The Media Show

Fiona Ryder and Jane Mote discuss the challenges and successes of launching local TV stations in Norwich and London. Johnston Press sees profit increase after 7 years, Mail on Sunday's scoop of the year on the 'Crystal Methodist' story. Show highlights media transformation, debt management, and award-winning investigative journalism.

Sir Peter Bazalgette from Arts Council England, Gillian Reynolds from The Telegraph, and Jonty Claypole from the BBC discuss the future of arts TV. They also cover Turkey's Twitter ban and the campaign for Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste's release in Egypt.

Lenny Henry discusses ethnic diversity in broadcasting, Andrew Bridgen MP on decriminalizing license fee evasion, and Joan Smith criticizes media handling of L'Wren Scott's death. The podcast also covers Idris Elba's role in a crime series, lack of diversity in the creative industries, and media ethics in privacy invasion.

Commissioning Editor for Factual at Channel 5 discusses new live debate programs tackling obesity and crime. BskyB's Sophie Turner-Laing talks about boosting entertainment offerings amidst sports spending. BBC's James Purnell warns about risks of decriminalizing TV licence fee evasion leading to channel closures.

Broadcast magazine editor Chris Curtis discusses BBC3's potential move to online-only, Vice's growth into a news powerhouse, and the Netflix-Comcast deal's impact on net neutrality with experts Emily Bell, Kip Meek, and Neelie Kroes. Topics include saving costs, online news expansion, and equality in internet traffic.

Discussions include the future of BBC funding, challenges of maintaining quality amidst financial struggles, the transition to a new press regulation system, and the impactful investigative journalism efforts addressing gang conflicts. The podcast also explores initiatives to tackle gang inequality through social enterprises and drama workshops for young people, emphasizing the importance of the license fee for BBC funding.

MPs have expressed concern about the future funding and growing commercialisation of the World Service. The BBC Trust has agreed that, subject to clearance from government, the World Service can broadcast a limited amount of advertising and sponsored content that is not news and current affairs, from 1 April, when the BBC moves to licence fee funding. Steve Hewlett asks Peter Horrocks about how the audience feels about adverts, and questions him over whether featuring commercial products would threaten the network's impartiality.Reports this week say ITV has held talks with BBC presenter Susanna Reid in a bid to revive its fortunes in the TV breakfast wars. It's understood Daybreak is set to have another presenter change, with Richard Bacon and Dermot O'Leary also reported to be in the running. It's the latest in a series of relaunches the programme has had since it began in September 2010 in a bid to pull in audiences. Steve Hewlett talks to former head of ITV Daytime Dianne Nelmes, and Liam Hamilton, launch editor and former executive producer of GMTV, about how to save flailing breakfast programmes. Reader's Digest is a 76 year old UK publication which, in its heydey, was one of the most popular magazines in the UK. Now, however, it's circulation has dropped to under 200,000. This weekend, it was bought for a nominal sum - said to be £1 - by entrepreneur Mike Luckwell. He says he wants to return the magazine to its glory days by boosting subscribers, offering direct marketing, and potentially putting the website behind a paywall. Steve Hewlett talks to him about how to reshape the magazine, at a time when circulation across the whole of the industry, is falling. Producer: Katy Takatsuki Editor: Andrew Smith.

Stand up comic Jenny Eclair discusses the lack of women on TV panel shows. Investigative journalist Tom Bower talks about exposing powerful figures. Al Jazeera English correspondent Sue Turton shares her experience of being charged in Egypt. The podcast also explores Twitter's financial challenges and user growth concerns.

Former BBC director general Mark Thompson discusses the failed Digital Media Initiative project worth £100m. The ethics of publishing royal pictures in Hello! magazine are debated. The House of Lords proposes Ofcom to handle media ownership decisions. The podcast also touches on journalist arrests in Egypt.

Guardian reporter Tara Conlan discusses the failed Digital Media Initiative by the BBC. Steve explores BSkyB's challenges in the face of tough competition. NFL's VP talks about the sport's growing fan base in the UK. News UK launches a news academy for young journalists.