It’s still fascinating that in the northern hemisphere Saturday nights are treated like the crown jewel of all TV slots whilst down here our networks play dead altogether.
- TLC will become a free-to-air (FTA) channel in the UK from January 2026
- A new-look TLC will bring UK & Ireland viewers a broad entertainment offer with the hugely popular scripted comedy series The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon, new spin-off Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage and Mike & Molly - plus new unscripted titles including a new-look Mock the Week, the UK’s much-loved satirical panel show, and Zero Stars fronted by comedians Roisin Conaty and Sara Pascoe
- Further UK linear commissions also announced across WBD’s FTA portfolio, including new series Francis Bourgeois and Chris Harris: We Saved a Train (w/t), a bumper order of the Auction House franchise, more Shed and Buried, and the return of Adam Richman Eats – this time in Italy
You. Are. Joking.
I mean, if there’s any much-loved series that really needs a resurrection…
Big shock if this means E4 have lost the rights to TBBT. Just as big as when C4 lost Friends to Paramount Comedy.
HGTV UK is closing at the same time to make room for TLC, with programs moving to Really and discovery+.
It looks like E4 are losing the rights to at least seasons 1-5 (presumably the later seasons will come to TLC at a later date).
I’m glad to hear Mock the Week is coming back. I always thought the BBC should have kept that and axed Have I Got News for You instead, which I think has well and truly run its course now. But I suppose HIGNFY is more mainstream and thus rates better. The phrase ‘new-look Mock the Week’ is very intriguing - I’m presuming no Dara or Hugh, which would be a shame. But I suppose WBD probably can’t afford either of them… still, it’ll be good to have MTW back.
Here’s more about it from Graham Lafferty, senior vice-president of content strategy and networks for WBD UK & Ireland.
He told Broadcast…
“I think it is a really strong format, but there is an opportunity, having been away for a little bit of time, to take a look at that,” he added.
“Will it still be recognisable to fans of Mock the Week? Yes, because it has to be, right? Will we look at things that we can do to build on top of it, rather than replicate? Probably, again it’s iterations – how do we take it forward?
“We’ll have a look at it. But it’s too early, really to get into what will change – will everybody be the same, will the rounds all look the same? It will look recognisable.”
Translation: “We will bring back the show, but let’s just get the headline out and then think through about it later”.
His views on cancellation of MTW:
- Lots of viewers weren’t ready
- Still attracts considerable interest (even now)
- Still very recognisable
Not a phrase they will be entertaining with given its 2.9m average audience in the most recent episode (S70E2), for instance.
Channel 4’s Dispatches has taken a radical approach to show the nation how convincing artificial intelligence can be.
As part of a deliberate on-screen stunt, the documentary series has become the first British television programme to use an AI presenter.
Now available to stream on Channel 4, the Dispatches episode investigates how AI automation is reshaping the workplace, pitting humans against machines in a series of real-world tests across medicine, law, fashion and music.
But as revealed at the end of the episode the programme’s presenter – who appeared throughout – was entirely AI-generated, with their face, voice and movements all created through AI technology, without a single frame of real-world filming.
The AI presenter was produced by AI fashion brand Seraphinne Vallora for Kalel Productions, and used prompts to create a realistic digital human capable of delivering nuanced on-camera performances.
Sky Replay was closed after 5 years on Thursday.
Sky Replay began as Sky One Mix in December 2002 and was twice rebranded as Sky Two/2.
What happens when you have more simultaneous kickoffs than suitable channels to fit in?
It will be happening Sunday with 4 matches at 2pm. There are so many that Main Event - normally just the home of simulcasts - has to break away for a self-contained production.
I assume they use the SSPL watermark whatever channel it’s on? Or will we see Cricket in the top corner of an EPL game?
Yep.
The parent company of Sky is in talks to buy ITV’s broadcasting business for about £2bn, in a move that would upend the British television landscape.
The US media company Comcast, which owns assets including Universal Studios and bought Rupert Murdoch’s Sky for £30bn in 2018, is in talks to buy ITV’s broadcasting arm, which includes its TV channels and streaming service ITVX.
A deal would not involve its production arm ITV Studios – the maker of shows including Love Island, I’m a Celebrity and the hit drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office – which has been the subject of separate takeover talks.
Last hour, ITV has come out and said “yes, indeed we’re talking”.