The Beeb needs reform December 10, 2019 In an unconventional move for a frontline politician at election time, Boris Johnson yesterday offered an honest and reasonably clear answer to a question. Asked what he thought of the BBC licence fee he said — whilst muttering something about not concocting policy on the hoof —that it seemed rather outdated. Well, he’s right. Some [...]
Election 2019: Boris Johnson raises red flag over Heathrow and HS2 December 9, 2019 Boris Johnson appeared to raise a red flag over major infrastructure projects including the expansion of Heathrow and HS2. Read more: Former Ofcom boss to advise on Heathrow terminal monopoly probe The Prime Minister, who broke off from campaigning in the north of England to speak to LBC radio, said that while he wasn’t “temperamentally [...]
Former Ofcom boss to advise on Heathrow terminal monopoly probe December 5, 2019 A firm set up by the former boss of Ofcom has been appointed to advise the aviation regulator on whether Heathrow’s terminals could be operated by third-parties. The Civil Aviation Authority has selected Flint Global, which was set up by former Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards, to look into the possibility of allowing other companies [...]
Boris Johnson complaint over Channel 4 melting ice sculpture rejected by Ofcom December 3, 2019 There was nothing wrong with Channel 4’s use of a melting ice sculpture to represent Prime Minister Boris Johnson during its climate debate after he refused to turn up, according to Ofcom. Following the televised debate, the Conservative party lodged a complaint with the media regulator, but this has been rejected. Read more: BBC agrees [...]
BBC agrees to Boris Johnson interview with Andrew Marr after terror attack November 30, 2019 Boris Johnson will be interviewed on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show tomorrow, despite the Prime Minister’s failure to set a date to be grilled by Andrew Neil. The broadcaster had initially banned Johnson from appearing on the Sunday morning show until he agreed to a 30-minute primetime interview with Neil, as the other party leaders [...]
Better together: How media firms are teaming up to take on tech November 30, 2019 The media industry is in flux and embattled publishers and broadcasters are banding together. But will it be enough to fend off the might of big tech? In Succession, the hit HBO show about a crumbling media dynasty, virtually every conversation is a power struggle. But for ageing patriarch Logan Roy, a thinly-veiled Rupert Murdoch, [...]
John McDonnell says Boris Johnson is ‘playing’ the BBC November 29, 2019 Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has accused Boris Johnson of “playing” the BBC over his appearance on Andrew Neil’s programme. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was interviewed by Andrew Neil earlier this week but the BBC has said it and the Prime Minister’s team have so far failed to agree a date for a similar sit down. [...]
Channel 4 replaces Boris Johnson with ice sculpture in climate debate November 29, 2019 The Conservatives have become engulfed in a standoff with Channel 4 after the broadcaster “empty chaired” Prime Minister Boris Johnson during its climate debate last night. The Tory party has written to Ofcom to complain that Channel 4’s decision to replace Johnson with an ice sculpture was a “provocative partisan stunt”. Read more: Boris Johnson [...]
Top Sky exec calls for regulatory overhaul as he takes swipe at ‘anachronistic’ ITV November 26, 2019 A senior Sky executive has called for a radical overhaul of broadcast regulation to adapt to the streaming age as he took a swipe at ITV’s “anachronistic” business model. David Wheeldon, Sky’s group director of policy and public affairs, said regulator Ofcom’s approach was “not particularly radical” and would not help public service broadcasters fulfil [...]
BBC chairman hits back at suggestions of Netflix-style subscription model November 20, 2019 Replacing the BBC’s licence fee with a Netflix-style subscription model would destroy its ability to serve everyone, the corporation’s chairman has said. Sir David Clementi urged advocates of a subscription service to be “realistic” and recognise that the broadcaster’s “principle of universality would be lost”. Read more: BBC signs on-demand deal with Sky as it [...]