Paul Markham

After 70 years of broadcasting, ITV found themselves in a familiar but uncomfortable spot – they’d grown so much that their own brand had become difficult to navigate. Multiple sub-channels, streaming platforms and an increasingly complex visual identity meant that one of Britain’s most established broadcasters was, ironically, struggling to clearly communicate who they were. The problem wasn’t unique, but it was urgent. In an entertainment landscape where Netflix and Disney+ communicate with razor-sharp brand clarity, ITV’s identity had become what Tom Houser, Executive Creative Director at ITV Creative, describes as “timid and difficult to use.” Seven different typefaces were in circulation. Sub-channel colours created confusion rather than clarity. The masterbrand – the thing that actually mattered – was getting lost. Enter Studio Kiln, the Cornwall-based creative practice whose approach to this challenge would prove rather direct. Rather than adding more elements to an already complex system, they stripped everything back to find what actually mattered. Read the complete case study → t-bi.link/itv

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As the TV industry convenes at the Edinburgh TV Festival this week, our new research has exposed the scale of the crisis facing freelance television workers 🎬 The Big Bectu Survey 2025 with more than 3,600 respondents across TV drama, unscripted and factual television, broadcasting and commercials paints a stark picture of a workforce battered by instability, poor conditions and toxic workplace cultures. Nearly half of those surveyed reported being out of work in March, with 45% of drama crew, 46% of unscripted workers and 45% of commercials staff unemployed. The effects of the 2023 US industrial action continue to be felt, with fewer than one in five saying employment levels have returned to pre-strike norms. Financial insecurity is widespread: 68% of respondents said they are struggling to make ends meet, while one in three is considering leaving the industry within five years. Our findings also reveal the uneven impact of the downturn. Workers from Global Majority backgrounds, disabled freelancers and those from working-class backgrounds all reported higher levels of unemployment than their counterparts, raising concerns that the crisis is driving diversity out of the sector. Head of Bectu Philippa Childs said the findings laid bare the devastating consequences of insecure employment and entrenched poor practice: “Behind every statistic is a skilled professional who is critical to our world-class TV industry, but is being driven out by unstable work, poor conditions and toxic cultures. Without urgent action from broadcasters, streamers and production companies, we risk losing a generation of talent and further entrenching inequality in the industry. This is a wake-up call.” Bectu is urging government and industry leaders to act swiftly to stabilise employment, improve protections for freelancers, tackle bullying and harassment, and commit to supporting the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority. https://lnkd.in/exC-NeZD

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Digital Cinema Media has secured a contract with the UK's fastest growing cinema chain, Omniplex Cinema Group 🎬 This addition increases DCM's market share from 81% to 85% for the first time in its history 📈 #Omniplex will officially enter DCM’s estate from 1 November 2025, joining Cineworld Cinemas Ltd, ODEON Cinemas Group, Vue , Picturehouse, Reel Cinemas Limited, The Light and over 160 leading independent cinemas 🌟 Find out more: https://lnkd.in/eD4zVMWx #CinemaAdvertising #Film #Cinema #Media #Advertising

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Safeguarding Trust in Media: Sony is presenting at IBC2025 as part of the 'Stamping Your Content (C2PA)' project 🔐 As part of this year’s IBC Accelerator Programme, Sony, alongside key players in the industry, presented the results of the “Stamping Your Content (C2PA)” project in the IBC Future Tech Zone today. Together with a powerhouse consortium of broadcasters and tech innovators, Sony is a key part of the conversation to make media workflows trusted from start to finish with its new PXW-Z300 camcorder - the world's first camcorder to embed C2PA-compliant digital signatures into video files. This collaboration marks a major leap forward in the fight against misinformation, setting new standards for transparency and accountability in content creation. 🔗 Learn more about how BBC & Sony collaborate to raise awareness on the risks of synthetic content and establish C2PA compliant standards for digital provenance here: https://bit.ly/4mPyuU3 #IBC25 #C2PA #MediaProvenance #Authenticity #PXWZ300

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Safeguarding Trust in Media: Sony is presenting at IBC2025 as part of the 'Stamping Your Content (C2PA)' project 🔐 As part of this year’s IBC Accelerator Programme, Sony, alongside key players in the industry, presented the results of the “Stamping Your Content (C2PA)” project in the IBC Future Tech Zone today. Together with a powerhouse consortium of broadcasters and tech innovators, Sony is a key part of the conversation to make media workflows trusted from start to finish with its new PXW-Z300 camcorder - the world's first camcorder to embed C2PA-compliant digital signatures into video files. This collaboration marks a major leap forward in the fight against misinformation, setting new standards for transparency and accountability in content creation. 🔗 Learn more about how BBC & Sony collaborate to raise awareness on the risks of synthetic content and establish C2PA compliant standards for digital provenance here: https://bit.ly/4mPyuU3 #IBC25 #C2PA #MediaProvenance #Authenticity #PXWZ300

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📣 FRIDAY FUNDING FEATURE 📣 CoSTAR National Lab's Grass Roots Music Venue Innovation Funding Call DEADLINE: AUGUST 26TH This R&D funding competition offering a unique opportunity for creative companies to pilot new ways to connect artists, grass roots music venues and audiences in pursuit of a more equitable future for the UK’s live music sector. THREE projects will be funded, including one based in the Liverpool City Region. What's on offer? 1. Up to £40,000 cash award 2. Access to cutting-edge facilities at the CoSTAR National Lab’s Futures Studio & the MusicFutures facilities in Liverpool 3. Support from industry and research experts 4. Showcasing opportunities in front of live audiences in grass roots venues across the UK in early 2026 Applications must include: - A UK registered company, including a grass roots music venue & an artist - A letter of support from the consortia Find a grass roots venue to partner with here: https://lnkd.in/eG8T8ucv Full details can be found here: https://lnkd.in/ed7Dni_h The Q&A Webinar recording can be found here: https://lnkd.in/eF9E522h Royal Holloway, University of London | Abertay University | National Film & Television School | University of Surrey | Disguise | BT Group | Pinewood Group Limited | MusicFutures | Music Venue Trust | UK Research and Innovation | Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) #creativeindustries #innovation #music #liveperformance #CoSTARNetwork #CoSTARNationalLab #funding Innovate UK Immersive Tech Network Innovate UK Business Connect

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