Gary Lineker, the Match of the Day host whose solitary tweet led to dozens of fellow BBC presenters and staffers downing tools for a weekend last year, has said he barely uses X (formerly Twitter) anymore as it has become “increasingly toxic.”
The former England international soccer player, who has generated plenty of recent headlines due to his social media use, told a gathering of journalists that changes to Elon Musk’s platform including subscribers being given blue ticks if they pay a fee has led him to virtually quit X due to his mental health. He described himself as being in a “purdah” period on the platform – the term for when political parties’ communications are restricted in the run-up to a general election – and said this has “nothing to do with the BBC.”
“Obviously [Twitter has] always been a bit of a cesspit but it’s just become increasingly toxic,” Lineker...
The former England international soccer player, who has generated plenty of recent headlines due to his social media use, told a gathering of journalists that changes to Elon Musk’s platform including subscribers being given blue ticks if they pay a fee has led him to virtually quit X due to his mental health. He described himself as being in a “purdah” period on the platform – the term for when political parties’ communications are restricted in the run-up to a general election – and said this has “nothing to do with the BBC.”
“Obviously [Twitter has] always been a bit of a cesspit but it’s just become increasingly toxic,” Lineker...
- 2/6/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s Friday, aka Insider Day. Jesse Whittock back again to run you through the international film and TV stories dominating the headlines this week.
BBC’s Social Media Guide
Steadying the flagship: Easily one of the BBC’s biggest ongoing headaches is around how the broadcaster’s most popular stars and presenters engage on social media platforms. The issue blasted back into life earlier this year when Match of the Day presenter and Twitter/X fanatic Gary Lineker tweeted to liken the language used by the British government around its asylum seeker policy to that of Germany in the 1930s and was temporarily suspended by the BBC. After an outcry over the suspension, which included many of Lineker’s colleagues stopping work in solidarity, he was reinstated and the BBC plunged into an existential crisis over how it remains impartial while allowing freedom of expression to its biggest stars.
BBC’s Social Media Guide
Steadying the flagship: Easily one of the BBC’s biggest ongoing headaches is around how the broadcaster’s most popular stars and presenters engage on social media platforms. The issue blasted back into life earlier this year when Match of the Day presenter and Twitter/X fanatic Gary Lineker tweeted to liken the language used by the British government around its asylum seeker policy to that of Germany in the 1930s and was temporarily suspended by the BBC. After an outcry over the suspension, which included many of Lineker’s colleagues stopping work in solidarity, he was reinstated and the BBC plunged into an existential crisis over how it remains impartial while allowing freedom of expression to its biggest stars.
- 9/29/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Star BBC presenters such as Gary Lineker should avoid overt “political campaigning,” according to new rules recommended in an independent report for the UK’s public broadcaster.
As we tipped yesterday, the results of former ITN boss John Hardie’s report into how BBC presenters, stars and journalists should use social media have been unveiled today.
Among the key recommendations are a set of guidelines for “flagship-brand presenters” such as Match of the Day host Lineker and The Apprentice‘s Alan Sugar. Those included would come from “an evolving list at its discretion by the BBC” and would be expected to pay “particular responsibility to respect the BBC’s impartiality” due to their profiles.
While presenters should be allowed to enjoy freedom of expression on social media, they should not be involved in “party political campaigning, support for or attacks on political parties, individual politicians, governments or activist organisations,” the report states.
As we tipped yesterday, the results of former ITN boss John Hardie’s report into how BBC presenters, stars and journalists should use social media have been unveiled today.
Among the key recommendations are a set of guidelines for “flagship-brand presenters” such as Match of the Day host Lineker and The Apprentice‘s Alan Sugar. Those included would come from “an evolving list at its discretion by the BBC” and would be expected to pay “particular responsibility to respect the BBC’s impartiality” due to their profiles.
While presenters should be allowed to enjoy freedom of expression on social media, they should not be involved in “party political campaigning, support for or attacks on political parties, individual politicians, governments or activist organisations,” the report states.
- 9/28/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
The BBC has published revised guidance on the personal use of social media for everyone working at the U.K. public broadcaster, including emphasizing that hosts of flagship shows can “not endorse nor attack political parties” or “campaign by proxy” by “posting frequently on a range of issues that resemble one party’s manifesto and presents sustained criticism to a government or opposition policy agenda.” The update, unveiled Thursday, comes after a controversy about a post by sports pundit Gary Lineker on X (formerly known as Twitter).
The broadcaster said its new list of rules “focuses on everyone working for the BBC respecting ‘high standards of civility in public discourse’ and not bringing the organization into disrepute.” It follows a review by former TV executive John Hardie, which looked at the BBC’s guidance covering “individual use of social media.”
The debate about Lineker put the BBC into crisis mode.
The broadcaster said its new list of rules “focuses on everyone working for the BBC respecting ‘high standards of civility in public discourse’ and not bringing the organization into disrepute.” It follows a review by former TV executive John Hardie, which looked at the BBC’s guidance covering “individual use of social media.”
The debate about Lineker put the BBC into crisis mode.
- 9/28/2023
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Months after controversy erupted around a political tweet by star soccer player turned sports pundit Gary Lineker, the BBC has published revised social media guidelines for its presenters.
Post that controversy, the BBC commissioned a review by former TV executive John Hardie, which looked at the corporation’s guidance covering “individual use of social media” in relation to those working as on-air freelancers outside of news, current affairs and factual journalism – in other words, someone like Lineker.
Informed by Hardie’s Review, the BBC has updated its social media guidance for staff and freelancers, which was first published three years ago in 2020. There are now specific guidance for those presenting the so-called ‘Flagship Programs.’
The guidance states that those working in news and current affairs across all divisions and factual journalism production, along with all senior leaders, have a particular responsibility to uphold the BBC’s impartiality through their actions...
Post that controversy, the BBC commissioned a review by former TV executive John Hardie, which looked at the corporation’s guidance covering “individual use of social media” in relation to those working as on-air freelancers outside of news, current affairs and factual journalism – in other words, someone like Lineker.
Informed by Hardie’s Review, the BBC has updated its social media guidance for staff and freelancers, which was first published three years ago in 2020. There are now specific guidance for those presenting the so-called ‘Flagship Programs.’
The guidance states that those working in news and current affairs across all divisions and factual journalism production, along with all senior leaders, have a particular responsibility to uphold the BBC’s impartiality through their actions...
- 9/28/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: The BBC is preparing to set out new rules that will govern what its biggest stars can post on social media after a debacle over a Gary Lineker tweet earlier this year.
BBC insiders said the results of an independent review by former ITN CEO John Hardie could be published as early as Thursday. The BBC declined to comment on the timing of an announcement but did not deny that it was imminent.
It is not clear if the BBC will publish Hardie’s findings in full alongside changes to social media guidance. The last time the BBC ordered a social media review in 2020, the broadcaster did not make public the conclusions of Richard Sambrook, a former BBC News executive.
Hardie was drafted in to clarify how the BBC’s social media rules should apply to freelance presenters as the broadcaster attempts to uphold strict standards on impartiality. BBC...
BBC insiders said the results of an independent review by former ITN CEO John Hardie could be published as early as Thursday. The BBC declined to comment on the timing of an announcement but did not deny that it was imminent.
It is not clear if the BBC will publish Hardie’s findings in full alongside changes to social media guidance. The last time the BBC ordered a social media review in 2020, the broadcaster did not make public the conclusions of Richard Sambrook, a former BBC News executive.
Hardie was drafted in to clarify how the BBC’s social media rules should apply to freelance presenters as the broadcaster attempts to uphold strict standards on impartiality. BBC...
- 9/27/2023
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
“Imbalances of power are dangerous and we care about them,” BBC Director General Tim Davie said today, as he was questioned on the Phillip Schofield debate and accusations of toxicity on This Morning.
Speaking to the influential Culture, Media & Sport Committee (Cmsc), Davie acknowledged there are “imbalances” in the “strange TV industry, where you have people earning talent salaries verses producer salaries.”
“Your concerns are well placed,” he told Committee Chair Caroline Dinenage. “Imbalances of power are dangerous and we care about them. Culturally I am very direct about that not being something I want to see at this organization.”
Davie said he speaks from experience. As Acting Director General 10 years ago, he shepherded the BBC through the first few months of the Jimmy Savile scandal. More recently, he has appointed an independent Kc to probe the conduct of former Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood following accusations about misconduct taking...
Speaking to the influential Culture, Media & Sport Committee (Cmsc), Davie acknowledged there are “imbalances” in the “strange TV industry, where you have people earning talent salaries verses producer salaries.”
“Your concerns are well placed,” he told Committee Chair Caroline Dinenage. “Imbalances of power are dangerous and we care about them. Culturally I am very direct about that not being something I want to see at this organization.”
Davie said he speaks from experience. As Acting Director General 10 years ago, he shepherded the BBC through the first few months of the Jimmy Savile scandal. More recently, he has appointed an independent Kc to probe the conduct of former Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood following accusations about misconduct taking...
- 6/13/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
The UK’s new Culture Secretary has accused the BBC of being biased, but failed to provide a single example of where the broadcaster has broken its commitment to impartiality.
Appearing before British Parliament’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Tuesday, Lucy Frazer was questioned in detail for the first time on the media brief she inherited in February.
Asked by Conservative lawmaker Simon Jupp if the BBC is biased, she said: “The BBC is, on occasion, biased.” Pressed for an example, she said: “I’m not going to give any specific examples of bias.”
She added: “It is really important that the BBC takes its responsibility, in terms of editorial standards and impartiality, very seriously. We should ensure that the BBC, as a public service broadcaster … which is meant to be there to provide impartial news to the public, fulfills that duty. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always get that right.
Appearing before British Parliament’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Tuesday, Lucy Frazer was questioned in detail for the first time on the media brief she inherited in February.
Asked by Conservative lawmaker Simon Jupp if the BBC is biased, she said: “The BBC is, on occasion, biased.” Pressed for an example, she said: “I’m not going to give any specific examples of bias.”
She added: “It is really important that the BBC takes its responsibility, in terms of editorial standards and impartiality, very seriously. We should ensure that the BBC, as a public service broadcaster … which is meant to be there to provide impartial news to the public, fulfills that duty. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always get that right.
- 6/6/2023
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Chris Shaw has left the building. The Oscar-nominated British news executive is calling it quits after an on-off love affair with news producer ITN that has spanned 40 years, affording him a front-row seat to the biggest stories of his generation. Semi-retirement beckons, but not before a valedictory interview.
So is this Shaw unleashed? Has he, as Andrew Marr memorably put it when he left the BBC, found his voice after being constrained by ITN’s duty to impartiality? Not quite. It will take more than a jolly phone interview to break the habit of a career. But there is little doubt that he is looser-lipped on his final day at the office — and that’s good news because few are better placed than Shaw to reflect on the state of news in the UK.
His decorated résumé includes helping Rupert Murdoch launch Sky News in 1989 and, nearly a decade later,...
So is this Shaw unleashed? Has he, as Andrew Marr memorably put it when he left the BBC, found his voice after being constrained by ITN’s duty to impartiality? Not quite. It will take more than a jolly phone interview to break the habit of a career. But there is little doubt that he is looser-lipped on his final day at the office — and that’s good news because few are better placed than Shaw to reflect on the state of news in the UK.
His decorated résumé includes helping Rupert Murdoch launch Sky News in 1989 and, nearly a decade later,...
- 4/5/2023
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
MADRID -- In what it is calling a global first, Disney Channel Spain will begin broadcasting in the summer on free digital terrestrial TV, and it expects to triple the number of households it reaches on pay television shortly after the launch, the company said Wednesday.
"This seemed the best solution to us in Spain because of the growth of DTT and the current state of pay TV in the country," said John Hardie, executive vp and managing director Disney Channels EMEA.
The Spanish government has set April, 2010, for the change from analog to digital television, and Hardie expects Disney Channel to be a major driver in getting Spaniards to make the switch.
The Disney Channel is now available in 2 million Spanish households, and the exec said he believes that it will reach 6 million on or shortly after the July 1 launch date.
"This seemed the best solution to us in Spain because of the growth of DTT and the current state of pay TV in the country," said John Hardie, executive vp and managing director Disney Channels EMEA.
The Spanish government has set April, 2010, for the change from analog to digital television, and Hardie expects Disney Channel to be a major driver in getting Spaniards to make the switch.
The Disney Channel is now available in 2 million Spanish households, and the exec said he believes that it will reach 6 million on or shortly after the July 1 launch date.
- 5/28/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
LONDON -- Walt Disney Television is axing its general entertainment channel ABC1 and refocusing its energies on Disney-branded children's channels, the company's European executive vp and managing editor John Hardie said Friday.
ABC1, which airs such library titles as "Home Improvement" and "8 Simple Rules", was available in 19 million U.K. homes, including 8 million homes on free-to-air digital platform Freeview. But the channel never achieved primetime distribution on Freeview.
As one of only a handful of commercial entertainment channels airing on the digital platform, ABC1 had hoped to capitalize on a strong market position that it believed would deliver major advertising revenue. But the failure to achieve primetime distribution on Freeview meant that ABC1 was unable to sell key demographics to advertisers.
"While ABC1 successfully found a strong audience in daytime through introduction of day-long fiction, the inability to get access to a Freeview primetime spectrum, together with our focus on the Disney brand, led us to the conclusion that it was best to move on," Hardie said.
ABC1, which airs such library titles as "Home Improvement" and "8 Simple Rules", was available in 19 million U.K. homes, including 8 million homes on free-to-air digital platform Freeview. But the channel never achieved primetime distribution on Freeview.
As one of only a handful of commercial entertainment channels airing on the digital platform, ABC1 had hoped to capitalize on a strong market position that it believed would deliver major advertising revenue. But the failure to achieve primetime distribution on Freeview meant that ABC1 was unable to sell key demographics to advertisers.
"While ABC1 successfully found a strong audience in daytime through introduction of day-long fiction, the inability to get access to a Freeview primetime spectrum, together with our focus on the Disney brand, led us to the conclusion that it was best to move on," Hardie said.
LONDON -- Disney Channel said Monday it has signed a multiyear deal with South African television network MultiChoice DStv to push its TV brand to subscribers in South Africa and across the sub-Saharan part of the continent beginning in September. The deal will make available to South African subscribers such Disney live-action series as That's So Raven, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and Hannah Montana as well as Disney features including Lady and the Tramp and The Heffalump Movie. "The launch in Africa represents a huge milestone in expanding Disney to this enormously important developing area," Walt Disney Television EMEA exec vp and managing director John Hardie said.
LONDON -- Walt Disney Television has appointed former Nickelodeon U.K. creative head Paul O'Higgins to vp of marketing, Walt Disney Television, it was announced Tuesday by John Hardie, WDTV executive vp and managing director. Replacing Chris Cowan, who left Disney in December, O'Higgins will oversee all aspects of marketing, on and off air, across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He will be responsible for creating major marketing campaigns for Disney's key TV shows and channel launches, as well as communicating the global brand values and working on domestic strategy.
- 9/27/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
LONDON -- Walt Disney Television has appointed Giorgio Stock to the post of managing director and senior vp, Walt Disney Television Italy, it was announced Thursday by Walt Disney Television's London-based managing director John Hardie. Based in Milan, Stock will be responsible for the management of the Disney Channels in Italy and lead expansion plans in Greece, Turkey, Israel and Cyprus. He will oversee all production and seek opportunities to extend the reach of the TV business.
LONDON -- The Walt Disney Co.'s ABC Television Group on Tuesday named U.K. culture department communications director Siobhan Kenny as head of its European-based TV communications operations. Kenny will take the post of vp communications, Walt Disney Television, for Europe, Middle East and Africa, reporting to Kevin Brockman, senior vp communications at Disney-ABC Television Group, based in Burbank. She will work in London to support John Hardie, executive vp and managing director of Walt Disney Television, EMEA. In her new role, Kenny will implement the TV group's communication strategies across the EMEA territories and will play a key part as a senior member of the Walt Disney Television EMEA executive team.
- 6/21/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.