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.