‘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 [...]
Romesh Ranganathan makes it hard to defend the BBC Opinion There is a lot to love about the BBC. But the new Romesh Ranganathan-fronted Corporation love-in will backfire, writes Matt Kenyon I’ve been getting sentimental about the BBC lately. Two different people have separately reminded me of Merlin; I had my first encounter with Louis Theroux’s Neil and Christine Hamilton documentary; I’ve been strangely hypnotised [...]
Channel 4: AI adverts boost offered to small businesses Media Channel 4 has launched a new AI tool to help small businesses create TV ads quickly and cheaply. Following ITV’s lead, the system can turn a company’s website or social media content into a draft ad in minutes. Broadcasters then help polish the ad, make sure it follows advertising rules, and get it ready to [...]
Rebranded Channel 5 returns to profit despite advertising hit October 3, 2025 Broadcaster 5 returned to profit despite its turnover falling by almost £80m during its latest financial year, it has been revealed. The business, which is owned by Paramount, has posted a pre-tax profit of £30.6m for 2024, new accounts filed with Companies House show. The total is up from the £159.5m pre-tax loss it reported [...]
Netflix rakes in record UK profits as cost conscious Brits choose adverts August 8, 2025 A rise in Brits choosing Netflix’s advertising tier helped the streaming giant rake in record profits as its UK revenue jumped towards the £2bn mark, it has been revealed. The UK arm of the US giant has reported a pre-tax profit of £63m for 2024, up from the £60.6m it achieved in 2023 – the [...]
Disney+ adverts help House of Mouse rake in £4bn June 30, 2025 The introduction of adverts on Disney+ has helped sales near the £4bn mark at the House of Mouse’s European arm, it has been revealed. The Walt Disney Company has posted a turnover of £3.9bn for the 12 months to 28 September, 2024, up from the £3.8bn it achieved in the prior year. New accounts filed [...]
Brits spend £5bn to avoid ads on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and Spotify May 19, 2025 Brits are spending a staggering £5bn a year just to avoid ads on leading streaming services, according to a new report. In a bid to keep binge-watching and playlist-streaming interruption-free, a new Finder report found that over 31m UK adults now pay for premium, ad free subscriptions across Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney +, and Spotify. [...]
Channel 5 loses £160m ahead of major rebrand amid audience growth December 9, 2024 Channel 5 has insisted its operating model remains stable despite losing almost £160m during 2023, it has been revealed. The channel, which is set to rebrand simply as 5 in April 2025, has slumped to the loss as a result of the value of its investment in Viacom Interactive – a subsidiary of parent company [...]
Warburtons boss reveals how Samuel L Jackson and The Muppets helped transform bakery giant November 28, 2024 The boss of Warburtons has said the bakery giant would not be where it is today without the help of Hollywood A-listers Samuel L Jackson, George Clooney, Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone – and The Muppets. Chairman Jonathan Warburton, part of the fifth generation of the family to lead the Bolton business, has seen the [...]
Sir Ridley Scott’s production company in the red after battling ‘turbulent waters’ October 4, 2024 Sir Ridley Scott’s production company fell into the red as it battled with the “turbulent waters” of the film and TV industry, it has been revealed. Ridley Scott Associates has reported a pre-tax loss of £2.6m for the 12 months to 30 September, 2023, according to newly-filed accounts with Companies House. The loss comes after [...]