England World Cup final defeat smashes UK TV audience records for women’s football August 21, 2023 England’s World Cup final with Spain on Sunday smashed UK TV audience records for a women’s football match, despite an early kick-off and the Lionesses missing out on the trophy. The nail-biting 1-0 defeat attracted an average audience of 13.3m watching on live television, with both BBC One and ITV broadcasting the match from Australia. [...]
The BBC needs a chief ‘why?’ officer if it’s to regain its relevance August 15, 2023 The BBC is struggling for its survival. It sees a hostile government, new agile competition from streamers and social media, and may soon find out what life is like without the guaranteed income of a licence fee. Faced with this dilemma, the BBC announced a new show yesterday sure to change the institution’s fortunes: a [...]
BBC sells iconic Maida Vale Studios to Hans Zimmer August 14, 2023 The BBC has sold its iconic Maida Vale Studios to a partnership of film producers and composer Hans Zimmer for an undisclosed sum. Once echoing with the sounds of music legends like The Beatles, David Bowie and Dusty Springfield, the recording hub has been sold to a partnership between film producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, [...]
Do viewers prefer the news or Netflix? Ofcom’s latest report reveals state of the nation August 3, 2023 Traditional news channels have beaten Netflix to secure the top spots on the nation’s television appetite as audiences increasingly drift to different media outlets, according to Ofcom’s latest annual Media Nations report. BBC One emerged as the viewers’ first port of call when switching on the TV last year, capturing 20 per cent of the [...]
Nigel Farage receives apology from BBC over Coutts account closure reporting July 24, 2023 The BBC has apologised to Nigel Farage for suggesting he lacked the funds needed to hold an account at Coutts after the private bank cut ties with the former Ukip leader. The BBC’s business editor Simon Jack made the apology after a story published by the corporation suggested Mr Farage had his account shut for [...]
Deloitte to review BBC internal processes after Huw Edwards scandal July 18, 2023 A top Deloitte partner has been drafted in to help the BBC review its internal processes following the Huw Edwards scandal. The Big Four firm will be assisting the broadcaster as it evaluates how complaints are assessed in the wake of the crisis. Dame Elan Closs Stephens, acting BBC chairwoman, told a House of Lords [...]
Carlos Alcaraz’s Wimbledon win pulls in nearly as many viewers as coronation July 17, 2023 Carlos Alcaraz’s thrilling Wimbledon triumph attracted a peak audience of 11.2m viewers on BBC One – just short of the number who tuned in for the coronation of King Charles. Alcaraz, 20, came from a set down to beat 23-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and win his first men’s singles title at the All [...]
Richard Sharp speaks out after resignation: BBC chair is a ‘target’ July 8, 2023 Former chair Richard Sharp has said that the BBC chairman position is a “target” and whoever holds it is “vulnerable.”
‘Be a better neighbour’: BBC warned its digital expansion will ‘wreak untold damage’ for local news outlets July 4, 2023 Local news outlets are pleading for government intervention in the BBC’s plans to digitally expand, saying it will decimate an already struggling industry. Independent publishers such as News Media Association, Bristol Post, and The Northern Echo have said the nation’s license fee-funded broadcaster needs to ‘be a better neighbour’ and rethink its plans to grow [...]
£3bn mortgage support fund branded ‘terrible economics and bad politics’ after Lib Dem calls June 16, 2023 Calls for a £3bn mortgage protection fund have been branded “terrible economics and bad politics” as lenders continue to raise rates. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for the multi-billion pound fund to be set up to offer help to families at risk of losing their homes, as repossession fears spiral. But Tim Pitt, [...]