Karen said “If they are to have any chance of surviving as a standalone mobile network operator in the UK then they need to stop the downward spiral of poor network perception, fewer customers, lower returns [and] lower investment.”

Three’s capital expenditure was just half that of its peers for the years leading up to 2020, Egan added, and even though it doubled its spending subsequently, it has not been able to catch up with the likes of Vodafone, O2 and EE.

Tom said “The problem soaps have is that MPs and journalists look down on them, but the audience still loves them. Around 80 per cent of soap viewing is live, while for most drama that’s below 50 per cent. Soap storylines boost mainstream broadcasters’ PSB [public-service broadcasting] credentials. They can run a domestic-violence plot line – that’s usually the only broadsheet press they get – and put it in a naturalistic setting. If the BBC is about reaching as many people as possible to inform, educate and entertain, then EastEnders is a very cheap way to do that.”

Tom said "Whats-on-Netflix.com is interesting in that it straddles fandom and analytics. There are features of Kasey's website that would never be in Netflix's interest to give too much prominence to: the volume and destination of content leaving its service, breakdowns of ownership of third-party content, and any negative news around programming. It is only through the keenness and obsessiveness of an outsider that this content will ever be aggregated." 

Gill said “Younger adults, especially the under-24s, are listening to much less radio overall than previously, and the sector will find it difficult to draw these people in as they get older. Hence their investments in podcasts and streaming services.”

Gill said "RT's licence is held by a company, which is state-funded. It is ok under the Broadcasting Act for state-funded organisations to own broadcasting licences. What is not ok, is when it is a political party. 

"CGTN had its licence revoked because it was found to be held by the wrong firm. The company that was holding it didn't have any editorial control, but the company that did was funded by the Chinese Communist Party. If Russia is state-owned, but isn't funded by any political party, then there is nothing Ofcom can do about that."

Joseph said Spotify has "good strategic reasons" to increase podcast listening on its service.

"Rogan is the biggest podcast in the US, maybe the world. His ad-reads are reportedly very effective, even among podcast ads- his audience listens to him. Obviously you have to set that against controversy, bad press, and artists leaving in protest. Is Rogan worth $200 million? Maybe not in isolation. But podcasts are a strategically important category for Spotify, and the deal gives them exclusive rights to the biggest show going."

"More non-music listening will improve its negotiating position with the major record labels, a small group of companies with must-carry content for any music streamer. Podcasts also let Spotify serve ads to its paying subscribers, a valuable target. And the more listening behaviours it can collect together on its app, the stickier and harder to leave the service becomes, pushing down churn."

Francois questions whether pay-TV customers would pay more for extra games provided under UEFA’s new Swiss model, which will see an extra 100 Champions League games played each year from 2024.

“This is typical baloney from this industry,” says Godard. “I can't believe that they're throwing such a figure.”

He added “All domestic markets are either declining or stable. We have consumer price inflation, and I'm not sure that the rights will follow the consumer prices."

“Domestic markets won't absorb higher spending and this reflects lower competitiveness in the markets.”

Francois said “It is unclear if this recapitalization is merely mopping up the losses of the past or if it is providing the cash needed for the next couple of years before they, hypothetically, break even."

Douglas said "Yes, if doubters argue that investment in creative and planning are a declining need. A bunch of things have happened through the pandemic: WFH accelerated the balance of ecommerce in retail (about five years of projected growth was delivered in a lockdown or two). Most tech platforms have had bumper years. Online advertising, strongly correlated with ecommerce, has grown enormously."

But people get fixated on one side of the story. The big tech companies spend big in offline and online media. Native businesses are not just relying on search and social: TV has grown strongly, adding more new advertisers to its roster than ever. New categories like crypto products have robust marketing budgets. Outsourcing was a wildly exaggerated trend, with many experiments quickly retreating. Companies are building sustainability, not just this week’s sales.

Tom said "Unless it's differentiated, it's going to be a very difficult sell," said Tom Harrington, head of television at Enders Analysis. UK households currently have just under two subscriptions on average, one of which is normally Netflix."

"These services by large are loss making, they are still in a growth phase, and they are being forced to spend ridiculous amounts on content, which isn't necessarily being returned from subscriber fees, which are artificially pushed down by Netflix."

He added "So there's a sort of a vicious cycle going on, and people are only taking two services, so there are going to be losers."

"How this goes is very important for the future of the company, and that's why they're going all in, although they are very late and it looks like a tough sell. But who knows? It's all very early and in a few years we'll know what the people want."