Netflix UK shows ‘not aligned to British taste’, say top media analysts February 27, 2020 Netflix’s UK shows are “not necessarily aligned to British taste” and cannot be compared to the BBC’s home-grown dramas, according to top media analysts. In a note issued today, Enders Analysis threw its weight behind the BBC’s value to the wider creative economy and blasted “naive” comparisons between the public service broadcaster and Silicon Valley [...]
Online harms laws will not harm free speech, vows Ofcom boss February 27, 2020 The rollout of new laws to tackle so-called online harms will not lead to censorship or damage free speech, a top Ofcom executive has said. Earlier this month the government said it would appoint Ofcom as Britain’s first internet watchdog, tasked with crackdown down on illegal and harmful material on social media sites. The beefed-up [...]
Chrysalis Records relaunches with Laura Marling deal February 26, 2020 Iconic record label Chrysalis Records today announced its relaunch as an active label, signing up British singer songwriter Laura Marling. Chrysalis, which was founded in 1968, pioneered some of the biggest artists in the 70s and 80s, including Billy Idol, Blondie and Sinead O’Connor. The relaunch marks the first time in more than two decades [...]
Top journalists Nick Robinson and Jon Snow in isolation over coronavirus fears February 26, 2020 The BBC’s Nick Robinson and Channel 4 presenter Jon Snow are both in self-isolation as coronavirus fears take their toll on British journalism. Robinson, who presents Radio 4’s Today programme, said he had been given a “routine precautionary check” for the virus after returning from Vietnam and Cambodia. The former Beeb political editor said he [...]
This Morning star Eamonn Holmes faces hefty bill after losing IR35 tax case February 25, 2020 Veteran TV presenter Eamonn Holmes could be facing a hefty tax bill after losing a case against HMRC over his employment status. Holmes, who hosts ITV’s This Morning, had argued he was a freelancer as he received payments from the broadcaster through his company Red, White and Green Limited. However, a judge ruled that the [...]
DEBATE: Does the ‘royal’ brand hold any cachet anyway? February 25, 2020 Harry and Meghan have dropped the word ‘royal’, but does the brand hold any cachet anyway? Max Ottignon, co-founder of branding agency Ragged Edge, says YES. There’s a huge amount of value in the royal brand. It comes with a rich legacy, one that has been carefully curated and protected over time. And it carries [...]
Mirror publisher Reach looks to data as it fights back against tech giants February 24, 2020 Reach, the owner of the Daily Mirror and Daily Express, today unveiled plans to win back customer data from tech giants such as Google and Facebook as the publisher looks to expand its user base and counteract a decline in revenue. The figures Like-for-like revenue hit £702.5m, down 5.3 per cent from £723.9m a year [...]
Samira Ahmed reaches settlement with BBC over equal pay case February 24, 2020 The BBC has reached a settlement with Samira Ahmed after the presenter won her equal pay case against the broadcaster. An employment tribunal last month ruled that Ahmed was underpaid for hosting Newswatch in comparison to Jeremy Vine, who hosts Points of View. The BBC had argued that the two presenters fulfilled “very different roles”, [...]
Disney Plus UK: Everything you need to know (and why The Simpsons is missing) February 24, 2020 Eager film and TV fans can today get their hands on a discounted Disney Plus subscription ahead of the streaming service’s UK launch next month, while the media giant has given subscribers a taste of its content slate. How much does it cost? Disney Plus today announced that customers can sign up for an introductory [...]
Murdoch’s media empire hit by phone hacking charges as Sun suffers hefty loss February 23, 2020 Rupert Murdoch’s Sun newspapers have posted another year of deep losses after the publisher was forced to pay out millions of pounds to settle phone hacking cases. News Group Newspapers (NGN), which publishes the Sun and the Sun on Sunday, reported a pre-tax loss of £68m in the year to the end of June 2019. [...]