Screenshot: Is the Netflix documentary craze coming to an end? June 25, 2021 This week **Media Moment of the Week: Proper propaganda **Is the Netflix documentary craze coming to an end? **Adland bins plans for junk food ad ban Media Moment of the Week: Proper propaganda Nothing screams flourishing democracy like a video of flag-waving children singing a patriotic anthem, right? That seems to be Gavin Williamson’s policy, [...]
Don’t hide from me, event data: Andrew Lloyd Webber launches legal action to force govt to share pilot events results June 25, 2021 West End grandee Andrew Lloyd Webber has joined entertainment industry heavyweights in launching legal action to force the Government to hand over the results from its coronavirus pilot events scheme. In a statement the group, which also includes musician Peter Gabriel, theatre producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh and music industry trade body Live, accused the Government [...]
Euros 2020: BBC receives thousands of complaints over airing Christian Eriksen collapse June 24, 2021 The BBC has received over 6400 complaints for its coverage of Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen collapsing during the Euro 2020 match against Finland earlier this month. Eriksen received CPR on the field in Copenhagen after suffering a cardiac arrest and collapsing as he chased the ball. Doctors resuscitated the footballer on the pitch with a [...]
Small businesses battered by Covid restrictions see return to pre-pandemic sales June 24, 2021 Small businesses are seeing their sales slowly creep back toward pre-Covid levels, but sectors such as hospitality and arts and recreation still have a way to go. An analysis of the records of hundreds of thousands of companies shows that the health of small businesses has remained steady. However, despite the easing of lockdown restrictions [...]
Buzzfeed to go public through $1.5bn US Spac deal June 24, 2021 Buzzfeed today unveiled plans to go public through a blank-cheque deal that will value the media firm at $1.5bn (£1bn). The website, known for its listicles and quizzes, said it will merge with 890 Fifth Avenue Partners, a Nasdaq-listed special purpose acquisition company (Spac) that holds $288m in its trust account. In addition, Buzzfeed has [...]
ITV to move all London staff to White City in cost-cutting plan June 24, 2021 ITV today said it will move all its London staff to one headquarters at the BBC’s former White City campus as part of plans to slash costs. The broadcaster currently has three locations in the capital, with staff split between offices in Holborn, Gray’s Inn Road and Westworks in White City. But around 2,000 employees [...]
Advertisers ‘dismayed’ as UK pushes ahead with junk food ad ban June 24, 2021 The UK advertising industry has reacted with fury after the government confirmed it will push ahead with a ban on junk food adverts. Adverts for foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) will be banned on TV before 9pm while tighter restrictions will be placed on online promotions under new rules set to come [...]
Channel 4 privatisation risks pulling the plug on UK production June 23, 2021 When Thatcher’s government set up Channel 4 back in 1982 as the boisterous youth-focused challenger to the BBC behemoth, it was a radical shake-up of Britain’s fusty broadcasting landscape. Now, almost four decades later, that same landscape is unrecognisable, its skyline dominated by the giants of the internet and streaming age. It’s in this context [...]
Never Gonna Give EU Up: Radiohead and Bob Geldof plead for support to continue Euro tours June 23, 2021 Over 200 artists have backed a campaign pushing the government to act on Brexit-related red tape around touring in the EU. The #LetTheMusicMove campaign, launched today, was set up by the Featured Artists’ Coalition (FAC). It is calling for a “transitional support package” to cover new costs placed on UK artists and music businesses after [...]
David Davis: Online safety bill will be ‘catastrophic’ for freedom of speech June 23, 2021 The government’s plans for new laws cracking down on tech companies will be “catastrophic” for freedom of speech, David Davis said today. The former cabinet minister branded the online safety bill a “censor’s charter”, comparing it to George Orwell’s 1984 and accusing the government of outsourcing the policing of the internet to Silicon Valley. Ministers [...]