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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.

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.

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.

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.

Join the Talking TV team on the ground at the EICC for what will be the final Edinburgh TV Festival… or will it? With YouTube taking centre stage this year, the annual event asked the big questions about the health of the UK production ecosystem and crucially, who is contributing to it. The Broadcast team spoke to the festival’s executive chair Fatima Salaria on her hopes for the event as it says goodbye to Edinburgh, as well as key attendees, who tell us what's stood out at the festival, what the atmosphere has been like and their favourite sessions. We also catch up with former BBC News chief Deborah Turness about her new job. The TV Festival moves to Manchester next year - but there's a twist! One of the conference’s big open secrets has been the arrival of another Scottish telly event that's been brewing in the background. Former Edinburgh TV Festival creative director Rowan Woods is taking the lead on a new gathering set to take place in the Scottish capital in August next year. Watch this space!  To read the Broadcast team's in-depth coverage of the festival, visit https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/ Here's a few of the stories mentioned in the show: Pedro Pena's MacTaggart Lecture https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcasters/youtube-emea-boss-hits-back-at-psb-prominence-push/5219803.article Ben Frow's session: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/channel-5/ben-frow-opens-5-doors-to-comedy/5219753.article Amol Rajan suggests mutualising the BBC https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bbc/amol-rajan-calls-for-bbc-to-be-mutually-owned-by-public/5219793.article Manori's piece about the financial realities of YouTube: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcast-magazine/analysis-can-indies-really-make-money-on-youtube/5219512.article Heather's profile of RangaBee: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcast-magazine/funny-business-why-ranga-bee-refuses-to-pick-a-lane/5219530.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.

Channel 4 is on the hunt for a new director of programmes after spliting its chief content officer role into three. What kind of person would indies like to see in the role? What should the PSB's content mix look like going forward? What should its digital commissioning priorities be? For the last episode in the current series, Broadcast's Rebecca Cooney is joined by a panel of C4 suppliers, including Strong Watch co-founder Thom Gulseven, Rockerdale creative director Stu Richards and Curve Media chief executive Camilla Lewis, to answer some of these questions. Rebecca and Heather Fallon also chat about the latest Creative Diversity Network's Diamond Report, which assesses the industry's progress on diverse hiring. We'll be back with a special episode for the Edinburgh TV Festival, before our new series in the autumn. In the meantime, you can find more about all the stories we mentioned this week at https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk. Coverage of the CDN Diamond report: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/diamond-disabled-representation-in-tv-grows/5218943.article C4.0 commissioner hails ‘convergence’ of digital and traditional TV https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/people/c40-commissioner-hails-convergence-of-digital-and-traditional-tv/5218677.article C4 appoints headhunter to kickstart director of programmes search https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/channel-4/c4-appoints-headhunter-to-kickstart-director-of-programmes-search/5218268.article C4 to split chief content officer role in three https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcasters/c4-to-split-chief-content-officer-role-in-three/5218236.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.

Action For Freelancers project director James Taylor-Tovey shares the group's latest updates with Broadcast's Heather Fallon, and Ed Gamble chats to Broadcast Intelligence's Alice Redman about his new show Unacceptable. As the industry continues to adjust to a world of tighter budgets and fewer commissions, James Taylor-Tovey unpacks what he, AfF and fellow support organisation TV Mindset have been doing to aid the legions of affected freelancers - including establishing freelancer festivals in London and Glasgow, offering guidance on maintaining a healthy work/life balance and signposting existing support. For more information on Action for Freelancers, visit: https://www.screenskills.com/action-for-freelancers Comedy entertainment has been seen as a genre in decline in recent years - but a flurry of commissions suggest that is changing. Among them was Ranga Bee panel show Unacceptable, which launched earlier this month on TLC. Host Ed Gamble joins the pod to explore why the future is looking bright for the genre - as well as revealing his love of onscreen chaos and pitch-meeting pet peeves. Plus Heather and Broadcast's Rebecca Cooney chat about the personnel moves which have caught the industry's attention this week - Poppy Dixon's arrival at the BBC as head of documentaries and Seb Cardwell's departure from the role of deputy chief content officer and head of drama at 5. For more on all this week's stories, check out www.broadcastnow.co.uk: Rebecca's report on the freelancer festivals: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/freelancers/five-takeaways-from-the-first-freelancer-fest/5217769.article Seb Cardwell's departure from 5: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/channel-5/seb-cardwell-set-to-leave-5/5218761.article Poppy Dixon's appointment at the BBC: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bbc/poppy-dixon-lands-bbc-head-of-docs/5218711.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.

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.

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 And book your free demo of the platform here:https://commissionerindex.youcanbook.me/?SOURCE=BDCPOD 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.

Rivals star Katherine Parkinson, writer Laura Wade and series producer Eliza Mellor join the Broadcast team to talk about Disney+ and Happy Prince's hit show. As the second series races towards its mid-series finale, Laura and Eliza Mellor break down the joys and challenges of making Rivals as well as dropping a few easter eggs for TV lovers. Later on, Katherine chats to hosts Heather Fallon and Rebecca Cooney about playing Lizzie Vereker, those awkward intimacy scenes and why Britain needs more sitcoms. Plus there's a round up of some of the week's most intriguing news stories. For more on the stories mentioned this week, check out Broadcastnow.co.uk: Jon Petrie heads to Hat Trick - https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bbc/jon-petrie-to-swap-bbc-for-hat-trick/5217294.article Love Productions shakes up the top team - https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/indies/love-appoints-hello-sunshine-exec-as-creative-chief/5217309.article Lenny Henry’s warning about the media ‘stepping back’ from diversity conversations - https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/home/lenny-henry-warns-media-about-stepping-back-from-diversity-conversations/5217288.article Amelia Brown profile - https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/features/amelia-brown-interview-we-need-to-shout-about-how-brilliant-we-are/5217247.article   More Rivals content - https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/features/were-not-like-corinium-how-rivals-transformed-happy-prince/5217228.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.

Welcome to the rebooted Broadcast podcast, where each week the team will bring you analysis, interviews and commentary exploring the week’s top stories and behind-the-scenes happenings from the world of telly. Matt Brittin became director general of the BBC last week. Where should he start? Broadcast’s editor-in-chief, Chris Curtis and BBC correspondent Ellie Kahn join the show to sift through the things that are likely to be in his in-tray, including: finding a deputy, restoring trust in the corporation and chatting to the government about how it’s going to be funded.  Elsewhere, hosts Heather Fallon and Rebecca Cooney discuss MAFS UK and rumours that Channel 4 is in discussions to interview the disgraced news reader Huw Edwards. They also look back on the first series of SNL UK - were the naysayers right? Or did the show rise above the pessimistic predictions to give comedy a much-needed shot in the arm? SNL UK cast member Hammed Animashaun weighs in with his views. For more on Matt Brittin, check out Chris's leader here, Ellie's analysis on his appointment here, and her deep dive into how the BBC might be funded here. Stay up-to-date and connected with Talking TV, brought to you by Broadcast, the essential source for business info. Find out more at https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk 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.