Broadcasters

• Public-service broadcasters (PSBs) across Europe, including the BBC, RAI, ZDF, and TVP, are experiencing a significant decline in viewership and relevance. • The struggle is driven by a combination of "apathetic teenagers" ignoring traditional content and the influence of "culture warriors" targeting state media. • This shift matters because these institutions are considered integral to the political and social fabric of modern European polities.

• The BBC and Channel 4 are currently in discussions regarding a potential streaming partnership to increase their collective scale. • This strategic tie-up aims to combat the loss of younger audiences who are increasingly migrating toward global streaming platforms. • Separately, the BBC reports success in improving license fee compliance, citing the effective use of QR codes during World Cup coverage.

• Broadcasters are managing an unprecedented workload for the North American World Cup, which features 104 matches played over 39 days across three countries. • The tournament has broken previous records for both revenue and global reach, with more than 100 different networks providing coverage of the event. • This expansion highlights the massive commercial growth of soccer's showpiece event and the logistical strain placed on media teams to deliver content.

Industrial action is biggest escalation yet in months-long dispute with populist government of Andrej BabišThousands of public service media employees in Czechia are holding a 24-hour strike after the government of the billionaire prime minister, Andrej Babiš, pushed ahead with controversial plans to change the way the country’s public broadcasters are funded.Monday’s industrial action by staff at Czech Television and Czech Radio marks the biggest escalation yet in a months-long confrontation between the broadcasters and Babiš’s populist administration. Continue reading...

• The New Zealand government is investigating new regulations for international streaming services to protect local broadcasters and content creators from financial devastation. • Proposed measures include implementing a levy on platforms, establishing local content quotas, or requiring direct investment into New Zealand-based productions. • Screen Producers NZ president Irene Gardiner noted that similar schemes were recently adopted in Australia, following precedents set by Canada, France, Switzerland, Spain, and Denmark.

• Fox has announced its lineup of broadcasters, analysts, and former players who will call the group stage matches for the 2026 World Cup. • The crew includes veteran broadcaster Ian Darke from ESPN, analyst Danny Higginbotham of Apple TV and NBC Sports, and former USMNT goal-scoring record holder Landon Donovan. • This selection brings together a mix of experienced play-by-play announcers and elite former athletes to provide expert commentary for a global audience.

• On May 27, 2026, the German Federal Cabinet adopted the draft Media Services Investment Obligation Act (MedienInvestVG) as part of a broader film funding reform. • The act requires Video-on-Demand (VoD) providers to invest 8% of their German revenues into European works and adhere to specific sub-quotas. • To ensure fair distribution of ownership, the legislation aims to limit exclusive rights through the implementation of reversi clauses.

• Fox Sports has announced its broadcasting plans for the 2026 World Cup, which will feature an expanded format of 48 teams and 104 total matches. • The network will air 70 matches in total, including every game played by the U.S. Men's National Team (USMNT), with 34 of those games distributed across its cable networks. • This expanded coverage is necessary to accommodate the tournament's increased scale and the significance of the U.S. and Canada serving as co-hosts.

Michael Grade dismisses impartiality concerns, saying rightwing channel faces same rules as BBC, Sky and ITNMichael Grade, the recently departed chair of Britain’s media watchdog, has accused broadcasters of being “embarrassed” by GB News because it covers the “agenda of the majority”.Grade, who has recently retaken the Conservative whip in the House of Lords after stepping down from Ofcom, said he was now able to give his real view on the rightwing broadcaster, which has faced repeated accusations of partial and misleading coverage. Continue reading...

• The German federal cabinet approved draft legislation on May 27, 2026, requiring streaming services and TV broadcasters to invest a fixed percentage of their annual turnover into domestic film production. • The measure aims to bolster the local creative industry by mandating financial contributions from major digital and traditional media platforms. • While the production sector has expressed cautious support, the digital industry has voiced concerns regarding the potential impact on business operations.

Researchers also question whether UK’s impartiality rules allow for proper scrutiny in era of multiparty politicsBroadcasters are letting down voters by relying on so-called vox pop interviews and failing to scrutinise political claims during election campaigns, according to researchers.The study by Cardiff University looked at how this year’s national elections in Wales and Scotland, alongside the local elections in England, were reported on UK-wide television news between 2 March and 6 May. Continue reading...

Deborah Turness, who resigned last year, says traditional news in danger of being replaced by personality-led contentBroadcasters must urgently adapt to an existential threat from “creator journalism” that is causing audiences to shun traditional television news, the former boss of BBC News has said.Deborah Turness, who resigned from the BBC alongside the then director general, Tim Davie, last year, said consumption was “collapsing” for traditional television news, which was facing “a profound moment of disruption”. Continue reading...

Google, Amazon, Apple and Samsung control operating systems, allowing them to act as gatekeepers, letter claimsBusiness live – latest updatesThe world’s largest broadcasters have pushed for the EU to enforce its toughest regulations against virtual TVs and smart assistants built by Google, Amazon, Apple and Samsung.The call came in a letter from the Association of Commercial Television and Video on Demand Services in Europe (ACT), whose members include Canal+, RTL, Mediaset, ITV, Paramount+, NBCUniversal, Walt Disney, Warner Bros Discovery, Sky and TF1 Groupe. Continue reading...