The Media Beat

The Deep Dive this time looks at content makers who don't have a platform. Smart division of labour or risky lack of control of the value chain? We investigate. We also have bad news for NBA fans and the battle for AI hearts and minds and YouTube spending power dominate the news. We are promised spectacular podmojis (c) to illustrate Bob Iger's big shop, GTA6s leak and AI hacks.

This time we take a deep dive into how streamers try to achieve the almost impossible: serve up suggestions for the next content to hook us! Spoiler Alert: It is very very complicated. And fascinating! The news covers massive fines which do good, old fashioned hardware which doesn't and an update into where we do our shopping. Maureen pulls off a surprise Podmoji from nowhere as we learn about Jukebox Musicals, how to stop the slop and which four notes Gen Alpha can't get enough of.

Well, we made it! Episode #100! And for this milestone, we are... following our standard formula! We deep dive on "The Movies" and how viewing habits and economics are changing. News from Comicon, Paramount and Fortnite is tail-ended by talk of live music, a half-time aberration and musical confectionery.

We talk a lot in English right? Well, what about all the other thousands of languages that are being chatted in around the world. This week's fascinating DD looks into non-English creative work and how it becoming more and more centre stage in the world of entertainment. Netflix announce their results, Channel 4 and the BBC jam (or spat?) and it's hard times at X-Box. We have a look at the Emmy nominations too!

We talk a lot about advertising on TMB for the simple reason that it's fascinating, dynamic and highly tech sensitive. So this time, we thought we'd do a deep dive on it with Maureen broadly taking on the business side and Claire the creative with much overlap of course. News is all deals and regulations and the podmojis cover cool stuff for music superfans, AR supergeeks and those who think football matches should be divided into four quarters. (we don't!)

The ways we consume news and opinion continue to evolve rapidly. In this Deep Dive Double Header, Claire and Maureen take us through how this has happened and what is means for consumer, creator and those hoping to make a buck. News covers the opening of the new Murdoch chequebook, Ofcom spreading its influence in the UK and AI scraps. You will be pleased to see a noticeable uptick in Podmoji apparatus as we go through good news for Neon, UMG and SNL UK.

Everyone knows we are but a few weeks away from the planet's greatest sporting event, but how much do we know about the fascinating and mind-blowing world of sports rights? It's a double header this time as both Maureen and Claire grab hold of the subject and take us through the whole business, how quick the space is changing and what is new for WC2026. 2026 Upfronts and Cannes are in the news as is the Actors Unions vs AI. Claire has to improvise wildly during podmojis but they both still find time to give us the scoop on an Amazon purchase, a  big goodbye and what follows Resident Evil.

A gripping, heart-stopping, fingernail biting Deep Dive this time on.... Soaps!: from their origins, business models, ridiculous plots and superstar launchpads - Claire has it all. We also look at Disney's super app, comings and goings in the music industry and playground scraps featuring Mr Musk! Podmojis look at "podslop", getting fit with Spotify and who bought the drinks at the Met Gala!

We've talked about it many times before but surprisingly these have been mere shallow dives: we put that right today with an appropriately marathon Deep Dive on... Netflix. In the news features layoffs, The Netflix of China and Zaslav's parachute. As ever we close with Podmojis which covers soaps, takeovers and scandal!

This time the  theme is "music" - which means a stunning deep dive on the history and business of music publishing and other mentions of this wonderful medium splattered throughout. The news includes shocks, scandals and the leader of the free world and we find out who got free cabbage this week.

This time we welcome back a very special guest: Emily Horgan, independent kids media consultant, former Disney executive and Dublin-based. She is author of the Netflix Kids Content Performance Report (now in its fifth edition) and the Kids StreamerSphere newsletter. She’s the only analyst doing this systematically on Netflix engagement data, which gives her a distinctive view.

Everyone loves a talk show don't they? So how about a Deep Dive on them from the beginnings in the US to the innovations in the UK! We have news of mergers, collaborations and legal battles and chat about Auntie Beeb, The Oscars and hardening up the FBI!

You will be thrilled to hear that we have a Deep Dive Double Header this time with Claire taking on podcasts and Maureen all things M&A. Both are gripping and so full of content that we only have time for two podmojis!

We give you our long awaited AAA Gaming Deep Dive this time and it doesn't disappoint: find out all about the origins, the economics and the accuracies of equine thermodynamics! Add to that YouTube "Skinny Bundles", it all going off at Anthropic and new faces at the top of Disney together with two sporting marquee events and a world of auto-romance and you have yourselves a whopper of an Ep.! Enjoy.

There is too much news to fit in a Deep Dive this time what with all the buzz around Luminate, TikTok, Netflix and the BBC partnering with YouTube so we haven't got one. Podmojis feature a "live" prop and we "beam" Maureen in from a swanky hotel in 'Frisco!

In this special curtain raiser for 2026, Maureen and Claire gaze into their respective crystal balls and reveal what they think will be the major media trends, strategies and innovations over the next 12 months on the back of a spectacularly successful set of predictions for 2025.

In our now traditional "what did Maureen and Claire predict for this year?" episode, we go though what our two great prophets said was going to happen in 2025, some 12 months ago. You will be surprised how well they did. Have a listen (or re-listen) to Episode #63 if you want to hear their predictions in full. Then, gather round the wireless in front of the fire and have a listen. We're on in between The King's Speech and something or other from Ant and Dec. Happy Christmas one and all!

A fabulous Deep Dive this time on the "Creative Economy" of which we are, of course, a part! Netflix and WBD goes "beyond juicy" our Spotify Wrapped ages are wildly different and are Vertical Dramas coming of age? Our move into video (about five years after everyone else) is proving very popular for fans of Podmojis for obvious reasons.

Would you believe Spotify is nearly 20 year old? Well, believe it and all the history and strategy Claire and Maureen have to share with us. News covers big deals and big launches and our presenters struggle to gain supremacy in the Podmoji arena with weird socks, the big TikTok Shop and a quiet revolution in Hollywood.

A brilliant deep dive on Netflix this time and the news is all about WBD selling up, the potential of an AI bubble and Disney integrating with Hulu. Despite being half the world away (literally) Claire grabs whatever she can for podmojis to cover AI presenters, Taylor Sheridan and Celebrity Traitors. Will there be an outright winner?

Today is a very special episode in that we welcome a guest: Dr. Alex Connock, producer-turned-academic, now teaching AI and media at both Oxford and Exeter. Alex was actually on The Media Beat two years ago, when we talked about his first book, Media Management and Artificial Intelligence. Since then, both AI and the media industry have moved at extraordinary speed. He’s back with a brand-new book, Entrepreneurship in Media and Entertainment, just out from Routledge - exploring how AI, creativity, and entrepreneurship are reshaping every stage of the media business, from start-up ideas to scale-ups and exits. Today we’re talking with Alex about what that transformation really looks like in practice: how AI is changing storytelling, production, talent, and education - and what the next generation of media entrepreneurs need to know to stay ahead.

Maureen plays an absolute blinder in this episode's Deep Dive where she give a forensic explanation as to the reasons behind why so many media companies are splitting their business up with additional crucial insights from Claire. We talk about the Paramount, Netflix, WBD machinations, new wearables and what goes on YouTube stays on YouTube for ever (featuring Oliver's first ever material contribution which is about as impressive as Ringo's contribution to The White Album). Podmojis are hard to extract this time, but the chat on Murdock, TikTok, ITV and Jimmy K is terrific!

Ever wondered what a "paperless production" was? Well, wonder no more as Claire takes us through a the silent revolution in film and TV production that happened as we enjoyed our favourite shows. In The News covers content vs creator wars, SVOD trends and the six children and five wives of the world's greatest media mogul. Maureen has a surprise for us all as she casts "Media Beat - The Movie!" in between use of fab props to take us through an advertising own goal, a cool tool and what Anna Wintour really thought of "The Devil Wears Prada".

Many of us know about the A24 studio and the four quadrants, but Claire takes us deep into its history and strategy topped of with some business brilliance from Maureen. We are one of the few podcasts who reference both T.S. Eliot and Adam Sandler whilst analysing how the predicted AI bust will play out. Threads is on the up, Netflix has gone star staring bonkers and another corporate rebrand goes wonky!

A Double header Deep Dive this time exploring the phenomenon that is streaming content "arms dealing" and its worthiness and business implications. We have views on the latest Warner Music results, the resilience of European broadcasters and some gossip about Paramount and Netflix. There is also good news about those of us who like browsing book shops and being turned into South Park characters.

The Deep Dive this time is all about the Online Safety Act as it comes into operation. We also look at the Paramount deal, LA Times and the blurred lines of Gen AI between good and bad faith outputs.

Remember life before Sky TV? Well, it did exist and this time, Maureen takes from the humble beginnings in 1990 to the leviathan we see today! Sky pops up in the news as well as a landmark AI court ruling and news of Netflix and Spotify working together. Maureen has picked up fan and Claire has picked up a soldier so it is all going off in Podmojis!

Can you believe Jaws is 50! That's our deep dive, or rather our "GET OUT OF THE WATER". Loads of other stuff covered including business breakups (WBD) and comings together (TF1 and Netflix) and Maureen has some new props for podmojis!

A Deep Dive for the ages as Maureen reveals four gamechangers in the world of advertising and its use of AI. We talk of dangerous hashtags, new gaming devices and sport on YouTube. We all get grumpy at annoying things but cheer ourselves up when we realised how well the UK is thought of. And Canada!

We all love the BBC! But why? Claire explains all as well as admitting the British Strictly is the best! We also look at the new Google production arm, ITV results and Microsoft advertising. Also find out who owns not one, but two penguins and what fell on whom at Cannes this week.

We dive deep into the Box Office this time and ask the question "how healthy is it?" as well as look at Disney, Finsyn and Privacy. Some discipline is introduced into Podmojis with a unique card system.

Another deep dive on a "family favourite" - this time Maureen takes us down memory lane to tell the story of Netflix and its journey to prominence alongside its erstwhile companion Amazon. The news this time covers predictions, Government vs Big Tech and the deal of the year. Quick-fire podmojis force Claire and Maureen to make good use of unicorns and spectacles!

Claire thrills us this week with a deep dive on Wikipedia and uncovers some interesting facts about our erstwhile digital crib sheet and its founder. Add to that we present detailed reports on the ongoing TikTok saga, the release of Nintendo's Switch 2 and speculation over a possible levy on UK streaming. The podmojis this week make use of some old friends re props and facial expressions!

In this, our first ever "crossover" episode, Maureen and Claire talk to the wonderful Carlo De Marchis, host of the equally wonderful "Retention Zone" podcast, and jam about the state of the nation re sports rights, bundling, emerging viewing habits and, of course AI. Not only this, but we still have time for some podmoji action based around the Netflix drama everyone is talking about, the Samba Report on streaming live sports and one more which Claire attempts to surprise Maureen with!

Do remember when YouTube was all about sharing your holiday videos? We do. But in addition, Claire remembers how it quickly evolved into a genuine disrupter and threat to conventional TV to where it is now. The service with easily the most streamed minutes on Earth. In this deep dive we go back to the beginning and tell the story of the rise of YouTube. We have results and deals in the news and talk about Agentic AI. When Maureen remembers, we also podmojise Jellyfish, Mickey 17 and Sam Altman.

With all that is going on in the world of media, we have had to postpone a deep dive until next time to have a bumper "In The News" which covers sports, closures, ends of eras and a focus on UK broadcasters. Podmojis feature NVIDIA and, of course, The Oscars.

The Deep Dive this week is a deep as the Mariana Trench as we explore the history and current state of a mysterious business phenomenon known as "Vertical Integration", although we are sure our listeners are savvy enough to know what that means. Add to that business results galore, Spotify turning a profit but The Trade Desk stalling and a fist full of podmojis, then you have classic Media Beat. Enjoy!

The Deep Dive jut has to be Deepseek of course and we do not disappoint with a great description of what it is and what it means technically and commercially. Mr Trump is tariffing and Oscar is mulling. Also we have a look at the latest Netflix results, the cost of a Superbowl add and bid a fond farewell to Eurosport.

It's been a little while since a "regular" edition, so you won't be surprised to find we have squeezed in a ton of chat into this one! We cannot avoid talking about Meta and TikTok in depth with sports drama, music behaviours and AI tugs of war in the news. We find out things we never new about Claire's tastes with regard to French cinema and WWE, while Maureen has to find new props with her shades hidden away.

Welcome to 2025! And with the new year come new predictions from Maureen and Claire on subjects covering streaming, music, sports, M&A, AI, content and, off course tips for the Oscars! Happy New Year!

As the end of the year approaches, we look back at some of the predictions made by Maureen and Claire at the beginning of 2024 and are astonished at how accurate they were. Mostly. The usual suspects such as AI, advertising, streaming and content raise their heads, but you will also remember their predictions about The Oscars, Gaming IP and The Euros. (Maybe not the last one). Did their crystal balls offer a portal into the future or were they full of cotton wool? Listen in to find out!

This time, Claire takes us through the critical importance of story telling recalling her fascinating Reykjavik panel. We also look at Ofcom Online Nation 2024, Amazon Nova, The Content London Conference and what's happening in the world of M&A. Maureen is very happy with the new Captain America casting despite possible production issues and other box office numbers look interesting. We have been very excited to see evidence of serious growth in the podcast from Spotify Wrapped and also proof that the three of us have excellent taste in music!

Maureen and Claire have been in Reykjavik chairing panels, promoting women in leadership, having fun and watching the sun go down in the middle of the day. In the first of two special deep dives, Maureen shares what she learned from chaining a panel on the subject of, guess what, AI! Disney and three and a half mergers make the news and there are some very imaginative podmojis to describe how we feel about naughty Sky, bandwidth stretching Netflix and Bluesky take-up. Also stay tuned to the end when we find out the incredible company that Claire has been keeping! You will NOT be disappointed (and neither was she!)

After a small hiatus where we have been travelling, working hard and, in one case, being interviewed by world-famous publications, we are back with a high-energy, high-fun edition. We talk quarterly results of the "big 7" (or 6 or 5) and 50% of Claire's predictions come true. Netflix stop playing games, London loves films and FAST succeeds in Europe! The Gilmore girls find an unlikely fan and we meet the Hot Rabbi and Lego Pharrell! What's not to enjoy?

If you don't know what "dayparts" are, then you are in for a treat as Claire leads the now famous MBDD on how the world of advertising has moved away from the concept of "primetime", but might be moving back! Elsewhere, YouTube and Lionsgate are doing exciting things in AI, The Observer might be being sold and is our love affair with Tolkien fading?

There is literally so much news this time, that we can't fit in the tiniest of paddle, let alone a deep dive! So it makes way for Netflix, UK production spend, film on-demand and gaming weirdness! Also in Podmojis, and although you can't find us on there, we discover that there is plenty of money to be made on OnlyFans! Who knew?

The joy of watching films all day in a cool location! What could be better? We find out that the answer is "not much"! We also talk about TV viewing analysis, getting Emily's clothes delivered to you direct from Paris and a massive podcast deal for the Kelces. There is also furious debate about what months are covered by Quarter 3.

And we are back! After a short summer break which we have spent scouring the world for stories and, with varying degrees of success, "catching tan" we return refreshed and raring to go! In this packed episode we get to grips with Sora which turns words into movies right? Wrong! There are many many steps and slips in between as Maureen discovers. We also celebrate Paris 2024, commiserate with Paramount and wonder at the use of Social Media in the US Presidential race.

Our deep dive this time goes further into one of our favourite subjects, namely streaming, uncovering some interesting developments. "In The News" covers AI video generation, live music in peril and a new streaming service squeezing itself into a crowded UK market. We fly through podmojis as Maureen has to get to Wimbledon but still manage to cover the latest in the Paramount saga, marketing cockups and scheduling conundrums.

This time we dive deeply into Ad Spend across the globe and have some positive thoughts. The news covers Apple's venture into AI and what is happening in Sports including, of course, Euro 2024. You will find out what Maureen and Claire think of Netflix's new offerings, Paramount's continuing woes and, as ever, we debate the key issues of the day such as what is more boring Cricket or Pétanque and whether Queen were posh.