In The Frame - November '22

Streaming/Online/Tech

Disney has swapped top Bobs: the company has sacked its CEO Bob Chapek after less than three years and reinstated the previously retired Bob Iger. One of Iger’s first moves will be to pause hiring, which Chapek had planned earlier this month, as the company faces growing losses in its Disney+ division.

Data from the second week (beginning 7 November) of Netflix’s subscription to BARB shows that content on the streaming service comprised the top 22 most-watched SVOD programmes in the UK.

While Netflix’s games package might change – it's hiring for an unannounced title and is looking at cloud gaming – there are still a few people getting Netflix DVDs by post. The company’s gamechanging service has shipped more than five billion discs across the US since its inception nearly 25 years ago.

ITVX, ITV’s new streaming service which launches on 8 December 2022, will offer viewers access to free content with ads and an ad-free paid subscription. Paying subscribers will also have access to BritBox UK. Replacing ITV Hub, ITVX has agreed content deals with Warner Bros. Discovery International and Paramount.

DAZN and cybersecurity specialist Irdeto are to address the misuse of premium content and fight video piracy in sports streaming.

BBC News

The BBC is to improve its complaints process to support greater transparency and maintain audience trust. The changes are expected to be made within the next six months, and follow Ofcom’s report, published in June 2022, Audience perceptions of the BBC First complaints system.

Regional versions of BBC One HD for England will be available for the first time on broadcast platforms by next spring. The BBC aims for the rollout on Freeview, Sky, YouView and Freesat to be complete by April 2023. The corporation already broadcasts BBC One in HD in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on digital terrestrial and satellite platforms.

The BBC has announced plans to reduce the size of its property portfolio.

England’s World Cup match against Wales drew a peak audience on across BBC TV, iPlayer and BBC Sport online of 18.7 million viewers. Neary 10 million BBC One viewers watched Spain and Germany’s 1-1 draw on 27 November. An additional 3.5 million streamed that match on iPlayer.

The BBC and ITV are to share the broadcast rights for the 2024 and 2028 men’s European football championships.

And finally…

• The culture secretary Michelle Donelan has told Sky News the BBC is a “national asset” and confirmed she’s “working very closely” with Channel 4 to discuss whether it should be sold off or not.
• The CEOs of the UK’s PSBs, and panellists speaking at Channel 4’s Inclusion Festival, say more diverse senior decision makers are essential if broadcasting is to become a genuinely inclusive industry.
• A peak audience of 18 million viewers watched England’s World Cup draw with the USA on ITV1.
• A survey of 59 UK advertisers has found that 67% will make the deepest budget cuts to ads on linear TV.
• Channel 4 is partnering with health company Hertility to offer reproductive health and hormone testing to its employees.
• Planning has been submitted to create a 500,000 square-foot studio facility in Sunderland, which would include the world's largest covered water studio.
• Sky is to launch in February 2023 a new 24-hour, ad-free linear channel, Sky Kids.