Alice said: 'The live music sector has long been a marvel for all to see, both here and around the world, because it provides an experience, both in terms of the music, socially and just being there for your favourite artist.'
'It is also currently still benefiting from the post-pandemic bounce-back of demand, like travel. Glastonbury was another huge bounce for UK entertainment spend,' she said.
According to a recent report by media research firm Enders Analysis, Spotify’s big bet on podcasts “has spectacularly failed to deliver the anticipated financial rewards to shareholders”.
Alice explained to City A.M. that “in essence, the costs of the exclusive podcasts far exceeded the revenue opportunity”.
James said: “All major telcos face the challenge of updating their ageing customer service IT systems, and finding ways to differentiate their connectivity services, with smaller, nimbler rivals at their heels.”
Claire pointed to the growth in popularity of video platform YouTube and social network TikTok among younger audiences, with less interest across age groups in news in particular compared with during the pandemic.
She noted it was also significant to see a “massive long-term drop in shows” that regularly attracted several million viewers. Analysts at Enders expect viewing of linear broadcasting to shrink from two-thirds to less than half of total video viewing by 2028 as streaming services such as Netflix advance.
It outlines the significant strengths and innovations of local journalism against the backdrop of a critical next five years as the industry undergoes digital transformation.
Karen Egan, senior telecoms analyst at Enders the research service, said she was a “continuity candidate”, a priority for BT at a time when the company is going through seismic changes. Previous candidates have been external.
“The rationale for foldable phones is clear,” agreed Joseph Teasdale, head of tech at Enders Analysis. “Who wouldn’t want an iPad-quality screen in an iPhone-sized package?”
However, foldable devices currently come with compromises.
“They’re expensive, the screens crease, the hinge is a point of failure, and they have to incorporate multiple displays rather than concentrating on making one display as good as possible at the price,” Teasdale told City A.M..
He estimated it may take around two more years to develop a foldable that doesn’t feel like an expensive prototype.
Kirkby beat Marc Allera, the head of BT’s consumer division, who was tipped as the leading internal candidate, to the top job. But despite being drafted in from Sweden’s Telia, which she has run for the past four years, Kirkby is “very much a continuity candidate”, according to James Barford, an analyst at Enders Analysis.
Kirkby’s job is “all about execution”, said Barford. The 56-year-old Scot is well acquainted with the sector and the need for big changes to combat its multiple challenges.
Karen Egan at Enders Analysis said Kirkby would be ‘more of a continuity candidate’ which ‘made sense as BT is mainly trying to stay the course.’
