The Media Beat

Hosted by Maureen Kerr and Claire Tavernier

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Episodes

102

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

Join Maureen Kerr, a strategic adviser in media, technology and AI; Claire Tavernier, a leading media consultant and commentator; and podcast emcee and producer extraordinaire, Oliver Turnbull, on The Media Beat Podcast.

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60 recent

August 26, 2026Episode 10247 min

Streamers' Amazon bet, OpenAI loses its crown and an AI gym hack | The Media Beat Ep #102

The Deep Dive this time looks at content makers who don't have a platform. Smart division of labour or risky lack of control of the value chain? We investigate. We also have bad news for NBA fans and the battle for AI hearts and minds and YouTube spending power dominate the news. We are promised spectacular podmojis (c) to illustrate Bob Iger's big shop, GTA6s leak and AI hacks.

August 14, 2026Episode 10152 min

Streaming Discovery, Public Nuisance and TikTok Shop | The Media Beat #101

This time we take a deep dive into how streamers try to achieve the almost impossible: serve up suggestions for the next content to hook us! Spoiler Alert: It is very very complicated. And fascinating! The news covers massive fines which do good, old fashioned hardware which doesn't and an update into where we do our shopping. Maureen pulls off a surprise Podmoji from nowhere as we learn about Jukebox Musicals, how to stop the slop and which four notes Gen Alpha can't get enough of.

July 29, 2026Episode 10048 min

The New Cinema Economy, Comic-Con's Hollywood Moment and a Musical Lollipop | The Media Beat #100

Well, we made it! Episode #100! And for this milestone, we are... following our standard formula! We deep dive on "The Movies" and how viewing habits and economics are changing. News from Comicon, Paramount and Fortnite is tail-ended by talk of live music, a half-time aberration and musical confectionery.

July 17, 2026Episode 9952 min

Non-English TV, Netflix Wobbles and Emmy Nominations | The Media Beat #99

We talk a lot in English right? Well, what about all the other thousands of languages that are being chatted in around the world. This week's fascinating DD looks into non-English creative work and how it becoming more and more centre stage in the world of entertainment. Netflix announce their results, Channel 4 and the BBC jam (or spat?) and it's hard times at X-Box. We have a look at the Emmy nominations too!

July 2, 2026Episode 9859 min

Advertising's Redistribution, Comcast's Split and a Kit Kat Heist | The Media Beat #98

We talk a lot about advertising on TMB for the simple reason that it's fascinating, dynamic and highly tech sensitive. So this time, we thought we'd do a deep dive on it with Maureen broadly taking on the business side and Claire the creative with much overlap of course. News is all deals and regulations and the podmojis cover cool stuff for music superfans, AR supergeeks and those who think football matches should be divided into four quarters. (we don't!)

June 2, 2026Episode 9750 min

The Substack Effect, James Murdoch's Media Bet, and an AI Movie | The Media Beat #97

The ways we consume news and opinion continue to evolve rapidly. In this Deep Dive Double Header, Claire and Maureen take us through how this has happened and what is means for consumer, creator and those hoping to make a buck. News covers the opening of the new Murdoch chequebook, Ofcom spreading its influence in the UK and AI scraps. You will be pleased to see a noticeable uptick in Podmoji apparatus as we go through good news for Neon, UMG and SNL UK.

May 21, 2026Episode 9656 min

World Cup Rights, Creator Upfronts and Cannes Gets Complicated | The Media Beat #96

Everyone knows we are but a few weeks away from the planet's greatest sporting event, but how much do we know about the fascinating and mind-blowing world of sports rights? It's a double header this time as both Maureen and Claire grab hold of the subject and take us through the whole business, how quick the space is changing and what is new for WC2026. 2026 Upfronts and Cannes are in the news as is the Actors Unions vs AI. Claire has to improvise wildly during podmojis but they both still find time to give us the scoop on an Amazon purchase, a big goodbye and what follows Resident Evil.

May 7, 2026Episode 9548 min

An Ode to Soaps, AI Court Dramas and Podslop | The Media Beat #95

A gripping, heart-stopping, fingernail biting Deep Dive this time on.... Soaps!: from their origins, business models, ridiculous plots and superstar launchpads - Claire has it all. We also look at Disney's super app, comings and goings in the music industry and playground scraps featuring Mr Musk! Podmojis look at "podslop", getting fit with Spotify and who bought the drinks at the Met Gala!

April 28, 2026Episode 9447 min

Netflix Pivots to Attention, AI studios and a Golden Pear Affair | The Media Beat #94

We've talked about it many times before but surprisingly these have been mere shallow dives: we put that right today with an appropriately marathon Deep Dive on... Netflix. In the news features layoffs, The Netflix of China and Zaslav's parachute. As ever we close with Podmojis which covers soaps, takeovers and scandal!

April 17, 2026Episode 9351 min

The $64bn Music Gamble & The Death of Sora | The Media Beat #93

This time the theme is "music" - which means a stunning deep dive on the history and business of music publishing and other mentions of this wonderful medium splattered throughout. The news includes shocks, scandals and the leader of the free world and we find out who got free cabbage this week.