Members of the UK House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee are to question representatives of regulator Ofcom and advocacy group the Voice of the Listener and Viewer as well as DCMS Minister Sir John Whittingdale in its pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Media Bill. This is the Committee’s fourth and final session on the Bill. […]

The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee of the UK House of Commons is to question experts on the uses of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and blockchain technology. This is the first session of the Committee’s inquiry into the operation, risks and benefits of NFTs and the wider blockchain. In the first panel, scheduled for Tuesday April […]

Global productions nominated for BAFTAs and Academy Awards survived and thrived through the pandemic thanks to the UK government’s film and TV support package, which also boosted the country’s economy by £2.25 billion (€2.54bn). Oscar-nominated film Living, Bafta nominees Brian & Charles, Blue Jean and Good Luck To You, Leo Grande, as well as major […]

A reorganisation of UK government departments has seen the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport lose its responsibility for digital, reverting to its former title as the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, with Michelle Donelan being replaced as Secretary of State by Lucy Frazer. Donelan has a new role as Science and Technology […]

The UK House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport Committee is to question Media, Data and Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez on connected and smart technology as part of its inquiry, Connect tech: smart or sinister?, examining the impacts of the increasing prevalence of smart and connected technology. The inquiry is looking into what […]

The House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee is to question BBC Chair Richard Sharp following media reports about his appointment. Sharp appeared before the Committee in January 2021 for a pre-appointment hearing in which he faced questions about his political independence and suitability for the role. The Committee subsequently approved his appointment. […]

The UK House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport Committee is to question representatives from Amazon and Google about the future of their smart devices and data protection. The Committee is expected to ask about the level of data collected by devices and cybersecurity, which the Government has said “continues to be an afterthought […]

On the same day the DCMS has confirmed an earlier leak that it is dropping its mad idea of privatising C4, Matt Hancock, the gurning TV celeb and former DCMS Secretary, closed his personal app (he launched it five years ago, in case you’re not a follower). Does this coincidence indicate that the grown-ups are […]

Michelle Donelan, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), has revealed she is expecting a baby in 2023 and will be taking a short maternity leave from DCMS. Given her absence from parliament, it is unlikely that there will be any material progress in the meanwhile on issues such the privatisation of […]

Michelle Donelan, the UK Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, has said she is considering “other options for providing long-term sustainability” to PSB Channel 4 as the government reviews previously-announced plans to sell the broadcaster. Donelan’s predecessor Nadine Dorries set out plans to take it out of public ownership Responding to questioning at […]