The EC is debating a new law in Poland, feared to be compromising the editorial freedom of public service broadcasters. Last Thursday, President Duda signed a new media bill, giving the government direct control over top appointments at the country's TV & radio stations. The bill had been condemned by press freedom organisations. Steve is joined by Polish journalist Bartosz Wielinski, from newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza, and Ingrid Deltenre, Director General of the European Broadcasting Union, which has opposed the bill from the outset.
James Harding, the Director of News and Current affairs at the BBC, has launched a review to reshape the operation as it faces millions of pounds worth of costs. In a recent blog post, he wrote to staff saying: "We are going to have to make choices...the funding settlement for the BBC requires both cuts and the reallocation of spending." Steve Hewlett asks one-time ITN Chief Executive and Editor in Chief Stewart Purvis and Jonathan Baker, former Editor of the BBC News at Ten and now Professor of Journalism at Essex University, where cuts might be made. And in a week that's seen the BBC criticised by the Labour party following the on-air resignation of Stephen Doughty, Steve also talks to them about such 'deals' being done, and whether they jeopardise impartiality.
The consultancy firm Deloitte has published its 2016 Media Predictions report today. This year's predictions include a growth in virtual reality, especially in gaming, plus a prediction that very few people will use ad-blocking software. In addition, its report says there will be a slowdown in the US pay-TV market and a growth in eSports. Ed Shedd leads the global media and entertainment team at Deloitte Global. He talks Steve Hewlett through some of this year's key predictions.
Producer: Katy Takatsuki.
