Manchester and Salford have become major centres of British broadcasting, bringing national newsrooms, television production and radio to the North. But with audiences changing, new platforms emerging and questions remaining about investment, talent and editorial influence, where does the industry go from here?
On Wednesday 18 November, Be Broadcast will bring together leading figures from BBC News, BBC Radio 5 Live, Bauer Media, ITV Granada and BBC Studios at Prolific North Live to discuss what comes next for broadcasting in the North.
Chaired by Be Broadcast founder Josh Wheeler, the session will look at how the industry is changing, where broadcasters are investing and what Manchester and the wider North need to do to build on their position at the heart of British broadcasting.
Has broadcasting’s centre of gravity really shifted?
The BBC’s move to Salford helped establish Greater Manchester as a major centre for national broadcasting, building on the region’s long history of television, radio and journalism.
Today, national news programmes, major television productions, radio stations and digital content are produced across the North, creating opportunities for people who might previously have expected to move to London to develop their careers.
Yet questions remain about where the industry’s biggest decisions are made, how investment is distributed and whether regional voices have gained greater influence over national output.
We’ll be asking our panellists whether the industry has moved beyond thinking about broadcasting in terms of London and the regions, and what needs to change over the coming years.
How are broadcasters responding to changing audiences?
The way people consume news and entertainment has changed considerably, with audiences moving between television, radio, podcasts, streaming services and social platforms throughout the day.
For broadcasters, that means reconsidering how programmes are commissioned, how stories are told and where resources are best spent.
The panel will discuss how these changes are affecting traditional television and radio, where broadcasters see opportunities for growth and how platforms such as YouTube and TikTok are influencing editorial and production decisions.
We’ll also look at the changing role of news and current affairs, particularly how regional journalism contributes to national coverage and what broadcasters need to do to maintain audiences’ attention and trust.
Can you build a national broadcasting career in the North?
For years, London was seen as the obvious destination for anyone hoping to establish a career in national broadcasting.
The growth of Manchester and Salford has created more opportunities for journalists, presenters, producers and technical teams, although questions remain about career progression, skills shortages and access to senior positions.
We’ll be discussing whether the North now offers the breadth of opportunities needed to attract and retain the next generation of broadcasting talent, and whether the industry’s geographical changes are reflected in the people and perspectives audiences see and hear.
Meet the panel
The session brings together people working across national and regional news, radio, television production, podcasts and communications.
- Ryan Dobney, Broadcast Journalist, BBC Radio 5 Live
- Jim Foulger, Director of News & Sport, UK Nationals, England & Wales, Bauer Media UK
- Dan Maudsley, BBC Senior Journalist and award-winning podcast producer, BBC News
- Emma Morris, Executive Editor of Morning Live and The One Show, BBC Studios
- Jahmal Williams-Thomas, Reporter, ITV News Granada Reports
- Josh Wheeler, Founder, Be Broadcast (Chair)
The discussion will draw on their experiences across different parts of the industry, including the changing demands on newsrooms, the growth of podcasts and digital content, and the decisions shaping television and radio production.
We’ll also consider how broadcasters decide which stories deserve attention, what makes a story work across different platforms and how relationships with organisations and PR teams are changing.
What comes next for Northern broadcasting?
Manchester has established itself as one of the UK’s most important broadcasting centres, but maintaining that position will depend on the decisions made over the next few years.
Where will broadcasters invest? Are we developing enough talent locally? How can the North attract more production and editorial decision-making? And what should the industry be doing now to ensure the region continues to grow?
These are some of the questions we’ll be putting to our panel as we consider what British broadcasting could look like five years from now.
Join us at Prolific North Live
Wednesday 18 November 2026
3.30pm to 4.10pm
Prolific North Live, Sister, Manchester
Join Be Broadcast alongside BBC News, BBC Radio 5 Live, Bauer Media, ITV Granada and BBC Studios for a discussion about the future of broadcasting in the North.
