Latest News from Media Boy UK HQ on new channels testing 2024

Last updated on December 22nd 2024 at 16:15 (THIS POST WILL STAY AT TOP OF BLOG): 

Coming up Changes to Virgin Media and Sky Q

Here is a list of Changes at time of posting (Up until 2029):

Paramount Global for sale plus Warner Bros Discovery latest on Media Boy UK Blog

We at Media Boy UK HQ will update on all things Paramount Global and Warner Discovery plus latest on Paramount Global merger with SkyDance on the following links:

MEDIA BOY'S WORLD MEDIA NEWS: Paramount Global for sale latest

Warner Bros Discovery Crisis latest

Media Boy UK Blogs updates

When Media Boy UK do some label some changes information appearing on this post:

Deadline: TalkTV Caps Off Tough 2024 By Recording Most Complained About TV Moment

Story from Deadline:

Rupert Murdoch’s TalkTV has capped off a tough 2024 by recording the most complained about TV moment of the past 12 months.

Daily Mail: Sky Sports 'identify top candidate to replace Kelly Cates'

Story from Daily Mail:

Sky Sports have reportedly identified their preferred name to replace Kelly Cates as she prepares to leave the broadcasting giant.

Daily Mail: Exiled Sky Sports host Richard Keys warns Kelly Cates about MOTD

Story from Daily Mail:

Exiled former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys has warned Kelly Cates over her impending role as the new Match of the Day host.

Advanced Television: BBC, ITV confirm shared deal for World Cup 2026, 2030

Story from Advanced Television:

The BBC and ITV have agreed a deal for live coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and FIFA World Cup 2030 across TV, audio and digital platforms.

Hollywood Reporter: ‘Paddington’ Producer Canal+ Shares Fall in London Debut After Vivendi Four-Way Split

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

After French media and telecom giant Vivendi’s split into four companies, the stocks of pay-TV and film company Canal+, advertising powerhouse Havas and publishing firm Louis Hachette Group, which consists of the Vivendi’s 66.53 percent stake in Lagardère and full ownership of Prisma Media, started trading in Europe on Monday.

Advanced Television: Live NIFL Premiership on BBC Sport NI

Story from Advanced Television:

Six Sports Direct NIFL Premiership games being streamed live in January and February 2025 on BBC Sport NI.

Media Guardian: Canal+ listing is ‘vote of confidence’ in UK stock market, says Reeves

Story from Media Guardian:

Canal+, the international pay-TV company and owner of the studio behind the Paddington film franchise, is to make its multibillion-pound stock market debut in London on Monday, providing a much-needed shot in the arm for the capital’s stock exchange.

Daily Mail: Kelly Cates is joining BBC to host MOTD from next season

Story from Daily Mail:

Kelly Cates is to leave Sky Sports to become part of a three-person team of Match of the Day presenters, Mail Sport understands.

Daily Mail: Amy Irons and Laura Maciver to host new BBC news programme after previous show The Nine was axed

Story from Daily Mail:

She has risen to become one of the most recogniseable TV presenters in Scotland and recently landed the much-prized gig of hosting the Hogmanay show made famous by Jackie Bird.

Deadline: King Charles Honors Ted Sarandos, Shonda Rhimes For “Extraordinary Services To Creative Industry In UK”

Story from Deadline:

Netflix boss Ted Sarandos has been awarded one of the UK’s highest honors, receiving a CBE from King Charles.

Deadline: ITV & YouTube Strike Deal For Shows Including ‘Love Island’, ‘Masked Singer’ & ‘I’m A Celebrity’

Story from Deadline:

Hundreds of hours of ITV shows are about to hit YouTube while the UK commercial net has hired a Channel 4 exec to run a dedicated YouTube sales team.

Advanced Television: Ofcom consults on Media Act implementation

Story from Advanced Television:

UK media regulator Ofcom is publishing two consultations as it begins to implement new laws under the Media Act 2024.

Advanced Television: Red Bee, Fabric x Xytech EPG partnership

Story from Advanced Television:

Red Bee Media, the media services provider, and the newly combined entity of Fabric x Xytech, have announced a strategic partnership designed to enrich Fabric x Xytech’s product suite by integrating Red Bee Media’s metadata content and imagery for the US, Canada, UK and Ireland markets.

UK Cable TV Changes: Cruise 1st .tv testing on Virgin Media ahead of launch

Story from UK Cable TV Changes:

UK Cable TV Changes are reporting that Holiday Shopping Channel Cruise 1st .tv is testing on Virgin Media ahead of launch.

Deadline: UK Culture Secretary “Prepared To Take Further Action” If TV Industry Fails To Get Grip On Bad Behavior Following Gregg Wallace Allegations

Story from Deadline:

Lisa Nandy is not mincing her words over the Gregg Wallace allegations and the TV industry’s response.

Deadline: Channel 4 Chair To Step Down Next Year After One Term

Story from Deadline:

Channel 4 Chair Ian Cheshire is to step down at the end of his three-year term next year.

Hollywood Reporter: Comcast, Warner Bros. Discovery Settle Lawsuit Over Refusal to Partner on Harry Potter Series

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Comcast‘s Sky and Warner Bros. Discovery have settled a lawsuit over alleged breaches to a 2019 deal for exclusive rights to shows.

Media Guardian: GB News broadcasts half of all UK stories about Muslims, analysis shows

Story from Media Guardian:

GB News accounted for half of all news broadcast coverage of Muslims over a two-year period, much of it negative, according to new analysis.

Media Guardian: British TV industry must diversify to survive, Lisa Nandy says

Story from Media Guardian:

Britain’s TV industry will not survive unless it diversifies as viewers will switch to streaming services if shows do not connect with them, Lisa Nandy has warned.

Deadline: Paramount’s Channel 5 Increases Operating Profit In 2023 But Takes Hit On Huge £159.5M Payment To Viacom Interactive Subsidiary

Story from Deadline:

Paramount UK network Channel 5 saw turnover and operating profit rise last year but made an overall loss of £159.5M due to a one-off payment to a Paramount Global subsidiary.

Media Guardian: ITV faces a hard sell to tempt suitors despite Carolyn McCall’s best efforts

Story from Media Guardian:

As Carolyn McCall enters her eighth year as boss of ITV she might be forgiven for wondering if maybe she shouldn’t have turned down a chance to run Marks & Spencer instead.

Cord Busters UK: Apple TV+ Becomes An Amazon UK Prime Video Channel

Story from Cord Busters UK:

Starting today, Apple TV+ is joining Amazon’s Prime Video Channels in the UK, marking a big shift for Apple as it steps outside its usual walled garden.

Advanced Television: Channel 4 commissions new digital-first titles

Story from Advanced Television:

Channel 4 Digital, headed by Sacha Khari, has commissioned its first original drama as well as three new investigative documentaries.

BizAsia: BBC Asian Network to request a “reduction in news & current affairs”

Story from BizAsia:

Ofcom has today published its annual report on the BBC, which assesses the Corporation’s performance in meeting the needs of viewers and listeners over the period April 2023 to March 2024.

City AM: Premier Sports boss on Champions Cup, 24/7 rugby channel and rights

Story from City AM:

Ahead of the Investec Champions Cup, City AM sat down with Richard Sweeney of Premier Sports as the broadcaster takes on European rugby’s rights.

Advanced Television: StackAdapt collaborates with Channel 4

Story from Advanced Television:

StackAdapt, a multi-channel programmatic advertising platform, has announced a collaboration with Channel 4 to open up broadcast advertising inventory for StackAdapt clients in the UK for the first time, making it one of the few programmatic partners to offer access to Channel 4’s programmatic TV inventory.

Broadband TV News: ITVX celebrates second birthday as fastest growing major streaming platform

Story from Broadband TV News:

ITVX will celebrate its second anniversary on December 2 with a 35% in viewing hours over the two years since it replaced ITV Hub.

Deadline: Amazon Could Distribute Max In UK, Germany And Italy After Sky’s HBO Output Deals Expire, Warner Bros. Discovery’s JB Perrette Says

Story from Deadline:

With a big question looming over HBO distribution in the UK, Germany and Italy as Warner Bros. Discovery rolls out Max globally, Warner Bros. Discovery’s JB Perrette floated a potential new partner in the territories: Amazon.

Daily Mail: British football's 3pm TV blackout 'set to be scrapped'

Story from Daily Mail:

The 3pm blackout could be scrapped before the end of the decade – thanks largely to a slowing in precious TV revenues.

Advanced Television: England Hockey internationals on Channel 4

Story from Advanced Television:

England Hockey has confirmed a new partnership with Channel 4, unveiling the broadcaster as the Official Broadcast Partner for the FIH Hockey Pro League.