The Latest Broadcast Angle

The latest broadcast stories making waves - and why they should be on your radar.

Paramount & Skydance Merger Gets Political Green Light The US government has approved the £5.9bn merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media, placing 42-year-old David Ellison in charge of Hollywood’s latest studio giant. The politically charged deal ends Paramount’s long-time family control, with promises to curb media bias and halt DEI policies helping to win FCC approval. Critics, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, have slammed the process as a “bribe-ridden” handout to Donald Trump, pointing to a controversial $36m payout and media concessions. With blockbuster titles and major streaming assets in the mix, the merger reshapes the future of global entertainment, fuelled by political fire and cultural friction.

Reach Eyes Paywalls, Blames BBC for Ad Woes Regional publishing giant Reach, owner of the Manchester Evening News, Liverpool Echo and Mirror, is preparing to introduce paywalls, citing falling ad revenue and the BBC’s market dominance. New CEO Piers North blamed the UK’s sluggish online subscription uptake (just 10 percent) on the BBC, contrasting it with higher rates in the US and Ireland. A paid content pilot will launch this year ahead of a wider 2026 rollout. While ads remain the main income source, Reach says it is time to revisit subscriptions for select content, though no word yet on fixing the pop-up-laden user experience.

Commercial Radio Declared a ‘Force for Good’ in New Report A new Radiocentre report has hailed commercial radio as a powerhouse of public value, reaching 40 million listeners weekly. The study highlights radio’s strengths in trusted news (69 percent trust versus social media’s 27 percent), community fundraising (£27m raised in 2024), job creation (over 12,000 roles), and safe, effective advertising (£737m in ad revenue). Launched in Parliament with support from Media Minister Stephanie Peacock and Emily Maitlis, the report underscores the medium’s enduring role in UK life. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy praised radio’s “unique connection” with audiences as vital to both democracy and the creative economy.

Global Expands Abroad with Riviera Radio Buy Global has made its first international radio acquisition by snapping up English-language Riviera Radio in Monaco from Grundy Media. The station, where Global founder Ashley Tabor-King began his career, returns to former ownership under the Capital Radio Group umbrella. Broadcasting across the French Riviera since 1987, Riviera Radio will continue under MD Paul Kavanagh and remains a key voice at events such as the Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Grand Prix. Tabor-King called the move “a vote of confidence” in the region as Global looks to grow in international markets.

BBC Backs MasterChef Return Despite Presenter Scandals The BBC will air the latest MasterChef series from 6 August, despite firing long-time hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode following upheld allegations of inappropriate behaviour and racist language. After a Banijay report and public scrutiny, the BBC says airing the pre-recorded series is “the right thing to do” for the amateur chefs who dedicated themselves to the show. While lightly edited, the series will remain intact, with the broadcaster reaffirming its behavioural standards and distancing itself from the presenters. Decisions on the celebrity and Christmas specials are still under review.

Ofcom Tells PSBs: Get Serious About YouTube or Risk Irrelevance Ofcom has warned UK public service broadcasters to improve their presence on YouTube or risk becoming irrelevant. In a new report, the regulator urges PSBs to create more engaging content for third-party platforms to remain competitive, particularly with younger viewers who now spend more time on YouTube than on traditional PSB services. Ofcom is also calling for legislation to ensure digital prominence, raising concerns about monetisation and brand visibility. The report stresses that time is running out to preserve this pillar of British culture.

BBC2 Brings Global Investigations to Prime Time with Global Eye The BBC is launching Global Eye, a weekly current affairs programme on BBC2 starting in September. The show will spotlight hard-hitting investigations from the BBC World Service, featuring reports from its 43 language services and anchored by its global correspondents. The series aims to bring award-winning journalism, such as Life and Death in Gaza, to UK viewers in a prominent evening slot. Executives call it a bold move to showcase the BBC’s international reach and investigative power on home soil.