Axel Springer’s Telegraph takeover given government green light April 14, 2026 The years-long saga over the Daily Telegraph’s ownership is poised to reach a conclusion, after the government announced it had approved Axel Springer’s offer for the broadsheet newspaper. The German publishing giant, which owns Politico, Business Insider and the Bild tabloid, said on Tuesday that Britain’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport had given it [...]
ITV and BBC staples part of sport radio station backed by Zac Goldsmith April 9, 2026 ITV and BBC staples Mark Pougatch and Sonja McLaughlan are part of the sports radio station backed by a multi-million pound investment by Tory peer Zac Goldsmith. Goldsmith and his brother, Ben, are major investors in Track Radio, which will launch next month. ITV Sport regular Pougatch and BBC Six Nations specialist McLaughlan have been [...]
BBC appoints former Google executive as director general March 25, 2026 Former Google executive Matt Brittin has been confirmed as the BBC’s next director general, taking over from Tim Davie at a pivotal moment for the broadcaster. Brittin spent nearly two decades at Google, most recently serving as president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa before stepping down in 2025. He will now lead the [...]
Less magic, more panic in Disney’s AI deal March 5, 2026 It was always going to happen, wasn’t it? The moment AI video tools became proficient enough to conjure something that looked vaguely like a princess, or a Jedi, Disney would ultimately have to choose: spend the next decade playing a game of Whac-A-Mole in court, or license its assets in-house. The House of Mouse, it [...]
UK media giants join forces to curb AI’s use of their journalism February 27, 2026 Sky News has teamed up with the BBC, the Financial Times, the Guardian and the Daily Telegraph to form a new coalition aimed at setting industry standards for how AI uses news content. The group, under the name the Standards for Publisher Usage Rights coalition (SPUR), has been launched in response to growing concern that [...]
Households to pay more for BBC TV licence, government confirms February 6, 2026 Households across the country will see their bills rise after the Labour government increased the TV licence fee that funds the BBC. The Department of Culture, Media and Sport said on Friday that the annual levy will be increased to £180 from 1 April. This marks a £5.50 yearly increase. The move follows rules brought [...]
Disney names new CEO as UK streaming shows early lift February 3, 2026 Walt Disney has ended its long-running succession drama by appointing parks chief Josh D’Amaro as its next chief executive, as the group begins to see tentative signs of recovery in its UK streaming business. D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, is to take over from Bob Iger at Disney’s annual meeting on 18 March. Iger, who [...]
Disney streaming gains momentum as Hollywood pressure builds February 2, 2026 Disney beat Wall Street expectations in its latest quarter, buoyed by an unexpected improvement in its streaming business, despite rising costs hitting the entertainment industry. The media giant reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.63 for its first fiscal quarter, ahead of estimates of around $1.56. Revenue rose five per cent year on year to [...]
LSEG axes Financial Times subscriptions amid FTSE coverage retreat January 29, 2026 The operator of the London Stock Exchange has cancelled hundreds of corporate subscriptions to the Financial Times, City AM understands, in a move that could end a decades-long relationship between the two City institutions. LSEG is understood to have taken the decision in response to the paper’s gradual retreat from coverage of the London markets, [...]
Podcast group Goalhanger nets US investor backing January 28, 2026 US-based investment firm The Chernin Group (TCG) has taken a minority stake in Gary Lineker’s Goalhanger Podcasts, becoming the first outside investor in the podcasting giant. The investment will support Goalhanger’s “next phase of growth”, which includes accelerating its expansion into the US and developing new IP from its hit shows. The transaction was completed [...]