‘Scale is survival’: UK broadcasters race to merge as streaming giants squeeze revenues Media British broadcasters are turning to mergers as television revenues come under pressure from streaming services, YouTube and online ads, according to Ofcom. The media regulator’s annual Media Nations report found commercial broadcaster revenues fell from £4.98bn to £4.83bn in 2025, despite the wider TV and online video market growing seven per cent to £18.4bn. Growth [...]
Billionaire Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings quits after earnings miss Media The billionaire co-founder and chair of Netflix has quit after the streaming giant’s weak financial outlook spooked the market. Reed Hastings, who co-founded Netflix 29 years ago, told investors he will not stand for re-election in June and will focus on philanthropy once he leaves the firm. The shock departure comes after the streaming giant [...]
BBC to cut 2,000 jobs ahead of Matt Brittin takeover Media The BBC is set to cut up to 2,000 jobs in its largest round of redundancies in 15 years, as the broadcaster accelerates cost-cutting plans ahead of a leadership change next month. Staff were briefed on the proposals at a company-wide meeting on Wednesday, with the cuts expected to affect roughly 10 per cent of [...]
Streaming surpasses free-to-air TV in key European markets, research shows March 19, 2026 Streaming has already surpassed linear television in key European markets, new research released this week shows. Fans now consume a larger share of sport via digital platforms than free-to-air television in Italy and Spain, with Iberian audiences watching around 40 per cent more of their sport through streaming services, according to Altman Solon’s Global Sports [...]
Premier League +: Football following the Disney playbook with streaming platform March 8, 2026 When the Premier League last week quietly confirmed that it will be launching its own streaming platform, Premier League +, in Singapore, it might have slipped under the radar for many. At first glance, it’s a new app in a new territory; a controlled test of in-housing distribution and cutting out the broadcasters. But this [...]
Spotify says UK music industry ‘in really strong position’ March 3, 2026 A year ago, the UK music industry was in a bout of slipping global chart shares and fewer breakthrough stars. Yet following this weekend’s Brit Awards, Spotify claims that export growth and rising royalty payments are pointing to an industry revival. In 2025, the streaming giant paid out £860m to UK artists and their rights [...]
Paramount outguns Netflix for Warner Bros February 27, 2026 Paramount Skydance has emerged victorious in the months-long battle for Warner Bros Discovery, after Netflix refused to raise its offer for the Hollywood giant. The streaming group confirmed it would not match Paramount’s latest $31 (£23)-per-share bid, ending an $83bn pursuit that had threatened to reshape the entertainment sector. “We’ve always been disciplined, and at [...]
Warner Bros reopens Paramount talks as bidding war escalates February 17, 2026 Warner Bros Discovery has resumed talks with Paramount Skydance, reigniting the takeover battle with Netflix for one of Hollywood’s most sought-after studios. WBD confirmed it is entering seven days of deal discussions with the David Ellison-backed group, even as it continues to stand by its agreed $82.7bn (£60.94bn) deal with Netflix. The move follows months [...]
Paramount woos Warner Bros investors with regulatory delay payout February 10, 2026 Paramount has upped the ante in its bid for Warner Bros Discovery, adding a so-called ticking fee to its $108bn (£78bn) takeover offer. The move comes as the streaming giant seeks to reassure shareholders amid heightened antitrust scrutiny. Under the revised terms, Paramount Skydance will pay Warner Bros. Discovery investors an additional $0.25 per share [...]
Spotify proves raising fees won’t stop listeners February 10, 2026 Spotify’s latest results show that despite prices rising and costs climbing, users are not leaving. The Swedish group added a record number of users in the final quarter of 2025, pushing monthly active users to 751 million and paid subscribers to 290 million. Revenue rose 13 per cent year on year on a constant-currency basis [...]