In this, our season 2 finale, Lydia and I discuss the latest developments in streaming, media regulation, and industry strategies, including the Roku acquisition by Fox, social media bans for under-16s – and how this might affect YouTube, and the future of public service broadcasting.

Permeating the entire episode is an idea that 2026 is definitively not a BAU year for the industry. Everyone’s making moves – whether that’s through new content partnerships, the bulldozing of walled gardens or, in the case of ITV, WBD and now Roku, via mergers and acquisitions. The incrementalism of the last few years feels like it’s sharpening to a point. 

Watch below and send comments to me and/or Lydia on LinkedIn. 

Thanks for watching this season. We’ll be back for Season 3 in September.

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Chapters

00:00 Language and Cultural Nuances
02:54 The Impact of Names and Identity
05:55 Roku’s Acquisition by Fox
08:51 Regulatory Challenges in Media Mergers
11:52 The Streaming Landscape: Paramount and Warner Brothers
14:58 Political Influences on Media Regulations
18:01 ITV and Comcast: Slow Progress
20:43 Social Media Regulations for Youth
23:58 Personal Reflections on Social Media Usage
27:02 The Role of Social Media in Modern Advertising
28:18 Navigating Content for Younger Audiences
29:55 The Impact of QR Codes on Viewer Engagement
32:50 Strategic Shifts in Broadcasting Partnerships
35:49 The Future of BBC iPlayer and Content Aggregation
38:48 The Challenges of Collaboration in Public Service Broadcasting
41:51 The Acceleration of Change in the Broadcasting Industry
44:49 The Future of Digital Terrestrial Television
46:39 Leadership Changes at the BBC
49:54 Reflections on the Season and Future Outlook

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