Stories that mattered this week: A new culture secretary, Ofcom rulings and streamer consolidation

Reporter Ella Sagar and deputy editor Maria Iu look at the stories that mattered most in media and advertising this week.

The pair discuss new culture secretary Lisa Nandy’s in-tray, Ofcom’s ruling on BBC spin-off stations, Meta’s view that “news is substitutable” and Paramount Global’s merger with Skydance Media.

Listen below and hit ‘subscribe’ to make sure you get future episodes wherever you like listening to podcasts:

Highlights

0:26: What you need to know about the new Labour government

3:54: Ofcom delays early launch of BBC Radio 2’s “pop nostalgia” service

8:30: Industry reaction to Meta saying news is “substitutable”

12:15: Paramount Global and Skydance Media merger

14:30: Bundling could be “consolidation lite”

16:57: News round-up: Channel 4’s chief revenue officer will depart at the end of the year; Spotify has added a comments feature for podcasts; the UK and Ireland June box office is up 7%; The Independent has been having “more than half a dozen serious conversations” with global publishers about partnerships; and latest IPA TouchPoints data showing 38% of Brits “are not coping” on their current income.

Related links

Big changes ahead in media under a new government

Ofcom delays launch of BBC Radio 2 ‘pop nostalgia’ service

Paramount ends merger saga after reaching ‘definitive’ Skydance agreement

Disney bundling found to lower churn in US

Channel 4 sales chief Veriça Djurdjevic exit: CEO’s letter to staff in full

June box office up 7%

The Independent’s CEO eyes publisher partnerships beyond BuzzFeed

Previous episodes

Andrew Cole interview: How telcos will shake up TV trading and measurement

Podcast: Les Binet interview, plus media prospects under Labour and Netflix/Amazon commissions

Podcast: Talent, creativity and other priorities for the industry this year