Home  >  The Explanation  >  The Media Show: Manchester’s YouTube problem
The Explanation
The Media Show: Manchester’s YouTube problem
The Explanation
Dec 4, 2025

The Mayor of Greater Manchester has accused vloggers of provoking vulnerable people to generate online views, with a particular focus on the city’s Piccadilly Gardens. Sarah Lester, editor of the Manchester Evening News, and Charlotte Dewar, chief executive of the Independent Press Standards Organisation, discuss the issues.

A new investigation suggests widespread use of illicit streaming devices and apps now threatens the financial viability of the Premier League’s TV deals. Adam Leventhal, senior writer at The Athletic, and Minal Modha, head of sport media rights at Ampere Analysis, assess the scale of the trend.

Netflix’s expanding interest in podcast-style formats has led them to sign a deal with Gary Lineker’s The Rest Is Football show. Nick Hilton, co-founder of Podot, explains why podcasts are becoming strategically important for the streamer.

Plus, Ian Hislop reflects on another year as editor of Private Eye, and discusses his magazine’s approach to journalism and satire.

Presenter: Ros Atkins Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Content producer: Lucy Wai Sound engineer: Allyson Purcell-Davis Production co-ordinator: Ruth Waites Technical co-ordinator: Ozgur Cevik

More Episodes


Jun 25, 2026
The Media Show: How Shop workers became content

The shop workers union USDAW says the filming of retail staff by customers for social media has become increasingly common, with concerns about videos being uploaded without workers' consent. The issue is highlighted by the experience of a shop worker who appeared in content created by former television presenter Michael Barrymore, now a social media creator with millions of followers across TikTok and YouTube. Jayne Allport, National Officer at USDAW, outlines the union's concerns. The resignation of Sir Keir Starmer has intensified scrutiny of Labour's relationship with the media, with attention turning to Andy Burnham as a potential future leader. Burnham's years as Mayor of Greater Manchester have provided a public record of his dealings with journalists. Joshi Herrmann, founder and editor of The Mill, reflects on Burnham's approach to media engagement. Online romance fraud continues to affect victims around the world, with organised groups in Nigeria responsible for many high-profile scams. A new book traces the origins and evolution of the so-called Yahoo Boys, named after an early generation of fraudsters who relied on Yahoo email accounts. Carlos Barragán, a New York Times reporter, recounts his reporting from Lagos. BBC Radio 4 Long Wave closes this month, bringing to an end a century of long-wave broadcasting in the UK. The network's transmitters at Droitwich, Westerglen and Burghead are due to cease operation as listening habits continue to shift towards digital platforms. Jeffrey Borinsky, broadcasting historian, reflects on the history and legacy of Long Wave radio.

Production team Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Content Producer: Lucy Wai Apprentice researcher: Cameron Taylor Technical Coordinator: Luke Sweeney Sound: Mark Pickett


22min 58sec


The Media Show: Manchester’s YouTube problem

--:--
--:--