Interesting commentary. With the BBC twisting in the wind, now is the chance for a brave decision. Open the iPlayer to all UK content, streaming domestically and to the world, with monetisation locally as appropriate. BBC Studios to remain publicly funded, with public service obligations, and UK indie access to public funds for development and production, on equal terms. A single, global point of delivery, a thousand points of supply.
The Comcast ownership angle is crtical here and often gets overlooked. When American media conglomerates absrb UK broadcasters, the creative autonomy usualy erodes withn months. Comcast's track record with NBCUniversal shows exactly how these consolodations play out. We should be protecting domestic media diversity not handing it over to Wall Street priorities.
The concept of “UK TV Advertising” is outdated and now replaced with “UK Video Advertising” - Google and Meta had a more than 60% share of this in 2023/24, without much regulation or PSB obligations. Blocking Sky/ITV is ignoring this threat - if we don’t allow the UK TV landscape to evolve companies like ITV will never be able to compete longer term.
It’s natural to fear change but tax incentives, Govt support and the whimsical notion to ‘forge a genuinely collaborative ecosystem’ ain’t gonna cut it in 2025. This deal must go through - the viable commercial future of UK TV versus unregulated social media giants depends on it.
I, of all people, don’t fear change. What I do fear is terrible decisions being made around our media industry that seem good on paper but in reality will be the opposite. Explain why a collaborative eco system “aint gonna cut it” and why you think all the things I mention in the article won’t come to pass… I genuinely think this will lead to a loss of jobs and investment in the industry and just having enough heft in ad-revenue is not enough. When shareholders make profit they tend to take large dividends and do nothing to re-invest and double down in their own business model. I would agree that a merger might make sense if that were to happen - but we both know that wont come to pass.
Interesting commentary. With the BBC twisting in the wind, now is the chance for a brave decision. Open the iPlayer to all UK content, streaming domestically and to the world, with monetisation locally as appropriate. BBC Studios to remain publicly funded, with public service obligations, and UK indie access to public funds for development and production, on equal terms. A single, global point of delivery, a thousand points of supply.
Couldnt agree more John - have a read of what I think the BBC should be doing: https://www.tvwhisperer.com/p/my-auntie-is-an-apex-predator
The Comcast ownership angle is crtical here and often gets overlooked. When American media conglomerates absrb UK broadcasters, the creative autonomy usualy erodes withn months. Comcast's track record with NBCUniversal shows exactly how these consolodations play out. We should be protecting domestic media diversity not handing it over to Wall Street priorities.
For balance, the counter view can be found here
Https://omaroakes.substack.com/p/stories-that-matter-the-most-consequential
The concept of “UK TV Advertising” is outdated and now replaced with “UK Video Advertising” - Google and Meta had a more than 60% share of this in 2023/24, without much regulation or PSB obligations. Blocking Sky/ITV is ignoring this threat - if we don’t allow the UK TV landscape to evolve companies like ITV will never be able to compete longer term.
It’s natural to fear change but tax incentives, Govt support and the whimsical notion to ‘forge a genuinely collaborative ecosystem’ ain’t gonna cut it in 2025. This deal must go through - the viable commercial future of UK TV versus unregulated social media giants depends on it.
I, of all people, don’t fear change. What I do fear is terrible decisions being made around our media industry that seem good on paper but in reality will be the opposite. Explain why a collaborative eco system “aint gonna cut it” and why you think all the things I mention in the article won’t come to pass… I genuinely think this will lead to a loss of jobs and investment in the industry and just having enough heft in ad-revenue is not enough. When shareholders make profit they tend to take large dividends and do nothing to re-invest and double down in their own business model. I would agree that a merger might make sense if that were to happen - but we both know that wont come to pass.
Channel 4 started with a lobby group then transformed British broadcasting. Just saying. ;-)