9 thoughts I (Rob Manuel) had listening back to this episode 1. Oh god we're going to have to cut all that really funny stuff about [redacted] because we don't want [redacted] to lose their job. 2. These two people are complete dickheads but I quite like them because this is the sound of me and Dave sitting up to 5 in the morning as teenager talkin…

Where are the deepfakes we expected this election? We look at which media platforms are instead shifting the political discourse, against expectations. Also on the programme: how to build a million-strong social media brand: the creator of Fesshole, Rob Manuel reveals all. Plus, there’s a hole in the Telegraph’s finances - we look at why. How can w…

Today Matt Deegan is out of our own studio… and into other podcasts as we decamp to the BBC and The Times to see how they covered election night. We speak to Newscast’s editor Sam Bonham and presenter Adam Fleming - as well as the corporations’ misinformation correspondent Mariana Spring on what we missed on social media. Also Matt takes a trip to …

We discover why some TV execs are troubled by the rise of copycat formats online. Media news and analysis with entertainment exec Rina Dayalji & Broadcast’s Insights Editor Rebecca Cooney. Also on the programme: podcast growth continues, but which formats could make it onto TV? And what genres are missing for this growing mainstream audience? Plus,…

One of things we thought worth doing when mucking around with a Fesshole podcast was the idea that it would be interesting to talk to the actual people doing the confessing. When we said this people were "but how on earth you can do that, it's anonymous?" Well the trick is we just ask on the social media account - have you confessed - would you lik…

“The one where we say the sentence 'a really angry Egyptian who just wanted to fill the pyramids with piss'” Just one of the episode titles we brainstormed this week - others included: "The one where Rob admits he’d hide a dead pet to prevent not getting a shag" "The one where we add Anon Opin to the show which is like adding horse to your supermar…

The thing about Fesshole is people ask me why it exists and what it all means and i'm not sure I could tell you really. There are projects I've started where I've had clear objectives and there's something like Fesshole where it's more like I'm a sorcerer's apprentice, in that I knew I could get something like this to work, but it's not like I'm in…

What can we expect for our industry from the next government? We look through the manifestos launched this week, as well as rounding up the best election coverage so far. Media news and analysis, this week with the i paper’s arts and media correspondent Adam Sherwin and Deadline’s investigations editor Jake Kanter. Also on the programme: Paramount …

Turning the Fesshole Twitter account into other things is apparently what I do now. So far there's been two books and several live shows - so why not a podcast? The Fesshole novelty keyring is coming soon. At the simplest level, let's just pick some funny confessions and read them out and react to them. So that's what we've done here, a top ten in …

Hat Trick Productions closes its comedy entertainment division. What does it mean for the future of TV comedy when one of the biggest British successes has to shutter its operations? Media news and analysis with Press Gazette reporter Charlotte Tobitt and Head Of Podcasts at Carver PR Becca Newson. Also on the programme: the Washington Post nab ano…

Hello, potential listeners! It's Rob Manuel here, the creator of Fesshole, and co-host of this brand new podcast. Right, now is the time to reveal a little more by giving you a trailer that isn't just me and David Stevenson pretending to be aliens in an imaginary episode of Star Trek. So this trailer does sensible things like tell you the show is c…

It’s the election that’s caught the media on the hop - Matt Deegan takes a look at the challenges ahead for broadcasters and publishers with guests TV Critic Rhianna Dhillon and former Director of Programmes for BBC News, now at Coulson Partners, Katy Searle. Also on the programme: The Evening Standard is to go weekly. Why? And can it follow the In…

Why is Australian radio so risqué? Matt Deegan welcomes Craig Bruce, who launched Kyle and Jackie O's First Breakfast Show before becoming head of content for SCA and a radio consultant. We also talk to James Corden's podcast producer, Geoff Jein, who started out at BBC Radio 2 before moving to Perth to work on breakfast radio. Standby for lessons …

We decamp to Bauer’s shiny new studios in Euston to unpick the latest RAJAR listening figures and glean why commercial radio is on the up. Media news and analysis, with guests radio exec Paul Sylvester (Absolute Radio) and broadcast consultant Paul Robinson. Also on the programme: publishers take aim at the BBC’s podcast ad plans, why working class…

After a BBC-dominated ARIAs and with the BAFTA TV awards just around the corner, Matt Deegan is joined by host of Countdown to The BAFTAs, Alex Zane and media writer Caroline Frost to take us through it all. Also on the programme: Sky Sports cross the rubicon and broadcast 3pm matches. Disney+ looks to do fewer things better - so where are they put…

After difficult weeks for the BBC and Global, we look at why looking after your talent may help your reputation. Media news and analysis with Matt Deegan and guests media writer Maggie Brown and Deadline’s International Investigations Editor Jake Kanter. Also on the programme: as US newspapers take OpenAI to court, we look at what the Financial Tim…

The BAFTA TV Awards are coming... and we thought we'd share this fascinating new podcast from BAFTA that explores the nominees. It's calles Countdown To The BAFTAs, and it's made by the producers of The Media Podcast (and has a few familar voices in it too). Alex Zane is your host - in this episode he reveals the documentaries in contention - what …

As broadcasters begin to announce their lineups, what will Ofcom do about Nigel Farage? Media news and analysis, this week with media writer and chair of Broadcasting Press Guild Manori Ravindran and The Media Leader’s Ella Sagar. Also on the programme: we’re in Bristol for the Creative Cities Convention and hear reasons to be cheerful from broadca…

The BBC has been criticised this week by MPs for their plans to move production across the UK in a project, the broadcaster calls 'Across the UK'. The corporation are also planning on introducing performance related pay for some of it's top talent. Media news and analysis, with host Matt Deegan, Gold Walla's MD Faraz Osman and Kimberly Godbolt co-f…

Execs from several newsrooms come together to debate how to cover the next general election in this brave new world of AI, deep fakes and partial broadcasting. Media news and analysis with Matt Deegan. We speak to Sam Woodhouse, the BBC’s Election Night Editor about the updates coming to the broadcaster’s coverage - and why some new technologies ar…

How does Channel 4 plan to run its own production arm? And how long does the BBC have in its current form? Matt Deegan is joined by Dr Jon Wardle (NFTS) and broadcast consultant Ann Charles to digest the week’s media news. Also on the programme: when the local radio market fails, can community radio fill the gap? Trevor Dann reports from Whitehall.…

Matt Deegan is in LA this week for this annual podcast industry event, talking to the great and good of the US podcast scene. Tom Webster discusses the need to persuade media buyers that podcasting is the safest bet in marketing; James Cridland returns for some updates to Spotify... and podcaster Sangeeta Pilai discusses how her focus on US audienc…

Is the BBC planning to take ads in the UK? We look into a curious story from The Times this week, and its implications for British audio businesses. Independent media news and analysis, with guests Alex Farber (The Times), Faraz Osman (Gold Wala) and James Cridland (Pod News). Also on the programme… The head of BBC England’s radio stations, Chris B…

What does this latest photoshop faux pas tell us about media consumers and levels of trust in the media? Matt Deegan is joined by Charlotte Tobitt (Press Gazette) and Rebecca Cooney (Broadcast) to discuss the major media news of the week. Also on the programme: The Telegraph Media Group deal is not yet done, as our Government intends to legislate t…

As Talk TV moves online and GB News reveals dire finances... we look back at the health of the start-up news channels. Media news and analysis, with Matt Deegan and guests Jake Kanter (Deadline) and Chris Lochery (Popbitch). Also on the programme… Global looks to STV’s boss to lead the company. What challenges are ahead for the UK’s biggest commerc…

Should we stop building studios? In the wake of the latest AI developments, that’s what Tyler Perry is doing. But is he right to do so? Media news and analysis with Jane Ostler (Kantar) and Professor Lis Howell (City University). Also on the programme… New Zealand’s challenger channel dumps news and takes the country back to 1989. And Vice closes i…

As the Broadcasting Press Guild celebrates 50 years of service, we bring together some board members to discuss the future of the sector. Media news and analysis, with guests Caroline Frost (Radio Times) and media writer Kate Bulkley. Also on the programme… All3Media finally gets bought. why did Jeff Zucker want to purchase it for his media empire?…

The Superbowl was big this year. Really big... but not big enough to beat an economic crisis. We look at the issues at Paramount, with broadcast consultant Paul Robinson & media writer Scott Bryan. Also on the programme: Channel 4 pushes back against Richard Osman’s analysis of the troubled broadcaster. But who’s right? Or more right? Our panel deb…