Andrew Neil
Enter the disruptors
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question – who wrote: “There are three structural things that the right needs to happen in terms of communications... 1) the undermining of the BBC’s credibility; 2) the creation of a Fox News equivalent / talk radio shows / bloggers, etc, to shift the centre of gravity; 3) the end of the ban on TV political advertising”? The answer: Dominic Cummings (or at least his think tank, the New Frontiers Foundation), in 2004. Let’s start with point two. The talk radio shows are here, so are the bloggers. And coming soon, not one but two TV channels on a disruptive mission to challenge the established news broadcasters. GB News is heralded as a right-ofcentre news channel, launching early next year. It won’t do rolling news – a model it thinks has been supplanted by social media – and instead promises
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Two news services that aim to challenge traditional UK news providers are waiting in the wings. Simon Bucks investigates “programming built around strong presenters, which becomes an appointment to view.” Andrew Neil, the Chair and main anchor, says it will “champion robust, balanced debate”. However, the venture’s political orientation is evident from the names involved. Apart from Neil, the team includes Sir Robbie Gibb (his BBC producer and, later, Theresa May’s spin doctor). The CEO is Angelos Frangopoulos, former boss of Sky News Australia, which prospered after he
“Foxified” it with a right-wing opinion schedule. One of the co-founders, Andrew Cole, a director of Liberty Global, is, according to The Guardian, on record as wanting the BBC “broken up”. Outspoken radio pundits Nick Ferrari and Julia Hartley-Brewer are reported, but not confirmed, to be among the on-screen talent. There are fewer details of the Murdochs’ News UK venture. It is expected to focus partly on entertainment and celebrity news, mainly online but also on TV during part of the day. Recruiters have been busy tapping up big names (reportedly, Piers Morgan and Lord Sugar) and young tabloid reporters who can turn in scoops. It is worth recalling that Rupert Murdoch, never a fan of regulation, disparagingly described Sky News as “BBC lite”, even when he owned it. The advent of new channels should be a welcome boost for the industry,
