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Veteran DJ Tony Blackburn says OfCom’s decision to block BBC Radio 2 spin-off is “disgraceful”

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BBC • 2 min read

Veteran DJ Tony Blackburn says OfCom’s decision to block BBC Radio 2 spin-off is “disgraceful”

The BBC’s plan to launch a new Radio 2 spin-off playing just golden oldies has been blocked by media regulator OfCom, a decision welcomed by commercial rivals, but criticised by the BBC and one of its presenters, Tony Blackburn. Three other new BBC spin-off stations have been given the go ahead…

Chris Cooke • 03 Jul 2025

As ministers demand answers from Glastonbury and BBC, Bob Vylan say it’s all a “distraction” from the government’s “criminal inaction” on Gaza

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Bob Vylan • 4 min read

As ministers demand answers from Glastonbury and BBC, Bob Vylan say it’s all a “distraction” from the government’s “criminal inaction” on Gaza

Controversy continues to build over Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury set. The duo are subject to a criminal investigation and have had US visas revoked, although the Jewish artist they were due to support there has backed his musical collaborators. Criticism of the BBC for broadcasting the set also continues…

Chris Cooke • 01 Jul 2025

“Fair play” to Eavis family for standing up to political pressure say Kneecap, as BBC “regrets” not pulling plug on Bob Vylan

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BBC • 5 min read

“Fair play” to Eavis family for standing up to political pressure say Kneecap, as BBC “regrets” not pulling plug on Bob Vylan

After the BBC decided not to broadcast Kneecap’s Glastonbury performance live, so it could edit out any controversial bits, it was Bob Vylan’s preceding set that prompted outrage. The BBC now says it should have pulled its live broadcast when Bobby Vylan started chanting “Death Death To The IDF”…

Chris Cooke • 30 Jun 2025

Ticketmaster offered touts meetings with Live Nation’s top lawyer

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Live Nation • 5 min read

Ticketmaster offered touts meetings with Live Nation’s top lawyer

Ticket touts who were convicted of fraud were offered meetings with Selina Emeny, Live Nation’s International Group Counsel, says a BBC investigation, with the live giant raking in huge commissions from fraudulent sales. Maybe Live Nation could cough up a similar donation to the LIVE Trust……

Sam Taylor • 12 Jun 2025

BBC says it won’t ban Kneecap from its Glastonbury coverage

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Kneecap • 2 min read

BBC says it won’t ban Kneecap from its Glastonbury coverage

Glastonbury has confirmed that Kneecap will play this year’s festival on the West Holts stage, which is livestreamed by the BBC. Despite all the controversies surrounding the group, the BBC says it doesn’t ban artists who are playing the festival, but will apply “editorial guidelines” to their set…

Chris Cooke • 05 Jun 2025

Boom Radio welcomes OfCom ruling blocking BBC’s plans for golden oldies radio station

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BBC • 3 min read

Boom Radio welcomes OfCom ruling blocking BBC’s plans for golden oldies radio station

Media regulator OfCom has told the BBC that it can’t launch a new Radio 2 spin-off station playing music from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. The planned new station was heavily criticised by commercial golden oldies station Boom Radio, which said the planned new BBC service would be unfair competition…

Chris Cooke • 11 Apr 2025

BBC abandons controversial plan to sell ads on its podcasts in the UK

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BBC • 3 min read

BBC abandons controversial plan to sell ads on its podcasts in the UK

Last year the BBC announced it would start putting ads alongside its podcasts on platforms like Spotify within the UK. Commercial media companies argued that that would have a significant adverse impact on the UK podcast market. As a result, the BBC has abandoned its plan…

Chris Cooke • 31 Mar 2025

Search engines like Google make it too easy for consumers to discover pirated content say BBC and Sky

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Google • 3 min read

Search engines like Google make it too easy for consumers to discover pirated content say BBC and Sky

The UK’s Competition & Markets Authority has new powers to force ‘conduct requirements’ on big internet companies as a result of last year’s Digital Markets, Competition And Consumers Act. The BBC and Sky have told the CMA it should use those powers to force Google to do more to combat online piracy…

Chris Cooke • 05 Mar 2025

The BBC has revised its plans for four new radio stations, but critics say they should still be blocked

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BBC • 3 min read

The BBC has revised its plans for four new radio stations, but critics say they should still be blocked

Earlier this year the BBC announced plans to launch four new radio stations, spin-offs of Radio 1, 2, and 3. It then began a public interest test and, based on that, has revised its plans, especially in relation to the Radio 2 spin-off. However, that hasn’t placated critics of the new stations…

Chris Cooke • 27 Nov 2024

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BBC • 2 min read

BBC Chair says the “fight is on” to protect the UK’s “wonderful” public service broadcasters

BBC Chair Samir Shah will make a number of demands of the government and media regulator OfCom in a speech tomorrow in a bid to ensure that the UK’s public service broadcasters can continue to compete in a market increasingly dominated by global platforms like those run by Netflix, Amazon and Disney…

Chris Cooke • 04 Nov 2024

BBC Chair says neither subscriptions nor ads would work as future funding models

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BBC • 3 min read

BBC Chair says neither subscriptions nor ads would work as future funding models

How the BBC should be funded in the future was discussed in the House Of Lords yesterday. There has been much speculation over the years that a subscription model might eventually replace the current licence fee funding system. But BBC Chair Samir Shah told the Lords that wouldn’t work…

Chris Cooke • 11 Sep 2024

BBC provides update on Tim Westwood investigation, report should be published this autumn

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Tim Westwood • 1 min read

BBC provides update on Tim Westwood investigation, report should be published this autumn

The BBC has said that the report it commissioned into the past conduct of Tim Westwood should be published this autumn. It instigated an investigation after allegations of sexual misconduct were made against the DJ, with many of the alleged incidents occurring while he worked for the broadcaster…

CMU • 24 Jul 2024