produce digital future plan

Story from Digital TV Europe:

The Public Accounts Committee made demands to the UK public service broadcaster (PSB) BBC to provide a series of plans on moving its services to fully digital by the 2030s.

Advanced Television: EFL to vote on broadcast rights bid

Story from Advanced Television:

Further to the announcement of Sky Sports as its preferred bidder earlier in April, the EFL, which runs the three football leagues below the Premier League, has called a meeting of all Clubs for May 5th to consider proposals for a new domestic broadcast agreement from 2024/25 onwards.

Media Guardian: With democracy and a free press under attack, the BBC cannot afford to mire itself in scandal

Story from Media Guardian:

“Say what you want about a conspiracy theory, but at least it’s affordable,” comedian Roy Wood Jr quipped at the White House correspondents’ dinner on Saturday night.

Broadcast Sport: Jeff Stelling and Graeme Souness to leave Sky Sports

Story from Broadcast Sport:

Jeff Stelling will step down from hosting Soccer Saturday at the end of the football season.

Daily Mail: Guardian engulfed by anti-Semitism as MPs blast 'sickening' cartoon

Story from Daily Mail:

The editor of The Guardian is facing calls to resign after the newspaper was accused of publishing a 'sickening' anti-Semitic cartoon.

Media Guardian: Starmer says BBC chair would be appointed independently under Labour

Story from Media Guardian:

Keir Starmer has said Labour would make sure the BBC chair is independently appointed after Richard Sharp’s resignation following his failure to declare that he had helped Boris Johnson get a loan.

Media Guardian: Appointment of next BBC chair must not be tainted by ‘sleaze’, Labour say

Story from Media Guardian:

Ministers are facing fresh demands to bolster the independence of the process to find the next BBC chair after claims that “cronyism and sleaze” have damaged the role and the corporation’s reputation.

Media Guardian: Jeff Stelling to leave Sky Sports Soccer Saturday after more than 25 years

Story from Media Guardian:

Jeff Stelling has confirmed he will leave Soccer Saturday at the end of the season after more than 25 years presenting the show.