Broadcast: Talking TV

Everyone's talking about the news that Sky has finally confirmed it plans to buy ITV's broadcast and streaming business as part of a £1.6bn deal - and so are we. First up, senior reporter Heather Fallon chats to Broadcast's editor in chief Chris Curtis and head of content for international Rich Middleton about the rationale behind the move and what it means for ITV's production arm, ITV Studios.
Later, news editor John Elmes is joined by Mike Darcy, former chief operating officer of Sky and current Broadcast columnist, as well as ITV's former director of television and founder of Expectation TV Peter Fincham (of Insiders podcast fame). The trio unpack what the sale means for viewers, indies and the other PSBs, as well as how the two organisations might work together and what the five-year content deal with ITV Studios really means.
For more on the deal, visit broadcastnow.co.uk.

Broadcast's story on the deal: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcasters/sky-and-itv-seal-landmark-16bn-deal/5217099.article
What Sky's chief executive Dana Strong had to say: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/sky/dana-strong-sky-itv-will-be-uk-streaming-champion/5218337.article
ITV boss Carolyn McCall's comments: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/itv/sky-itv-carolyn-mccall-hails-milestone-moment-in-british-media/5218346.article
Rich's story on the possible future for ITVS: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcast-international/banijay-all3-mediawan-likely-suitors-for-itv-studios/5218350.article
Chris's analysis: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcasters/sky-itv-analysis-scale-and-scrutiny-on-the-horizon/5218364.article
Mike's Broadcast column: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/comment/mike-darcey-itv-has-befriended-an-old-enemy-in-a-bid-for-digital-prominence/5218349.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.

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.

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.

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.

Documentary legend Norma Percy makes her podcasting debut to talk about her latest project Brexit: A Very British Civil War, as well as sharing her interview tips and explaining more about her Grierson Trust fund to support factual filmmakers.
Later in the show, we share the highlights from a webinar run by Broadcast's sister platform Broadcast Intelligence, in which Channel 4's head of news and current affairs Louisa Compton, and Hardcash Productions' creative director Esella Hawkey chat to BI editor Alice Redman about working on the 2023 Dispatches exposé Russell Brand: In Plain Sight and why current affairs content should be more fun.
And in the news round-up, BBC correspondent Ellie Kahn joins this week's hosts Rebecca Cooney and John Elmes to discuss the appointment of Rhodri Talfan Davies as the corporation's deputy director general.
For more on the stories mentioned this week, check out Broadcastnow.co.uk

Analysis on the role of chief content officer at Channel 4:
https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/channel-4/channel-4s-next-content-boss-the-role-in-the-spotlight/5216030.article
https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/features/10-shows-that-defined-channel-4s-ian-katz-era/5216032.article
Rhodri Talfan Davies' appointment as deputy DG: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bbc/rhodri-talfan-davies-appointed-deputy-dg/5217534.article
Rhodri Talfan Davies speaking at the Enders TMT Leaders Live conference: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bbc/bbc-nations-chief-were-an-organisation-that-is-winning/5217406.article
Lisa Nandy's comments at SXSW: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/production-and-post/lisa-nandy-admits-government-got-it-wrong-on-ai-copyright/5217336.article
Norma's Grierson Trust fund: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/indies/norma-percy-and-grierson-trust-unveil-documentary-fund/5216569.article

The full interview with Louisa and Esella is available to Broadcast Intelligence members
Find out more about Broadcast Intelligence here: https://www.broadcastintel.com/?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=BDCPOD
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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.