Media Guardian: BBC journalists to strike during local elections over radio cuts

Story from Media Guardian:

BBC journalists in England have announced a second 24-hour strike, to run from midnight on 5 May to coincide with the reporting of local election results, in a dispute over cuts to local radio.

Deadline: BBC Considers U-Turn On Closing BBC4

Story from Deadline:

The BBC is considering a U-turn on closing BBC4 as a television channel amid solid ratings and a backlash against cuts at the corporation.

Deadline: BBC Comedy ‘Ghosts’ To End After Five Seasons

Story from Deadline:

Hit BBC comedy Ghosts is to end after the upcoming fifth season, bringing to a close one of the BBC’s most successful family comedies of the past generation.

Deadline: BBC Launches Social Media Review & Reveals Who Will Oversee It

Story from Deadline:

The BBC has launched its review into social media guidance in the wake of the Gary Lineker scandal, with former ITN CEO John Hardie set to oversee it.

Daily Mail: The FA are considering DROPPING the 3pm blackout for FA Cup fixtures

Story from Daily Mail:

The FA are considering dropping the 3pm Saturday television blackout for FA Cup matches from 2025 in an attempt to boost the value of the competition's TV rights.

Broadband TV News: Live tennis ready to return to Sky

Story from Broadband TV News:

Sky is poised to again be the major broadcaster of tennis in the UK market.

Broadcast Sport: DAZN bidding to air all 1,656 EFL league games live

Story from Broadcast Sport:

DAZN has reportedly bid to air 1,656 EFL games live, potentially putting an end to the 3pm blackout.

Hollywood Reporter: BBC to Cut 1,000 Hours Annually as Savings Target Leaps to $500M

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

The BBC is set to slash its annual output by 1,000 hours worth of shows to cope with savings requirements that have shot up by some 40 percent to almost half a billion dollars.

Deadline: Roman Kemp To Front BBC Daytime Format ‘The Finish Line’

Story from Deadline:

Roman Kemp is to host The Finish Line, the BBC’s latest big daytime TV bet from The Chase producer Potato.

Media Leader: Government push for Channel 4 privatisation meant radio was ‘left out in cold’

Story from Media Leader:

Former Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries and ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s desire to push forward with privatising Channel 4 led to the UK’s radio sector being “left out in the cold” during last year’s consultation about the future of broadcasting.

Advanced Television: Advertisers taking part in Channel 4 digital ad experiment

Story from Advanced Television:

Advertisers on Channel 4’s streaming service are set to take part in an experiment to see if fewer adverts from a single brand, broadcast in a less cluttered advertising environment, can deliver more effective and impactful campaigns.

Broadband TV News: PSBs to retain prominence in on demand age

Story from Broadband TV News:

The UK government has published its much-anticipated Media Bill, bringing mainstream video-on-demand (VOD) services such as Netflix and Disney+ under a new Ofcom content code and ensuring viewers can easily find and discover public service broadcast services such as BBC iPlayer and ITVX on smart TVs, set-top boxes and streaming sticks.

Deadline: Channel 5 Finds New Home For Upcoming Jane McDonald & Susan Calman Projects Following VIS Unscripted Closure

Story from Deadline:

Channel 5 is on the brink of finding a new producer for its next Jane McDonald and Susan Calman shows.

Media Guardian: Richard Sharp ‘unsuitable’ for chair, says former BBC boss

Story from Media Guardian:

Former BBC director general John Birt has said chairman Richard Sharp’s appointment should not stand as he was an “unsuitable candidate” in a “fatally flawed” process.

Media Leader: DCMS Media Bill aims to ‘level playing field with streaming giants’

Story from Media Leader:

The Government’s draft Media Bill proposes a range of reforms to UK TV and radio to give public service broadcasters and commercial radio stations more power to compete with streaming giants.

Broadcast Sport: Sky Sports unveils Ashes on-screen lineups

Story from Broadcast Sport:

Sky Sports has revealed its on-screen lineups for the men’s and women’s Ashes taking place this summer.

Daily Mail: Sky Sports reporters told to reapply for jobs as cuts continue

Story from Daily Mail:

Plans to axe cult Saturday morning show Soccer AM will not be the end of cuts at Sky Sports with long-serving and popular football reporters among those at risk in another major shake-up.

Deadline: Richard Sharp Appointment “Should Not Stand,” Says Former BBC Director General

Story from Deadline:

The BBC’s appointment of Chair Richard Sharp “should not stand” and the process was “fatally flawed,” according to former Director General John Birt.

Media Guardian: Gary Lineker wins battle with HMRC over £4.9m tax bill

Story from Media Guardian:

Gary Lineker has won his battle with HMRC over a £4.9m tax bill.

Deadline: BBC News Channel To Bench Seasoned Presenters From Next Week As Output Is Relaunched

Story from Deadline:

BBC News will make sweeping changes to its news channel presenting line-up from next week, with a number of seasoned anchors dropping off air.