Harry Potter and the Streaming Wars

The legal battle between Sky and HBO

There’s an interesting battle brewing between Sky and Warner Brothers Discovery over the former’s access to WBD’s HBO content. A mainstay of Sky for years, and most of the content of Sky Atlantic, there’s question marks over their future relationship. Friend-of-the-show Adam Bowie wrote a great blog post outlining the issues, and we talked about them with our guests media consultant Paul Robinson and journalist Manori Ravindran.

Also on the show, paywalls are in! Again! CNN and Reuters are now joining the party, but what does that mean for UK readers? We also look at the Film and TV Charity’s Looking Glass report into the mental health of media workers and check in with RAJAR’s latest MIDAS study about the digital habits of UK listeners.

Not only that, but we’re using the BBC Sound Effects library for the Media Quiz.

Further reading:

• Sky vs HBO & Max

• CNN and Reuters announce paywalls

• Karl Warner Off to BBCS

• Jim Waterson’s first London Centric story (and that X post)

• New MIDAS report

• Looking Glass survey sounds alarm on worsening mental health

• Boris Johnson interview cancelled after Laura Kuenssberg gaffe

• Big Talk Studios planning Cheers UK reboot

• Phillip Schofield on Cast Away - review

• TV on Aisle 5! The Brands Paying Direct for Unscripted Budgets (With a Catch)

Remember you can watch The Media Club on YouTube and Spotify, and listen to it wherever you get your podcasts. Oh, and if you haven’t, give us your email address here, so we can keep you updated on the show and the sector.

Matt and the team.