A reorganisation of UK government departments has seen the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport lose its responsibility for digital, reverting to its former title as the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, with Michelle Donelan being replaced as Secretary of State by Lucy Frazer. Donelan has a new role as Science and Technology […]

On the same day the DCMS has confirmed an earlier leak that it is dropping its mad idea of privatising C4, Matt Hancock, the gurning TV celeb and former DCMS Secretary, closed his personal app (he launched it five years ago, in case you’re not a follower). Does this coincidence indicate that the grown-ups are […]

Michelle Donelan, UK Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, has written to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recommending the Government drops its plans to privatise commercial public service broadcaster Channel 4. Donelan says she has concluded that pursuing a sale at this point is not the right decision and there are better ways […]

The proposed privatisation of UK commercial PSB Channel 4 is set to be dropped, according to the FT, with newly-elected Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reassessing policy pledges made by previous administrations as he considers his legislative priorities. “We are looking at all the campaign pledges and we are looking at whether it is the right […]

Michelle Donelan, appointed as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in outgoing UK Prime Minister Liz Truss’s first Cabinet, is to carry on in the role under new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Unlike some of her predecessors in the role, Donelan has relevant professional experience. Before going into politics, she worked […]

Members of Pact, the UK screen sector trade body representing and supporting independent production and distribution companies, have sent an open letter to the Conservative Leadership candidates, calling on them to reconsider the Government’s plans to privatise Channel 4. The letter to Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak has been signed by over 750 Pact members representing […]

Sky News will host the first live television debate with those vying to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and the country’s next Prime Minister following Boris Johnson’s resignation. On July 18th, the candidates will come together at the Sky News studios in West London for a live debate hosted by Kay Burley. […]

Prime Video has announced a multimillion-pound long-term contract with Shepperton Studios for exclusive use of new production facilities at the Surrey studios for future original TV series and movie productions. The new facilities will comprise nine sound stages, workshops and office accommodation, totalling approximately 450,000 square feet, and forming part of the wider redevelopment and […]

Rishi Sunak, UK finance secretary, has led a cabinet pushback against calls by culture secretary Nadine Dorries for an end to the BBC licence fee from 2027. Sunak told Dorries there had not been any cabinet discussion, a view shared by colleagues, according to the FT. On January 17th Dorries tweeted that funding would be […]

More than 600 feature films and television productions have gone into production in the UK since the scheme was announced in July last year as the industry has moved into pandemic recovery thanks to the Government funded Film and TV Production Restart Scheme. The scheme was launched by the Government backed by £500 million to […]