Broadcast: Talking TV

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.articleBen Frow's session: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/channel-5/ben-frow-opens-5-doors-to-comedy/5219753.articleAmol Rajan suggests mutualising the BBC https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bbc/amol-rajan-calls-for-bbc-to-be-mutually-owned-by-public/5219793.articleManori's piece about the financial realities of YouTube: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcast-magazine/analysis-can-indies-really-make-money-on-youtube/5219512.articleHeather's profile of RangaBee: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcast-magazine/funny-business-why-ranga-bee-refuses-to-pick-a-lane/5219530.article

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.articleC4.0 commissioner hails ‘convergence’ of digital and traditional TV https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/people/c40-commissioner-hails-convergence-of-digital-and-traditional-tv/5218677.articleC4 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.articleC4 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 

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-freelancersComedy 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.articleSeb Cardwell's departure from 5: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/channel-5/seb-cardwell-set-to-leave-5/5218761.articlePoppy Dixon's appointment at the BBC: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bbc/poppy-dixon-lands-bbc-head-of-docs/5218711.article

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.articleBBC bosses call for terms of trade review: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bbc/bbc-bosses-call-for-terms-of-trade-review/5218457.articleMatt 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

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.articleWhat 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.articleITV boss Carolyn McCall's comments: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/itv/sky-itv-carolyn-mccall-hails-milestone-moment-in-british-media/5218346.articleRich's story on the possible future for ITVS: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcast-international/banijay-all3-mediawan-likely-suitors-for-itv-studios/5218350.articleChris's analysis: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcasters/sky-itv-analysis-scale-and-scrutiny-on-the-horizon/5218364.articleMike'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

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 – reporthttps://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/itv/sky-agrees-terms-to-buy-itv-assets-report/5218039.articleBBC shakes up entertainment team under Ed Harvardhttps://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcasters/bbc-shakes-up-entertainment-under-ed-havard/5218007.articleAlan Tyler: Legacy broadcasters need to get in tune with one anotherhttps://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/comment/legacy-broadcasters-need-to-get-in-tune-with-one-another/5218141.article

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/m001z1lzScott 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 Newshttps://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bbc/bbc-to-cut-80m-spend-and-550-jobs-from-content-nations-and-news/5217753.articleBBC cuts: how the job losses will be split between Content, News and Nationshttps://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bbc/bbc-cuts-how-the-job-losses-will-be-split-between-content-news-and-nations/5217780.articleKate Phillips sets out 15% reduction in development spend https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bbc/kate-phillips-sets-out-15-reduction-in-development-spend/5217791.articleGreater Manchester wins bid for TV Festival https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-wins-bid-for-edinburgh-tv-festival/5217915.articleRecommended reads:Phil Edgar Jones Lifts the lid on Sky’s entertainment revolutionhttps://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/sky/phil-edgar-jones-lifts-lid-on-skys-entertainment-revolution/5217895.articleMichael Grade lobs terms of trade grenade https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/features/michael-grade-lobs-terms-of-trade-grenade/5217950.articleFive key takeaways from the first Freelancer Fest https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/freelancers/five-takeaways-from-the-first-freelancer-fest/5217769.article

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.articleUK to ban social media for under-16s https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/uk-to-ban-social-media-for-under-16s/5217661.articleWhat 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