Deadline: Channel 4 Boss Alex Mahon To Step Down After Eight Years

Story from Deadline:

Channel 4 boss Alex Mahon is stepping down after eight years at the helm.

Advanced Television; Report: UK screen industries employ over 190,000 people

Story from Advanced Television:

A new pilot study from ScreenSkills and 4Skills, conducted by Ampere Analysis, has provided a detailed look at the British Screen Industry’s off-screen workforce, enabling ScreenSkills to develop the talent and expertise required to build an inclusive and adaptable workforce for the UK screen industry.

Advanced Television: Sky calls time on A League of Their Own

Story from Advanced Television:

After fifteen years, Sky’s popular sports comedy panel show is set to bow out with one final season.

Broadcast Sport: Sky Sports unveils study on women’s sport fandom

Story from Broadcast Sport:

The research uncovers what’s driving fan engagement, where the biggest opportunities lie, and how the industry can accelerate growth.

BBC News: Some BBC stars behave unacceptably, report says

Story from BBC News:

A small number of BBC stars and managers "behave unacceptably" at work, and bosses often fail to tackle them, a report into the broadcaster has found.

Deadline: French Giant Banijay Enters Race To Buy ITV

Story from Deadline:

Banijay has been among the most acquisitive independent TV makers of recent years, and now reportedly has its sights on ITV.

CityAM: Premier Sports to show 400 rugby games per year after new deal

NOTE: City AM did report this story on April 17th - found by Media Boy UK HQ on April 26th.... 

Story from CityAM:

Premier Sports is set to show 400 rugby games per season after agreeing a new deal to broadcast the United Rugby Championship (URC).

Broadcast Sport: S4C to show all Wales’ Women’s Euro matches

Story from Broadcast Sport:

S4C will broadcast live coverage of all three of Wales’ group stage fixtures in the forthcoming UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 competition.

City AM: TNT Sports loses almost £190m since BT Sport rebrand

Story from City AM:

TNT Sports, the broadcasting giant co-owned by BT and Warner Bros Discovery, lost almost £190m during its latest financial year, it has been revealed.

Broadcast Sport: Warner Bros. Discovery & Salomon relaunch Golden Trail World Series with Olympic ambition

Story from Broadcast Sport:

Warner Bros. Discovery and Salomon have relaunched the Golden Trail World Series, with the first event taking place in Kobe, Japan, last week.

Broadband TV News: Netflix changes the way subtitles are presented

Story from Broadband TV News:

Netflix is introducing a new method of presenting subtitles to its audience.

Deadline: BBC Employees Keep Jobs After Sexually Harassing Colleagues

Story from Deadline:

BBC employees are keeping their jobs even when they have been the subject of an upheld sexual harassment complaint, Deadline can reveal.

Deadline: Leaked Emails Show BBC Chiefs’ Concern Over Confidence In Bullying, Harassment & Whistleblowing Procedures

Story from Deadline:

A BBC staff survey has exposed a “really concerning” level of confidence over how the corporation handles bullying and harassment complaints, according to internal emails from the corporation’s news boss and interim content chief.

MB Socials EXCLUSIVE: Virgin Media UK set to launch High Street TV HD

Story from Media Boy UK Socials:

Media Boy UK Socials can reveal that Virgin Media UK may launch High Street TV HD soon.

Reports say High Street TV HD is set to launch on Virgin UK Channel 759.

Advanced Television; Data: Prime Video, Apple TV+ lead new subs in Q1

Story from Advanced Television:

Kantar, the marketing data and analytics company, has revealed growing adoption of ad-supported streaming, strong competition between Prime Video and Apple TV+, and a breakout performance by Mubi, which recorded its best-ever quarter in the Entertainment on Demand (EoD) GB streaming market data.

Advanced Television: Ofcom sets out CTV designation principles

Story from Advanced Television:

Ofcom has set out the principles and methods it intends to follow when preparing its recommendations to the Secretary of State on designating connected TV platforms, as part of its work to implement the Media Act 2024.

Deadline; BBC Set To Publish Workplace Culture Review In Less Than A Week As Chair Tells Staff: “This Is An Important Moment For Our BBC”

Story from Deadline:

The BBC’s workplace culture review, which was sparked by the revelations about ex-newsreader Huw Edwards, will publish in just a few days’ time.

Media Guardian: Club World Cup to be broadcast live on Channel 5 in UK after DAZN deal

Story from Media Guardian

The Club World Cup will be televised live on 5 this summer after the free-to-air broadcaster reached a sublicensing agreement for the UK with the global rights holder, DAZN.

Advanced Television: BBC puts Casualty out to competitive tender

Story from Advanced Television:

The BBC has announced that its long-running medical drama, Casualty, will be the next title to be put out to competitive tender.

Deadline: Gary Lineker Suggests BBC Wanted Him To Leave ‘Match Of The Day’

Story from Deadline:

Gary Lineker, who is soon to hang up his Match of the Day boots after 25 years, has said he felt the BBC wanted him to leave the weekly highlights show.

NHK World Japan set to close on Virgin Media UK on April 30th

Media Boy UK has just found out that from March 30th NHK World Japan is set to close on Virgin Media UK.

Broadcast Sport: Premier Sports to air BKT United Rugby Championship until 2029

Story from Broadcast Sport:

Premier Sports has extended its broadcast partnership with BKT United Rugby Championship, with it now showing every game to UK rugby fans until 2029.

Deadline: BBC Tasks Two Headhunters With Finding Its Next Chief Content Officer

Story from Deadline:

The BBC has engaged two executive search companies to help with its efforts to replace chief content officer Charlotte Moore.

Advanced Television: Sunset+Vine producing snooker for BBC, 5

Story from Advanced Television:

Sunset+Vine’s Scotland and London teams will cross paths in Sheffield as they produce elite snooker for two British broadcasters, BBC Sport and Channel 5.

EXCLUSIVE: The Chicago franchise new seasons to start on May 2nd

Media Boy UK's V6 Box has reveal that The Chicago franchise is coming back to Sky Witness on May 2nd 2025.

Broadband TV News: Discovery Channel commences 40th anniversary

Story from Broadband TV News:

Discovery Channel has begun a year-long celebration for its 40th anniversary.

Advanced Television: Paramount+, MTV order more Teen Mom UK

Story from Advanced Television:

Paramount+ UK and MTV have announced three new seasons of Teen Mom UK, including seasons 11 and 12 of the hit MTV series Teen Mom UK and season three of Teen Mom UK Next Generation.

Advanced Television: Evans preferred S4C Chair candidate

Story from Advanced Television:

Delyth Evans is the Government’s preferred candidate for the S4C Chair, the Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has announced.

Broadband TV News: ITV advances partnership with Unified Streaming

Story from Broadband TV News:

ITV is expanding its technical partnership with the Amsterdam-headquartered video delivery software company Unified Streaming.

Advanced Television: ITV retiring ITVBe; launching ITV Quiz

Story from Advanced Television:

ITV2 is set to become the linear home of all of ITV’s most popular reality series as they move from the retiring ITVBe brand to the digital channel in June.

CityAM: A Super League TV Rights deal?

Story from CityAM:

The NRL want control of Super League’s UK television deal as part of a proposal to buy a 33 per cent stake in the competition, which could have implications for the domestic rugby league’s long-term rights partner, Sky Sports.

CityAM: McIlroy Masters success tees up PGA TV rights price hike for Sky Sports

Story from CityAM:

The PGA Tour is hoping to capitalise on the Rory McIlroy effect by securing a significant increase in the value of their UK TV rights, which were put out to tender last week.

Advanced Television; Report: Netflix’s Welsh productions generate £200m for UK economy

Story from Advanced Television:

Netflix and Creative Wales have revealed that Netflix productions in Wales have contributed over £200 million for the UK economy since 2020.

Advanced Television: All3Media launches Demand Drama FAST channel

Story from Advanced Television:

Independent distributor All3Media International is expanding its portfolio of channels with the launch of original new FAST channel Demand Drama, which will be available in the UK this April.

Advanced Television: Channel 4 scores England U21 rights

Story from Advanced Television:

England’s campaign to retain their title as UEFA European Under-21 Champions will be shown live and exclusive on Channel 4 this summer.

Hollywood Reporter: That U.K. Netflix Tax? Not Going to Happen. But Streamers May Get Dragged Into Trump’s Trade War

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Just days after Netflix announced record viewing figures for British series phenomenon Adolescence — the drama racked up 114 million views in just 24 days on the platform, making it the 4th most successful English-language series of all time on Netflix — the U.K. Parliament heard how its local TV industry is “under threat” and that global streamers are part of the problem.

Broadband TV News: Deirdre Ní Choistín appointed Director General of TG4

Story from Broadband TV News:

Deirdre Ní Choistín has taken up the position of director-general at the Irish broadcaster TG4.

Advanced Television; Data: Netflix boosts WWE engagement in UK

Story from Advanced Television:

WWE’s move to Netflix has significantly increased UK engagement with its two flagship shows – RAW and SmackDown – according to data from Quantcast.

Deadline: Prime Video Buys Docs On The Kray Twins & The Murder Of Joanna Yeates As Part Of Ten-Title Deal With Sphere Abacus

Story from Deadline:

The life of the notorious Kray twins and the murder of British architect Joanna Yeates are among the latest true crime stories headed to Prime Video.

Broadcast Sport: Masters Sunday becomes most watched day in Sky Sports history

Story from Broadcast Sport:

Sky Sports has revealed that Masters Sunday was the most watched day in its history.

Broadband TV News: Vodafone and Three planning TV service following merger

Story from Broadband TV News:

Vodafone and Three are working on plans to launch their own TV service following their £15 billion UK merger.

Advanced Television: CMA investigates SES-Intelsat acquisition

Story from Advanced Television:

The UK’s Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a Phase 1 investigation into SES in relation to its proposed acquisition of Intelsat.

CityAM: ITN: Profit slashed at ITV, Channel 4 and 5 news giant

Story from CityAM:

Profit at ITN, the organisation which powers ITV News, Channel 4 News and 5 News, was slashed almost in half in 2024.

CityAM: NRL could buy stake in English Super League

Story from CityAM:

The Australian National Rugby League (NRL) could buy a minority stake in England’s Super League in a move that would unify the sport’s two biggest club competitions.

Broadcast: What the UK can learn from France’s streamer regulations

Story from Broadcast:

With MPs calling for a domestic streamer levy, how are French attempts to regulate US streamers faring?

CityAM: ITV’s deal with ‘Traitors’ producer sparks fears for local news

Story from CityAM:

ITV’s early stage discussions with Abu Dhabi-backed RedBird IMI to spin off its production arm into a seperate £3bn entity have sparked growing concern over the future of its commitment to local and regional news.

Broadcast Sport: Amazon reveals Birmingham City FC doc series

Story from Broadcast Sport:

The series follows the club’s promotion to the Championship from League One.

Advanced Television: BBC journalists warn of cuts risk

Story from Advanced Television:

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the UK House of Commons has published written evidence by a group of BBC World Service (former and current) journalists, on the impact of cuts to the World Service.

Advanced Television: Flintoff doc to debut on Disney+ this April

Story from Advanced Television:

Disney+ has confirmed that Flintoff, a new 90-minute Original documentary film featuring exclusive access to former international cricketer and broadcast presenter Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff, will premiere exclusively on Disney+ in the UK and Ireland on April 25th.

Advanced Television: Animation UK urges stronger government support

Story from Advanced Television:

Animation UK, part of the UK Screen Alliance has responded to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s report on the challenges facing the UK’s independent film and high-end TV sector with a set of proposed action.

Broadcast Sport: Warner Bros. Discovery secures live rights to premier equestrian events

Story from Broadcast Sport:

Warner Bros. Discovery has renewed its partnership with the Global Champions and secured the rights to show live premier equestrian events including the Longines Global Champions Tour and GCL team series.

Advanced Television: 5 renews World Seniors Snooker Championship deal

Story from Advanced Television:

5 has secured the exclusive broadcast rights for the World Seniors Snooker Championship for the second year in a row.

Deadline; Peter Kosminsky: UK Government Would Rather See British Drama “Go To The Wall” Than Upset Trump

Story from Deadline:

Wolf Hall director Peter Kosminsky has argued that the UK government is more worried about “poking the U.S. presidential bear” than protecting British TV storytelling.

Deadline: ‘SNL’ Officially Lands UK Remake With Sky

Story from Deadline:

Live from London, it’s Saturday Night.

Deadline: Netflix Will Hike Prices If UK Introduces Streamer Levy

Story from Deadline:

Netflix will increase its subscription price if the UK streaming levy is given the go-ahead.

Hollywood Reporter; U.K. Streaming Tax? Netflix Responds: “Incentivize Rather Than Penalize Investment and Success”

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Global streaming giants didn’t mince their words on Thursday when they reacted to a call from a U.K. parliamentary committee for a levy of 5% of U.K. subscriber revenue on foreign streaming services, including the likes of Netflix, Amazon, Apple TV+ and Disney+, to help finance British drama production.

BBC News: MPs call for streaming levy to help UK TV industry

Story from BBC News:

A share of the revenue streaming services make from subscription fees should be paid into a fund to support British high-end TV production, an influential group of MPs has said.

Virgin Media UK stop Sky History +1 today at 6am

Sky History +1 did close on Virgin UK Channel 331 today at 6am.

Broadcast: Sky History boards Impossible Factual ZDF/Arte docs duo

Story from Broadcast:

Sky History has boarded a pair of ZDF-Arte documentaries exploring the origins of the Black Death and the mysteries of the Trojan War from The Cambridgeshire Crucifixion indie Impossible Factual.

Deadline; ‘BBC Breakfast’ Boss Richard Frediani Faces Further Bullying Claims: “A Tyrant On The Shop Floor”

Story from Deadline:

BBC Breakfast boss Richard Frediani is facing further allegations of workplace bullying and misconduct, with senior presenter Naga Munchetty among those thought to have misgivings about his behavior.

Broadcast Sport: How Sky Sports will bring the 2025 Masters to UK fans

Story from Broadcast Sport:

Sky Sports will be transporting viewers to the Augusta National golf course this week, 10-13 April, with many UK golf fans eager for Rory McIlroy to finally win the green jacket.

Broadband TV News: Record-breaking first quarter for ITVX

Story from Broadband TV News:

ITVX has achieved a record breaking billion streams in a quarter for the first time.

BizAsia: Sky Sports & Geo News share PSL 2025 UK TV rights

Story from BizAsia:

It has been confirmed that the UK television rights for the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL 2025) will once again be shared between Sky Sports and Geo News.

Media Guardian: BBC and ITV opt against bids to televise Fifa Club World Cup in summer

Story from Media Guardian:

The BBC and ITV have declined to pursue the chance to televise this summer’s Club World Cup, leaving Fifa increasingly concerned about the visibility of its flagship new tournament in a key market.

Advanced Television: Channel 4 to host five party political debate

Story from Advanced Television:

Channel 4 News will host a national television debate featuring the five main political parties ahead of the upcoming local elections.

Advanced Television: Sky expands Isle of Wight coverage

Story from Advanced Television:

Sky has announced it will continue to air the Isle of Wight Festival as well as being the headline sponsor in a new, multi-year deal.

Broadcast Sport: BBC Sport dives into Aquatics GB Swimming Championships

Story from Broadcast Sport:

BBC Sport has agreed a two-year broadcast deal for the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships.

NVTV sold to That's Media

Story from NVTV:

Northern Visions Announces Strategic Agreement with That’s TV to Secure Future of Local Broadcasting in Belfast 

Broadcast Sport: International Federation of Sport Climbing events to air on Warner Bros Discovery

Story from Broadcast Sport:

Warner Bros Discovery Sports Europe has agreed a four-year deal to continue as the home of sports climbing in Europe.

Broadband TV News: Virgin TV adds two Rakuten TV FAST channels

Story from Broadband TV News:

Virgin Media O2 has added two new Rakuten TV FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) channels to its TV service.

Media Guardian: US officials challenge Ofcom over online safety laws’ impact on free speech

Story from Media Guardian:

US state department officials have challenged Britain’s communications regulator over the impact on freedom of expression created by new online safety laws, the Guardian understands.

BizAsia: BBC Asian Network re-affirms plans to cut news & current affairs

Story from BizAsia:

The BBC Asian Network has reaffirmed its plans to reduce the amount of news and current affairs content it broadcasts.

Virgin Media UK loss it Taste with Tastemade

Streaming channel Tastemade has close on Virgin UK Channel 232.

Advanced Television; Sky: 950m hours of sport viewed in H2 2024

Story from Advanced Television:

Brits are spending more time watching content than ever before, consuming 16 billion hours of content on Sky in 2024, according to Sky’s bi-annual Attention Index report.

Advanced Television: Pentland Brands sponsors TNT Sports

Story from Advanced Television:

Pentland Brands has secured a deal to become the first official channel sponsor of TNT Sports.

Advanced Television: Virgin TV offers discounted Premier Sports

Story from Advanced Television:

Throughout April, Virgin TV customers can gain access to Premier Sports premium at a discounted price of £10 per month (usually £15.99 per month) for three months.

Broadband TV News: Arqiva to migrate Hearst Networks to cloud-based VOD platform

Story from Broadband TV News:

Arqiva has secured a deal with Hearst Networks to migrate the global broadcaster’s services to its fully cloud-based VOD processing platform, as part of an extension to the two companies’ existing VOD partnership.

Media Guardian: AI firms are ‘scraping the value’ from UK’s £125bn creative industries, says Channel 4 boss

Story from Media Guardian:

The chief executive of Channel 4 said that artificial intelligence companies are “scraping the value” out of the UK’s £125bn creative industries, and urged the government to take action.

Media Guardian: Sun owner’s losses top £1.2bn since phone-hacking claims started

Story from Media Guardian:

The owner of the Sun has run up more than £1.2bn in losses since the start of its costly battle to end allegations of illegal phone hacking almost 15 years ago.

Deadline: Channel 4 Deficit Will Be “Pretty Much Flat” In 2024, Alex Mahon Reveals

Story from Deadline:

Channel 4’s deficit will return to being flat for 2024 following a record 2023 in which it hit £50M, Alex Mahon has revealed.

Hollywood Reporter: ITV Studios Buys Majority Stake in ‘The Gentlemen’ Producer Moonage Pictures

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

ITV Studios unveiled on Tuesday that it has acquired a majority stake in Moonage Pictures, one of the U.K.’s fastest-growing independent producers of high-end drama, including global hits The Gentlemen and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.