Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch

Matt Deegan is the co-founder of the award-winning Fun Kids, a digital radio station for families and children, which has just won the bronze award in the Radio Academy’s UK Station of the Year category. Given that the gold award went to BBC Asian Network and the silver to Talksport, this is a considerable achievement for a small independent network. Matt is also the co-founder of Folder Media and the British Podcast Awards and is one of the most respected commentators on all things audio.In this episode, we discuss the lack of BBC radio content for children, the BBC’s podcast advertising plans and their impact on the commercial industry, the latest radio listening figures, and the future of BBC radio and podcast growth.“The BBC already gets £5.7 billion of income from a variety of sources. It does not need £1 million a year out of the podcast business.  I could go in and find seven managers to fire, and I could save a million pounds.”To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one off payment please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRogerInstagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatchLinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watchemail: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com

Jamie Angus is the former director of the BBC World Service and the former editor of 'Today' and 'Newsnight' who now works in the Middle East. We discuss Ofcom's oversight of broadcasters, the consequences of previous World Service cuts, and the impact of new ones. We also explore long-term solutions to the issue of its funding, which is under review by a parliamentary committee. “I think it's clear that GB News are operating under a slightly different model to public broadcasters.” “Al Arabiya ourselves have launched our own FM radio services. And we've additionally picked up some of the BBC’s medium wave hours, which they no longer use, so our radio services are broadcast regionally. We've also hired a number of ex BBC Arabic radio staff.”To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one off payment please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRogerInstagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatchLinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watchemail: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com

Stewart Purvis, former content regulator at Ofcom and former Editor of Channel 4 News and ITN Chief Executive, discusses Ofcom’s guidance on general election coverage published last week. Stewart delves into the research on which Ofcom based its guidelines, spells out what the guidance means in practice, and reflects on Ofcom as an organisation.“Ofcom was pretty much claiming that what the audience had told it justified the position it had taken. But then when you got down into the detail, it didn't really say that at all.”To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one off payment please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRogeremail: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com 

Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis took their bow from BBC Radio 4’s satirical news programme ‘The Now Show’ last Friday after 25 years. Steve Punt discusses the last programme, the development and success of this long-running radio comedy show, the impact of our changing news consumption, political bias, radio comedy’s evolution and the new podcast format and his plans for the future.“There was a little BBC drinks do afterwards. And as Hugh pointed out, it was literally just crisps. Someone had gone to Marks and Spencers and they bought one of every flavour of crisps. So, he made a little speech thanking the BBC for the magnificent spread.”To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one off payment please use our crowdfunding page:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRogeremail: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com

Max Cotton is a former BBC political reporter who has spent a year finding out if he can grow and produce 100% of his food on his smallholding near Glastonbury. We discuss his BBC Radio 4 documentary series on the experiment 'Growing Solo', as well as exploring food and farming literacy, food security and self sufficiency in the UK."As a group of people, BBC journalists, they could tell you everything you possibly want to know about Labour education policy, and they don't know what the difference between hay and straw is. And I think that's a sad reflection of where we are."BBC Radio 4 'Growing Solo' starts on Monday 22 April at 1345. You will be able to find the series here:To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membershipOr if you'd rather make a one off payment please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast@BeebRogeremail: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com

Rory Cellan-Jones, former BBC Technology and Business Correspondent examines Tim Davie’s, the BBC’s Director General speech on the BBC’s future priorities. He also explores life after the BBC, discussing his, ‘Movers and Shakers’ Parkinson’s podcast, his family memoir ‘Ruskin Park’ and his forthcoming book on #SophieFromRomania - his beloved rescue dog turned internet sensation.“We are all being given a personalised experience and an experience that is personalised is not necessarily much of a communal one.”To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membershipOr if you'd rather make a one off payment please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast@BeebRogeremail: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com

In the week that Ofcom finds GB News in breach of its code five times but will face no sanction, we talk to Chris Banatvala, Ofcom’s founding Director of Standards, and Content Board member, who was responsible for drafting and enforcing its codes. He is now an independent member of the Sky News Board, Channel 4’s online independent complaint reviewer and advises broadcasters and international regulators. We discuss GB News, Ofcom, impartiality and the chairing of public bodies.“I think it’s the drip, drip, drip effect, which could ultimately spell the end for PSBs. And I think politicians, policymakers, the public have to stand up for public service broadcasting and what it means.”To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membershipOr if you'd rather make a one off payment please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast@BeebRogeremail: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com

Magnus Brooke is Group Director of Strategy, Policy and Regulation at ITV where profits are down by 60%. The digital revolution is changing broadcasting fundamentally and destroying former business models. So does ITV have a future as a Public Service Broadcaster? We also discuss the Media Bill and the added responsibility on Ofcom's shoulders - and whether it's up to the job. And the funding of ITV's smash hit 'Mr Bates vs The Post Office'.“You can't fund dramas on television now, just out of the receipts of broadcasting. And that does create pressure on dramas that are very UK specific. I don't know whether we'll recoup in international distribution what we paid out on ‘Mr. Bates’, we may not ultimately”.To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membershipOr if you'd rather make a one off payment please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRogeremail: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com

One of Britain’s finest reporters Peter Taylor, with numerous books, documentaries and awards spanning a career of over 50 years, on his latest BBC documentary 'Our Dirty War: The British State and the IRA’. We discuss the human cost of IRA informers, the role of Scappaticci codenamed “Stakeknife”, Operation Kenova and covering Northern Ireland.“The curtain is still firmly down on this dreadful period. And I think people should know about it and what the cost of it was.” To support our journalism sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership @BeebRogeremail: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com