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Broadcast: Talking TV

Broadcast

Get behind the TV industry headlines with news, analysis and interviews from the team at Broadcast. Each week Broadcast’s journalists are joined by creatives, experts and on-screen stars to unpick the week’s top stories and behind-the-scenes happenings from the world of telly.


Talking TV offers unbeatable insight into the key challenges facing the industry, as well as celebrating the brilliance and creativity of those who work in it.


Stay up-to-date and connected with Talking TV, brought to you by Broadcast, the essential source for business info. Find out more at broadcastnow.co.uk.



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  • 25 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 36 min
  • English

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  • Thursday · 53 min

    Exits, mergers and new market forces: what went on at Mipcom? plus BBC cuts update

    It's been a huge week in TV land, and in this week’s bumper episode, Broadcast news editor John Elmes and international editor Rich Middleton unpack some of the biggest international stories from this year’s Mipcom. Paramount and Warner Bros. completed their mega $110bn merger just a week before boots were on the ground on the croisette - so there was plenty to discuss over cocktails, but also looming concerns about what comes next. Netflix also announced that it would be cutting 6% of its workforce, during the event. John and Rich chat about what's next for the streaming giant - and what might have led to chief content officer Bela Barjaria’s sudden exit. Banijay Entertainment’s newly named chief content officer for operations, Lucas Green and chief content officer for development, James Townley tell the podcast what they got up to at Mipcom and why their rival’s success is also their gain Closer to home, the BBC confirmed some of its long-anticipated cuts, including the closure of BBC3, BBC Scotland and BBC Radio 4 Extra. Hosts Rebecca Cooney and Heather Fallon look at what it all means, as well as discussing the exit of 5 chief content officer Ben Frow after 14 years. In the news this week: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcast-international/netflix-replaces-bela-bajaria-with-peter-rice/5221527.article https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcast-international/six-key-takeaways-from-mipcom-2026/5221479.article https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcast-international/netflix-cuts-6-of-global-workforce/5221458.article https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcasters/ben-frow-at-5-a-perfect-fit-that-is-coming-to-an-end/5221486.article https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/channel-5/ben-frow-steps-down-at-5/5221444.article https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcasters/bbc3-bbc-scotland-and-r4-extra-to-close-next-year/5221626.article Stay connected at broadcastnow.co.uk. Produced by Rebecca Cooney and Heather Fallon at Broadcast. With production support from Daisy Kyakulagira and Ollie Peart at Rethink Audio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • October 15 · 36 min

    Ad-Funded Programmes: What's all the hype about?

    As TV budgets tighten, does ad-funded programming offer a potential solution? Production companies are increasingly bringing brands in at the inception of a show, and baking advertising in from the beginning in a bid to get projects off the ground. As revealed in today’s episode of Talking TV, ITV alone has jumped from 3 or 4 AFPs a year in 2023 to around 15 this year. Pete Fergusson, co-founder and chief executive of startup IPX, a company which connects brands with creators, producers, broadcasters and streamers, joins the podcast alongside Bandicoot TV’s own co-founder and creative director Daniel Nettleton, who has just launched the indie’s debut AFP on ITV, and ITV commissioning editor Paula Thomas, who oversees daytime and ad-funded entertainment. The trio accompany Heather Fallon in exploring the scale of the opportunity available, why producers need to get ‘scrappy’, and how best to work with partners to maximise potential in today’s episode of Talking TV. In today’s news recap, Rebecca Cooney and Heather Fallon discuss the still-awaited BBC cuts, a potential partnership between the Beeb and Channel 4 and the findings of this year’s distributor survey which saw BBC Studios take the crown with a major 20% revenue rise. For all the latest, head to broadcastnow.co.uk In the news this week: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bbc/you-and-yours-among-swathe-of-radio-4-cuts/5221206.article https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bbc/bbc-and-c4-in-talks-over-merged-entity-report/5221190.article https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcast-international/bbc-studios-retains-top-spot-as-rivals-stumble/5221047.article To learn more about Bandicoot TV’s AFP debut: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/itv/bandicoot-scotland-lands-first-afp-with-itv/5218360.article Stay connected at broadcastnow.co.uk. Produced by Rebecca Cooney and Heather Fallon at Broadcast. With production support from Daisy Kyakulagira and Ollie Peart at Rethink Audio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • October 8 · 35 min

    Joe Lycett’s live pub ambitions and how ITV's The Blame tackles misogyny

    It’s all change in TV land as Channel 4 unveils its new director of programmes and the BBC selects its BBC News director. Marian McHugh and Ellie Kahn join Heather Fallon to discuss all the latest changes and what it means for the two organisations. Then Heather heads to the Lycett Arms, to talk to the now-pub landlord and comedian Joe Lycett about his love for the chaos of live TV, the show's mishaps and his big pitch to producers for a brand new chat show with a twist. Later on, Rebecca Cooney talks to Megan Gallagher and Nicola Shindler about hit ITV drama The Blame which in its first fortnight, according the broadcaster, has become the most-watched drama on terrestrial television so far this year. The trio talk about what the show has to say about misogyny and how TV dramas handle depictions of violence against women. For all the latest, visit broadcastnow.co.uk https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/channel-4/david-brindley-set-to-be-named-channel-4-director-of-programmes/5221086.article https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bbc/rachel-jupp-appointed-as-bbc-news-director/5221066.article https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/channel-4/joe-lycett-to-play-pub-landlord-in-channel-4-live-return/5218157.article https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/ratings/the-blame-beats-the-split-up-in-9pm-drama-battle/5220609.article https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/itv/trail-the-blame-itv1/5219641.article Stay connected at broadcastnow.co.uk. Produced by Rebecca Cooney and Heather Fallon at Broadcast. With production support from Daisy Kyakulagira and Ollie Peart at Rethink Audio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • October 1 · 26 min

    The Future of Channel 4: What’s next for a broadcaster facing a brutal reset?

    Talking TV returns amid a major shake up at Channel 4, which is cutting more than a quarter of its workforce. To break down exactly what is happening and how this will impact the industry at large, hosts Heather Fallon and Rebecca Cooney hand over to Broadcast’s resident experts on the matter, Marian McHugh and Chris Curtis to discuss. The pair cover what the cuts will mean for the incoming director of programmes, how they will impact commissioning budgets moving forward and if fewer, bigger, better can work on Channel 4. Later on, Rebecca and Heather return to discuss further looming job losses at the BBC as the royal charter review describes the BBC as facing a “fork in the road”. However, it’s not all doom and gloom, with the review also demonstrating enormous good will towards the UK’s British broadcasting corporation. And finally, Heather reveals which celebrity she's backing in the Traitors sweepstake. Channel 4 https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/channel-4/priya-dogra-new-programmes-director-will-need-to-get-c4-commissioners-working-differently/5220865.article https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/channel-4/c4-cuts-voluntary-redundancy-only-open-to-roles-at-risk/5220773.article https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcasters/channel-4-and-paramount-strike-landmark-advertising-deal/5220419.article https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/channel-4/priya-dogra-turned-to-four-lieutenants-to-radically-reshape-c4-content-team/5220331.article https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/channel-4/channel-4-cuts-lifestyle-to-remain-standalone-unit-amid-genre-restructures/5220283.article https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/channel-4/channel-4-to-merge-comedy-and-drama-teams/5220277.article BBC https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bbc/matt-brittin-confirms-channel-closures-near-to-make-way-for-streaming/5220796.article Stay connected at broadcastnow.co.uk. Produced by Rebecca Cooney and Heather Fallon at Broadcast. With production support from Daisy Kyakulagira and Ollie Peart at Rethink Audio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • July 16 · 24 min

    Terms of Trade in the spotlight

    In the last couple of weeks, the once solid terms of trade agreement for the UK television sector has suddenly found itself at the centre of debate. After what Broadcast dubbed a ‘terms of trade grenade’ was thrown by former Ofcom chair Michael Grade, suggesting they are not fit for purpose, the BBC then claimed the agreement was preventing the broadcaster from exploiting its IP. So what comes next? And why should the production and broadcaster community care? Broadcast’s senior reporter Ellie Kahn and editor Chris Curtis chew the fat on the latest, and dive into the BBC’s annual report which was published this week. Later on, we hear from History Hit’s Dan Snow following the company’s major wins at the latest Broadcast Digital Awards which took place last week. Michael Grade lobs terms of trade grenade: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/features/michael-grade-lobs-terms-of-trade-grenade/5217950.article BBC bosses call for terms of trade review: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bbc/bbc-bosses-call-for-terms-of-trade-review/5218457.article Matt Brittin: BBC will shrink without new funding model and rights position: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bbc/matt-brittin-bbc-will-shrink-without-new-funding-model-and-rights-position/5218603.article Stay connected at broadcastnow.co.uk. Produced by Rebecca Cooney and Heather Fallon at Broadcast. With production support from Daisy Kyakulagira and Ollie Peart at Rethink Audio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • July 2 · 31 min

    Can we collaborate with Gen AI? Jesse Armstrong and Argonon’s Amanda Goddard 

    Peep Show writer Jesse Armstrong and Argonon's Amanda Goddard weigh in on the use of generative AI in production. In Broadcast’s most recent Indie Survey, 59% of indies surveyed told us they were keen to explore and use AI. Only 1% said they were unlikely to use it. With the technology developing at a rapid rate, we hear from Jesse Armstrong about whether AI has a place in the creative process. Later, Amanda, who is Argonon’s chief legal and commercial officer, chats about the benefits and dangers of the technology and how it could shape the future of TV, as well as how the indie group is using AI in practice. In the news this week, Heather Fallon and Rebecca Cooney discuss the impending ITV/Sky deal and what it might mean for the respective companies, as well as further people moves at the BBC. For more on the stories mentioned this week and the latest news, visit broadcastnow.co.uk. In the news: Sky agrees terms to buy ITV assets – report https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/itv/sky-agrees-terms-to-buy-itv-assets-report/5218039.article BBC shakes up entertainment team under Ed Harvard https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcasters/bbc-shakes-up-entertainment-under-ed-havard/5218007.article Alan Tyler: Legacy broadcasters need to get in tune with one another https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/comment/legacy-broadcasters-need-to-get-in-tune-with-one-another/5218141.article Stay connected at broadcastnow.co.uk. Produced by Rebecca Cooney and Heather Fallon at Broadcast. With production support from Daisy Kyakulagira and Ollie Peart at Rethink Audio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • June 25 · 45 min

    Pride special: LGBTQ+ representation on TV

    Twofour’s chief executive officer David Brindley and journalist, broadcaster and TV critic Scott Bryan join the podcast this week for a special episode marking Pride month. Coinciding with the launch of the final series of BBC3’s I Kissed a Girl, a revolutionary dating series that centres on a gay kiss, Brindley unpacks the origins of the format as well as the reaction to the news of its cancellation. Meanwhile, Scott Bryan discusses his upcoming book Out Now, part memoir, part nostalgic exploration of queer representation on television from the 1990s to today. In the news this week, Ellie Kahn joins host Heather Fallon to unpack the major BBC cuts set to impact content, nations and news teams and what it means for the broadcaster as well as the TV Festival’s move to Greater Manchester. For more on the stories mentioned this week, check out Broadcastnow.co.uk. I Kissed a Girl series 2 is available now on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001z1lz Scott Bryan’s upcoming book Out Now is available for pre-order here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Out-Now-Scott-Bryan/dp/1785128507 In the news this week: BBC to cut £80m spend and 550 jobs from Content, Nations and News https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bbc/bbc-to-cut-80m-spend-and-550-jobs-from-content-nations-and-news/5217753.article BBC cuts: how the job losses will be split between Content, News and Nations https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bbc/bbc-cuts-how-the-job-losses-will-be-split-between-content-news-and-nations/5217780.article Kate Phillips sets out 15% reduction in development spend https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bbc/kate-phillips-sets-out-15-reduction-in-development-spend/5217791.article Greater Manchester wins bid for TV Festival https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-wins-bid-for-edinburgh-tv-festival/5217915.article Recommended reads: Phil Edgar Jones Lifts the lid on Sky’s entertainment revolution https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/sky/phil-edgar-jones-lifts-lid-on-skys-entertainment-revolution/5217895.article Michael Grade lobs terms of trade grenade https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/features/michael-grade-lobs-terms-of-trade-grenade/5217950.article Five key takeaways from the first Freelancer Fest https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/freelancers/five-takeaways-from-the-first-freelancer-fest/5217769.article Stay connected at broadcastnow.co.uk. Produced by Rebecca Cooney and Heather Fallon at Broadcast. With production support from Daisy Kyakulagira and Ollie Peart at Rethink Audio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • June 18 · 44 min

    Are microdramas the next big scripted trend?

    This week, Broadcast delves into the burgeoning world of microdramas. With some forecasts predicting that these one-minute long episode dramas could generate global revenues of $14bn this year, should scripted companies look to invest? Rebecca Cooney speaks to Banijay Entertainment’s chief business officer Frédéric Balmary and Broadcast’s own Rich Middleton to examine whether micro dramas are a passing fad or the next drama gold mine. Later on, we hear from members of the documentary community on the key challenges facing factual, and their all-time favourite documentaries, as senior reporter Ellie Kahn attends Sheffield Doc Fest. In the news this week, Rebecca Cooney and Ellie Kahn discuss the cancellation of the Doctor Who Christmas special and what lies ahead as it goes out to tender as well as what the upcoming social media ban will mean for digital platforms. For more on the stories mentioned this week, go to broadcastnow.co.uk. Doctor Who goes out to tender - https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bbc/bbc-to-put-doctor-who-out-to-tender-amid-christmas-special-cancellation/5217558.article UK to ban social media for under-16s https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/uk-to-ban-social-media-for-under-16s/5217661.article What other indies want to know about Studio Lambert https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/features/studio-lambert-what-other-indies-want-to-know-about-the-format-powerhouse/5217664.article Stay connected at broadcastnow.co.uk. Produced by Rebecca Cooney and Heather Fallon at Broadcast. With production support from Daisy Kyakulagira and Ollie Peart at Rethink Audio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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