Sports Pro: DAZN wants Premier League domestic rights but ‘not at any cost’

Story from Sports Pro:

DAZN chief executive Shay Segev believes it is only a matter of time before the company lands broadcast rights to the Premier League in the UK, but cautioned that it would not bid at “any cost”.

MSN: Sky retains PGA Championship rights in UK

Story from MSN:

UK pay-TV heavyweight Sky has renewed its rights to cover golf’s US PGA Championship for the next three editions.

Viaplay Sports UK Takeover - Daily Record: Premier Sports strike League Cup deal with Viaplay as broadcaster makes quickfire Scottish football return

Story from Daily Record:

Premier Sports are poised to take back branding of the League Cup from 2024 onwards.

BBC News: BBC's Newsnight to be cut back as part of savings plan

Story from BBC News:

BBC Two's Newsnight is to be cut back and have its format overhauled as part of a plan to save money in the corporation's news department.

Broadband TV News: UKTV channels to identify as U

Story from Broadband TV News:

UKTV is to rebrand its channels under the umbrella name of U.

Media Guardian: Peter Andre to host new show on GB News

Story from Media Guardian:

The singer, former I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! contestant and Miss World host Peter Andre will co-host a new show on GB News throughout December, it has been announced.

Advanced Television: UKTV appoints Perry as Head of Drama

Story from Advanced Television:

UKTV has appointed Helen Perry as Head of Drama to lead the multi-channel broadcaster’s growing original drama slate.

Radio Today: Bauer Radio to remove all radio stations from Virgin Media UK next month

Story from Radio Today:

Radio stations owned by Bauer will be removed from Virgin Media UK in December, RadioToday can reveal.

Media Guardian: Channel 4 chief says TV advertising slump is worst in 15 years

Story from Media Guardian:

Channel 4’s chief executive has said the TV industry is reeling from the worst advertising downturn in 15 years, forcing the state-owned broadcaster to consider tapping an emergency £75m credit facility next year.

Daily Mail: BBC criticised for spending over £600,000 on 'inclusivity' staff

Story from Daily Mail:

The BBC has been slammed after it emerged it is spending more than £600,000 a year on staff responsible for 'diversity and inclusion'.

Advanced Television; Report: Sponsors still wary of WSL

Story from Advanced Television:

The 2023/24 Women’s Super League (WSL) season is off to a record-breaking start, with attendance milestones and a robust social media following underscoring the rising popularity of women’s football in England.

Rumour - Digital Spy Forum: Sky Sports UK to launch Sky Sports Tennis by March 6th

Story from Digital Spy Forum:

Digital Spy Forum poster "Boozyuzi" says "The dedicated tennis channel is expected by the Indian Wells tournament which begins on 6th March".

Sources: Digital Spy Forum and Boozyuzi.

 

BBC News: S4C chief executive Sian Doyle is sacked following review

Story from BBC News:

The chief executive of S4C Sian Doyle has been sacked after a review into procedures at the publicly-funded Welsh-language channel.

Viaplay Sports UK Crisis - X EXCLUSIVE: Media Boy UK told of Newspaper reports in Sweden reporting 3 broadcasters are interested in Viaplay Group

Story from Media Boy UK on X:

Media Boy UK on X has tonight been told by Media Boy UK on X Follower "rangman106" at Newspaper reports in Sweden is reporting a following broadcasters are interested in buying (all or shares) in Viaplay Group:

Daily Mail: Huw Edwards 'to leave BBC' after inquiry into alleged behaviour

Story from Daily Mail:

Huw Edwards is set to leave the BBC after being given the inquiry findings into his alleged behaviour after allegations emerged he had paid a young person for sexual images, it was reported on Friday.

Deadline: Channel 4 Bosses To Face Culture Committee Grilling Over Finances, Commissioning Slowdown & Streaming Strategy Next Week

Story from Deadline:

Channel 4 bosses will be grilled on the network’s finances, commissioning slowdown and streaming strategy in front of an influential parliamentary committee next week.

Broadband TV News: ITVX to screen Disney shows

Story from Broadband TV News:

ITV has confirmed an agreement with Disney Entertainment making ITV the free-to-air home of the critically acclaimed drama Under the Banner of Heaven starring Andrew Garfield, and season one of British comedy series Extraordinary.

Sky Sports: Sky Sports to launch new channel for show exclusive ATP & WTA tennis from March 2024

Story from Sky Sports:

Sky Sports has agreed new five-year partnerships with the ATP and WTA to show all-year-round tennis involving the best players in the world, including Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek and Britain's Emma Raducanu starting next season.

Daily Mail: BBC 'could lose its cricket TV rights' to show England and The Hundred

Story from Daily Mail:

The BBC is reportedly at risk of losing its cricket television rights from 2025 as other broadcasters such as Channel 4 consider bids for England highlights and The Hundred.

Deadline: Channel 4 Finance Boss To Exit After Five Years With ‘Gogglebox’ Network

Story from Deadline:

Channel 4‘s finance boss is to exit after five years, coming at a tricky time for the Gogglebox network.

Broadcast Sport: BBC admits Six Nations may become too expensive

Story from Broadcast Sport:

Outgoing BBC Sport director Barbara Slater has admitted that the BBC may not be able to continue to afford the Six Nations broadcast rights.

Broadcast Sport: Sky Sports and BBC see record WSL audiences over weekend

Story from Broadcast Sport:

Sky Sports and the BBC both reported record viewing figures for their coverage of the Women’s Super League at the weekend.

X EXCLUSIVE: Narrative to launch first Great! HD channel in 2024

Story from Media Boy UK on X:

One of the following channels are set to go HD in "early 2024":

Variety: James May Says ‘Top Gear’ Needs a ‘Rethink’ After BBC Puts Show on Pause — but Don’t Expect Him to ‘Come Back and Rescue It’

Story from Variety:

After the BBC revealed that “Top Gear” won’t be returning “for the foreseeable future,” former presenter James May has said that the series needs “a bit of a rethink.”

Deadline; Huw Edwards: Emails Reveal How UK Government Piled “Misplaced” Pressure On BBC To Grip Crisis

Story from Deadline:

The UK government has been accused of interfering with the BBC’s independence after piling pressure on the broadcaster to grip the Huw Edwards scandal in July.

BBC News: Top Gear will not return for 'foreseeable future'

Story from BBC News:

The BBC's flagship car show Top Gear will not return "for the foreseeable future" after presenter Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff was hurt in a crash while filming last year.

The Times: TV viewer numbers for Premier League matches in the UK have continued to rise this season

Story from The Times:

Statistics sent out to the 20 clubs last week show that Sky Sports’ average viewership has gone up this season by 4.1 per cent to 1.78 million — Sky also enjoyed a 4 per cent rise overall last season.

Daily Mail: MP accuses BBC of 'rank hypocrisy' over programme on climate change

Story from Daily Mail:

The BBC has raised eyebrows over its green credentials after a Panorama programme on fossil fuels saw its presenter fly to to Europe, the Middle East and the US, prompting a senior MP to accuse it of 'rank hypocrisy'.

FT: Leonard Blavatnik’s entertainment empire plans media acquisition spree

Story from FT:

Sir Leonard Blavatnik is planning to invest hundreds of millions of pounds in buying up media businesses and producing new TV, films and theatre, according to the boss of the Ukraine-born billionaire’s entertainment empire.

Rumour - Tennis on telly: ATP and WTA coverage on Sky Sports starts on 31 December

Story from Tennis on Telly:

ATP and WTA coverage is on Sky Sports in 2024 (yet to be officially announced but widely reported).

Sky Sports: Sky Sports secures rights to show NCAA College Football and Basketball

Story from Sky Sports:

Sky Sports has secured the rights to show NCAA College Football including all Bowl games through until the end of the 2024/2025 season via an agreement with ESPN.

X EXCLUSIVE: Virgin Media UK to launch new FAST Channel

Story from Media Boy on X:

Virgin Media UK will soon launch a new FAST Channel.

Daily Mail: Amazon 'explore bidding' for live rights to Premier League matches

Story from Daily Mail:

Amazon Prime are reportedly exploring whether to bid in the latest auction of live rights for Premier League matches after a tender process was launched last month.

BBC News: BBC moving money and power from London, says Tim Davie

Story from BBC News:

A "transformation" is underway to avoid the perception that the BBC is London-centric, the broadcaster's director general has said.

Deadline: Warner Bros. Discovery Urges British Government To Consider Scrapping “Outdated” Exhibition Periods Law

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros. Discovery has said British laws that restrict the period distributors can require exhibitors to screen their films may now be “outdated,” and it is time for the UK government to consider repealing the legislation.

Digital TV Europe: ITV names head of creative strategy

Story from Digital TV Europe:

Tatiana Jezierski, formerly strategy director at advertising agency Mother, is to join ITV Creative, the in-house agency set up to promote ITV content, later this month as head of creative strategy.

X EXCLUSIVE: DAZN Group looking for new investors

Story from Media Boy UK:

A Media Boy UK on X source has told me tonight that DAZN Group are looking for Comcast to take them over.

X EXCLUSIVE: Media Boy UK Sources; Virgin Media to relaunch Ideal World soon

Story from Media Boy UK on X:

A Media Boy UK on X sources has told Media Boy UK HQ that TJC's Ideal World has today started to test inside Virgin Media O2's HQ.

Advanced Television: Channel 4 streaming at record highs in October

Story from Advanced Television:

Channel 4 recorded its biggest-ever month of streaming in October – including records for a single day’s views – driven by programmes including Married at First Sight UK and The Great British Bake Off.

Broadcast Sport: Sky Sports ties up PGA deal

Story from Broadcast Sport:

Sky Sports has agreed a three-year extension to its broadcast deal with the PGA Of America.

Daily Mail: Sky Sports offer Hindi commentary option for Cricket World Cup

Story from Daily Mail:

Sky Sports will make broadcasting history this week by offering a Hindi commentary for the Cricket World Cup semi-finals and final on their main channels.

X and Sky Forum: Will Sky Sports reveal full time Tennis channel soon?

Story from Media Boy UK on X and Sky Forum:

Here some information for anyone who is asking me via messages about Sky maybe getting rights to the ATP and WTA tennis tour next year.

Broadcast Sport: TNT Sports & DAZN to co-broadcast women’s football

Story from Broadcast Sport:

TNT Sports has agreed a deal with DAZN to sublicence the UEFA Women’s Champions League as well as the French, Spanish, and German top divisions of women’s football.

X EXCLUSIVE: Sources reveal Verizon are interested in buying all of Virgin Media O2

Story from Media Boy UK on X:

Media Boy UK on X sources has reveal that Verizon are interested in buying all of Virgin Media O2.

BBC News: Ofcom will not tell GB News to stop hiring politicians

Story from BBC News:

The chairman of media watchdog Ofcom, Lord Grade, has said it is not his job to tell broadcasters who to hire.

Media Guardian: BBC faces broad backlash over cuts to local radio output

Story from Media Guardian:

The BBC is facing a backlash from listeners, concerns from the regulator Ofcom and potential legal action over controversial cuts to its local radio output.

Media Guardian: BBC licence fee is ‘regressive tax’, broadcaster’s former chair says

Story from Media Guardian:

The head of Britain’s media regulator and a former chair of the BBC, Michael Grade, has described the broadcaster’s licence fee a “regressive tax” that needs to be re-examined by the government.

Daily Mail: TNT set to bid for WSL live rights in huge boost for game

Story from Daily Mail:

TNT Sport are set to bid for live rights for the Women’s Super League for the first time in what would be a major boost for the women’s game.

Daily Mail: ITV 'poaches popular farmer to front new cooking show'

Story from Daily Mail:

According to a new report, ITV has poached a popular farmer from rival channels to front a brand new cooking show, which is set to launch in February.

Daily Mail: Sky Sports to push for more than 200 top-flight games a season

Story from Daily Mail:

Sky Sports are expected to entrench their position as the home of Premier League football following the domestic TV rights auction, which is due to conclude next month.

Digital TV Europe: UK broadcasters welcome introduction of Media Bill

Story from Digital TV Europe:

UK broadcasters have reacted positively to the introduction of the country’s long-awaited Media Bill in the King’s speech on Tuesday’s State Opening of Parliament.

Garygate - GB News: Carol Vorderman sacked from BBC over breach of new social media rules: 'I’m not prepared to lose my voice'

Story from GB News:

Carol Vorderman has sensationally been told she must leave the BBC in reaction to the corporation's new social media guidelines.

Broadcast Sport: TNT Sports picks up Premiership Women’s Rugby

Story from Broadcast Sport:

TNT Sports will broadcast over 20 Premiership Women’s Rugby matches this season.

Daily Mail: Sky Sports to be dragged into Daniel Sturridge legal fight

Story from Daily Mail:

Sky Sports face being dragged into the bizarre court case involving Daniel Sturridge, with a rapper who claims the pundit owes him a £24,500 reward now going after the broadcaster for the cash.

Daily Mail; BBC King's Speech: Viewers criticise commentator Nicky Campbell

Story from Daily Mail:

Viewers of the BBC's coverage of Tuesday's State Opening of Parliament have criticised its new commentator Nicky Campbell.

Hollywood Reporter: Charles III’s First King’s Speech Has Words for Netflix

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

The U.K. government, led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, plans to present the much-debated Media Bill to the parliament in London in the new legislative period, including regulation of streaming services in line with TV networks, King Charles III said in his first King’s Speech on Tuesday.

EXCLUSIVE: Sky UK set to axe E! HD on December 31st on Virgin Media UK

Story from Media Boy on X:

Media Boy UK on X Sources has confirmed that Sky UK are set to axe E! HD from December 31st on Virgin Media UK.

©Copyright 2023 Media Boy UK 2006 - 2023. A ''Doing it my way'' Production.

Daily Mail: BBC set to retain the rights for Match of the Day

Story from Daily Mail:

The BBC are set to retain the rights for Match of the Day for four years from 2025 with their terrestrial rivals declining to bid for the Premier League's highlights package.

Advanced Television: Virgin Media offers free Asian TV channels for Diwali

Story from Advanced Television:

In celebration of Diwali, from November 6th – 20th, Virgin Media TV customers can access 15 premium Asian TV channels at no extra cost.

Advanced Television: ITV Creative hires Jezierski

Story from Advanced Television:

ITV has announced that Tatiana Jezierski, formerly Strategy Director at Mother, will join ITV Creative later this November as Head of Creative Strategy.

Broadband TV News: Paramount to merge My5 with Pluto TV

Story from Broadband TV News:

Paramount has announced plans to combine My5 with Pluto TV, creating a single advertising-supported platform for the UK market.

Deadline: Starz Laying Off 10% Of Staff, Exiting UK And Australia Ahead Of Split From Lionsgate

Story from Deadline:

Starz plans to lay off 10% of its staff and exiting the UK and Australia ahead of its separation next year from Lionsgate.

X EXCLUSIVE: DAZN Women's Football set to launch soon on Virgin Media UK

Story from Media Boy UK on X:

Deadline; Channel 4: Producers Anxious Network Is Playing Politics By Delaying Shows As It Seeks A Surplus

Story from Deadline:

UK producers are anxious that Channel 4 is scrambling to delay the premiere of more shows until 2024 for political reasons.

Advanced Television: Billie Jean King, Davis Cups on BBC

Story from Advanced Television:

Audiences can watch tennis live on the BBC this November across both the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup.

Broadcast Sport: Sky Sports tames Lions tour

Story from Broadcast Sport: 

Sky Sports has agreed a deal to air the British & Irish Lions’ 2025 tour of Australia.

Virgin Media and Warner Bros Discovery at war - Latest information

Last updated on November 1st 2023 at 23:15:

We at Media Boy UK HQ will update this thread with more information as soon as we get any:

X EXCLUSIVE: Virgin Media UK and Warner Bros Discovery UK signs new carriage deal

Media Boy UK HQ and Media Boy UK on X can now reveal:

X EXCLUSIVE: Media Boy UK HQ told to "to expect a update on the Virgin Media / Warner Bros Discovery new carriage deal within the next 24 to 48 hours"

Story from Media Boy UK on X:

Media Boy UK HQ has today been told by the Media Boy UK sources to expect a update on the Virgin Media / Warner Bros Discovery over that new carriage deal "within the next 24 to 48 hours".

We WILL post more when I get it.....