Broadcast Newswrap

Bridgerton comes to MPTS (virtually)

In this week's Newswrap, we're joined by Charlotte Wheeler, event director of Broadcast's sibling brand the Media, Production and Technology Show (MPTS), to discuss recently wrapped virtual festival MPTS Connect.

 

GB News is coming

The broadcasting world is alive with the buzz of two news channels launching in the coming months, and who better to assess the state of play than ITN’s 5 News editor Cait FitzSimons and media commentator Ben Fenton.

The pair talk to John Elmes as GB News and News UK prepare to launch channels, discussing how the duo will fit in the wider landscape and mulling over the challenges of running a newsroom in our pandemic-riddled, social media-infested society. 

All that, plus some intriguing ‘What We’ve Been Watchin’’ choices, on this week’s Broadcast Newswrap. 

Drilling into Diamond

Last month’s Diamond Fourth Cut diversity report showed disappointing falls and plateaus in representation of under-represented talent, with particular shortfalls in off-screen representation from the BAME and disabled communities. 

To unpick the results and provide some solutions, the Newswrap is delighted to welcome diversity campaigners Marcus Ryder, Caroline O’Neill and Andrew Roach to the pod this week. 

The trio discuss where the broadcasters and indies are going wrong, react to the very latest diversity news and touch on issues of intersectionality. 

Plus, we have a bit of a disagreement on everybody’s favourite ‘What We’ve Been Watchin’’ segment! 

Join us this week to get the experts view on one of the biggest issues impacting the UK TV sector today.

A transcription of the podcast is available at https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/home/newswrap-podcast-drilling-into-diamond-transcription/5157078.article

Bridgerton director reveals all

Not much has taken the world by storm in 2021 but Netflix smash hit Bridgerton is in the small minority.

Having been watched by almost 100m households worldwide, director Julie Anne Robinson joins the Newswrap this week to discuss working with the incredible Shonda Rhimes, moving Stateside and the show’s groundbreaking approach to diverse and inclusive casting. The Brits could learn a thing or two!

​Julie Anne is also on hand to give us the lowdown on her Sky Studios-backed UK indie Longboat Pictures, which she recently launched with former ITV drama commissioner Victoria Fea.

C4 exec reshuffle unpicked

Channel 4 historian and media journalist Maggie Brown joins editor-in-chief Chris Curtis and reporter Hannah Bowler to discuss the moves at the top of C4 and how that plays into its Future4 strategy and its content plans.

That, plus a C4-focused edition of our world-renowned segment ’What We’ve Been Watchin’’.

You can catch the Newswrap’s previous 31 episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or on broadcastnow.co.uk 

SVoD hiring spree plus Nicola Shindler

New year, new US president, new Newswrap.

Insight editor Jesse Whittock is joined by Max Goldbart and John Elmes this week to kick off 2021 by analysing the SVoD hiring spree, as Netflix and Disney+ make big factual UK plays. 

We analyse the job moves and also examine a busy week for employment in the indie sector, as Shine TV’s Tanya Shaw and Clerkenwell Films’ Murray Ferguson both reveal they are to step down.

Also on the move recently was Red Production Company founder Nicola Shindler, who set up her own venture Quay Street Productions, and we have exclusive audio from her sit down with John last week. 

All of that, plus British podcasting’s favourite ‘segment - ’What We’ve Been Watchin’’ - on this first Broadcast Newswrap of the year.

Newswrap review of the year - part 2

What do you get when you bring together four Broadcast journalists? Unparalleled analysis and an in-depth re-cap of a year that won’t be forgotten in a hurry. 

We’ve ditched the indie bosses this week as Max Goldbart, Hannah Bowler, John Elmes and Jesse Whittock remind listeners of some of 2020’s biggest moments, all the while looking to 2021. 

The Newswrap will of course be back early next year, bringing you the TV news that matters each week along with analysis and features with some of British broadcasting’s finest.

Newswrap review of the year - part 1

Max Goldbart, Jesse Whittock and John Elmes are joined by indie chiefs Julie Gardner, Nicki Gottlieb and Jimmy Mulville to discuss how they negotiated the unprecendented year that was 2020 and their thoughts for 2021.

All that, plus a smattering of these experts' choice selections in ‘What We’ve Been Watchin’’.

Working with the new streamers

The past 12 months has seen an avalanche of streamers enter the market, as AppleTV+, Disney+, HBO Max, Quibi, Peacock and Discovery+ among many many others take on the Amazon and Netflix behemoths. 

To unpack all of this, the Newswrap this week welcomes Broadcast Intelligence researchers Alice Redman and Heather Fallon ahead of the duo’s latest in-depth report hitting the shelves.

The pair also discuss the streaming shows that got them through lockdown in the ever-favourable ‘What We’ve Been Watchin’’.

Diversity special - six months of change

​In late-May of this year, the mass global protests sparked by the death of George Floyd caused a ripple effect that spread swiftly to the UK TV sector. 

Six months on, the Newswrap is joined by three women who can provide differing perspectives on what has changed - producer Lucy Pilkington, Channel 4 commissioner Rita Daniels and Yinka Bokinni, one of the foremost up-and-coming TV presenting talents. 

 

Our trio of guests talk Max Goldbart and Hannah Bowler through the gains and pains of an intensely busy six-month period, all the while explaining why there is still plenty of progress to be made.

Plus, we’ve got a diversity special of everyone’s favourite segment - ‘What We’ve Been Watchin’’.