Deadline: New UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy Says “Spirit Of Our New Government” Reflected In Film & TV Industry Potential, As Amazon, Warner Bros. Discovery & Paramount Execs Attend Her Debut Speech

Story from Deadline:

Representatives from Amazon, Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount attended new UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy‘s debut speech today, in which Nandy said “the spirit of our new government” is reflected in the social and economic potential of the nation’s film and TV industry.

BizAsia: Youngsters continue to turn away from traditional TV; radio listening up

Story from BizAsia:

For the first time, less than half of 16-24-year-olds are now watching broadcast TV in an average week, according to Ofcom’s annual study into the nation’s media habits.

Variety: U.K. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy Outlines Prospects for $218 Billion Creative, Sports and Media Sector

Story from Variety:

U.K. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy gathered leaders from over 150 organizations in Manchester on Wednesday to discuss the government’s plans for economic growth in the creative industries, sports, and media sectors.

Virgin Media UK: Virgin Media to offer Premier Sports for FREE in August

Story from virginmedia .com:

From August 1st you can watch all the action on Premier Sports 1 HD (Channel 551) and Premier Sports 2 HD (Channel 552) at no extra cost, including live Scottish Premiership and LALIGA action.

©2022 Virgin Media.

FT: Virgin Media UK 'closing in' on new deal with TNT Sports UK

Story from FT:

Virgin Media O2 Executives are closing in on a deal to show the Premier League football matches managed by TNT Sports, which is jointly owned by BT and Warner Bros. Discovery, as broadcasting fee negotiations near conclusion.

FT: Warner Bros Discovery in talks with UK streamers over HBO programmes

Story from FT:

Warner Bros Discovery is in talks about showing HBO content in the UK via its Max streaming platform on rival streaming and TV services, raising fresh questions over its existing exclusive arrangement with Sky to show hit programmes such as Game of Thrones.

Comfirmed: Sky Sports + linear TV Channels to launch on August 8th

Sky Sports has confirmed that Sky Sports Arena will become Sky Sports + from August 8th.

National League: Groundbreaking Deal Announced With Broadcast Giants DAZN

Story from The National League:

The National League are delighted to announce a new long-term partnership with DAZN, Europe’s largest sports broadcaster.

Broadband TV News: Virgin Media O2 in profit against subscriber losses

Story from Broadband TV News:

Virgin Media O2 has continued to fight against subscriber erosion as its cable business lost 13,600 customers in Q2.

Variety: ITV Grows Profits, Margins as It Battles Headwinds in First Half of 2024

Story from Variety:

British broadcast group ITV delivered a mixed financial performance for the first six months of 2024, as it continues to navigate a shifting media landscape.

Variety: Sky Content Boss Zai Bennett Jumps Ship to BBC Studios Productions as CEO and Chief Creative Officer

Story from Variety:

Sky content boss Zai Bennett has jumped ship to BBC Studios Productions, where he has been appointed CEO and chief creative officer.

Sky News: BBC reveals highest-paid stars - including former newsreader Huw Edwards despite being off-air

Story from Sky News:

Huw Edwards is among the BBC's highest-paid stars of the last year, despite being suspended in July 2023 amid allegations of misconduct.

Variety: BBC to Cut 500 Jobs as Financial Deficit Grows

Story from Variety:

The BBC has revealed plans to reduce its workforce by 500 full-time positions over the coming two years as the broadcaster’s annual report displays evidence of financial difficulties.

Media Guardian: Half a million households cancelled BBC licence fee last year

Story from Media Guardian:

Half a million households cancelled their licence fee last year as the BBC struggled to connect with younger audiences drifting away to Netflix and YouTube.

EXCLUSIVE: 'Meets the Babes' to close on July 31st

From July 31st at 10am Adult Phone in channel 'Meets the Babes' is set to close on Virgin Media UK.

Source: V6.

Media Guardian: ECB wants to keep the Hundred name even if it switches to Twenty20 format

Story from Media Guardian:

The England and Wales Cricket Board is pushing ahead with proposals to switch the Hundred to a Twenty20 format, but plans to keep the competition’s name.

Media Guardian: BBC chief warns viewers could miss big Olympic moments due to ‘pinch points’

Story from Media Guardian:

Television viewers of the Olympics in the UK could miss exciting live moments during the Games if several key events happen simultaneously, the man in charge of delivering the BBC’s Olympics coverage has warned.

Rugby Broadcast: Premier Sports may land rights to the Champions Cup

Story from Rugby Broadcast on X:

BREAKING:

Media Guardian: Ofcom to ban inflation-linked mid-contract price rises on phones, pay-TV and broadband

Story from Media Guardian:

Phone, broadband and pay-TV companies are to be banned from imposing mid-contract price increases linked to inflation, in a crackdown by the regulator after a Guardian investigation exposed “greedflation” in the sector last year.

Broadband TV News: Ofcom to update rules on Crown Jewels events

Story from Broadband TV News:

Ofcom is seeking evidence around TV’s Crown Jewels as it prepares to implement changes to the rules around their broadcast under the Media Act 2024.

Advanced Television: Ofcom calls for BBC Sounds public interest test

Story from Advanced Television:

UK broadcast regulator Ofcom has published its review of the BBC’s assessment of whether its proposals for three new music streams on BBC Sounds constitute ‘material changes’ to its public service activities.

BBC Sport: Netflix ex-vice president withdraws Motherwell offe

Story from BBC Sport:

Erik and Courtney Barmack have withdrawn their offer of investment in Motherwell, citing fears over the proposal creating "significant divisions within the fanbase".

Broadcast Sport: EFL aiming to create docuseries

Story from Broadcast Sport:

Organisation has issued RFP for production, distribution and marketing of series about its competitions.

Media Guardian: Kirsty Wark bids farewell to Newsnight after 30 years on show

Story from Media Guardian:

The BBC presenter Kirsty Wark has said “goodnight and good luck” to the BBC’s Newsnight after 30 years on the programme.

Advanced Television: Tayto sponsors Sky Sports darts

Story from Advanced Television:

Tayto Group, specialists in Pork Snacks, has announced it will be sponsoring coverage of darts on Sky Sports.

Advanced Television: Brougham named Channel 4 Streaming Business Director

Story from Advanced Television:

Channel 4 has announced the appointment of Ruth Brougham as Streaming Business Director.

Media Guardian: Keir Starmer commits to keeping BBC licence fee after years of Tory hostility

Story from Media Guardian:

Labour will support the BBC licence fee, Keir Starmer has pledged, in stark contrast to the years of Conservative opposition to the funding model.

Media Guardian: Radio 2 ‘golden oldies’ spin-off station on hold amid rivals’ complaints

Story from Media Guardian:

The BBC’s plans to launch a Radio 2 “golden oldies” spin-off station have hit the buffers after commercial rivals complained to the media regulator.

Advanced Television: Formula E finale FTA on Quest

Story from Advanced Television:

Formula E has announced that the Hankook London E-Prix, the final two rounds of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, will be broadcast on free-to-air TV channel Quest in the UK and Ireland.

Daily Mail: Gary Lineker 'is snubbed for BBC's new Champions League show'

Story from Daily Mail:

Gary Lineker has reportedly been snubbed from presenting the BBC's new Champions League highlights programme next season, bringing into question his future on Match of the Day.

Variety: Lisa Nandy Named New U.K. Culture Minister

Story from Variety:

Lisa Nandy has been named the U.K.’s new culture minister or, to give the title its full name, secretary of state for culture, media and sport.

Variety: U.K. Entertainment Industry Welcomes Labour Government but Lays Out ‘Pressing Issues’ to Be Addressed, With Film and TV Workforce at Forefront

Story from Variety:

The U.K.’s entertainment industry has responded to Labour’s landslide victory in the country’s general election, which ends 14 years of Conservative rule with Keir Starmer set to become prime minister.

Advanced Television: U&Dave orders Silence is Golden; Gorman returns

Story from Advanced Television:

Dermot O’Leary is set to host U&Dave’s Silence is Golden, a new entertainment show created by Richard Bacon, whose Yes Yes Media is set to produce the series for UKTV.

Bizasia: NDTV Good Times exits Virgin Media in UK

Story from BizAisa:

Good Times (formerly known as NDTV Good Times) has ceased broadcasting in the UK via the Virgin Media platform.

Eurosport: Olympic Heroes set to Deliver most comprehensive Coverage of Paris 2024 on Discovery+ & Eurosport in UK

Story from Eurosport:

Every moment of Paris 2024 will be live only on discovery+, the streaming home of the Olympics - All the action on discovery+ is available for just £3.99 with an Olympics offer.

NOW 90s & 00s launches on Virgin Media UK

Virgin Media UK has launch NOW 90s & 00s today on Virgin Media UK Channel 287.

Advanced Television: Premier Sports expands Premier Sports Cup coverage

Story from Advanced Television:

Premier Sports has announced it will show an extra 25 group stage matches from the Premier Sports Cup from the start of the new season.

Advanced Television: ITVX launching Hayu Select

Story from Advanced Television:

ITV has announced a deal with Hayu – the all-reality streaming service – to bolster ITVX Premium, the streaming platform’s subscription tier.

BizAsia: Fox’s streaming service Tubi launches in UK

Story from BizAsia:

Fox’s ad-supported streaming service Tubi has today launched in the UK.

Advanced Television: Jackson named Channel 4’s Chief Marketing Officer

Story from Advanced Television:

Channel 4 has appointed Katie Jackson as the organisation’s new Chief Marketing Officer.

Business Live: Global media giant Warner Brothers Discovery set to launch North East base after Quorum Park office deal

Story from Business Live:

A global media company is on the move to Tyneside after signing up for offices at a North East business park.

Daily Mail: End of an era for iconic music channels including Kerrang! and The Box

Story from Daily Mail:

In an age before streaming and on-demand music videos, music channels were hugely popular with many Britons and an important part of noughties culture.

Broadcast Sport: BBC unveils Olympics plans

Story from Broadcast Sport:

The BBC will broadcast over 250 hours of live coverage from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on its linear channels this summer.

Advanced Television: BBC Scotland to air Scotland’s rugby internationals

Story from Advanced Television:

BBC Scotland will have full live television coverage of the South American matches from Scotland’s Skyscanner Americas Tour this July.