“Thoughtful older man in a media production studio, surrounded by professional cameras and multiple monitors showing live video feeds—representing experience and leadership in the media industry.”

Media Industry Insights: Experience-Backed Opinion With a Forward View.

This is where the thinking happens. In this section, I share considered opinions on the media industry, shaped by decades of experience in production, direction, format creation, and consulting across traditional and emerging platforms.

I’ve called it Media Industry Insights because that’s what I aim to deliver: sharp analysis rooted in real-world knowledge. You’ll find thoughts on commissioning trends, freelance realities, policy shifts, tech disruption, and the creative process itself. Some posts are critical, especially when leadership decisions fall short. But this space isn’t about outrage, it’s about direction.

I believe opinion has a place in leadership. Especially now. When the industry is stretched, uncertain, and often underrepresented in policy making, honest commentary matters. And it’s not just commentary for the sake of it. Every post here is written with a bias toward action, what we can do, what we need to understand, and where opportunity still lives.

This isn’t a rant corner. It’s a pulse check. A place to stay connected to what’s really happening on the ground, and behind the scenes.

If you’re looking for media industry insights that cut through the noise with clarity, optimism, and experience, you’re in the right place. Jonathan

Please also consider joining Creative Intelligence, a community of creatives learn more.

World's Apart Channel 4 Review

Worlds Apart: Channel 4’s Bold Bet on Bridging Generations

Worlds Apart: Channel 4's Bold Bet on Bridging Generations The Format Six young Brits who've never travelled independently. Six pensioners ...
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A bold graphic asks “Why isn’t the UK backing its creator economy?” featuring a smartphone creator, the UK flag, and Dubai’s Burj Khalifa—highlighting the policy gap in supporting the UK creator economy.

Creators HQ Dubai & Why the UK Isn’t Backing Its UK Creator Economy

The UK creator economy has become one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing segments of the global digital economy. It’s ...
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Silhouetted group around a table Television crew silhouetted– illustrating the TV production downturn in 2025.

The TV Production Downturn Continues: Freelancers, Formats, and What Comes Next

The TV production downturn is deepening across both the UK and US markets, impacting freelancers, studios, and the future of ...
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The UK is now the world leader in non-scripted TV format exports, with one-third of global adaptations in 2024 coming from British formats. It’s a headline that reads like a win. But beneath the surface, the truth is harder to stomach: while the formats are travelling, freelance TV jobs are collapsing. Why UK Formats Still Dominate Globally British hits like MasterChef, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, and The Voice remain staples across dozens of territories. Newer formats such as The 1% Club and The Piano have also made international waves. What makes them successful? A mix of solid format structure, emotional clarity, and local adaptability. UK producers build formats that are easy to translate—both linguistically and culturally—without losing their core hook. The Role of ITV Studios and Format IP In 2024, ITV Studios led the export charge, leveraging tried-and-tested IP and launching new versions of The Voice, The Voice Kids, and interactive spin-offs. The strategy? De-risk with known hits, then experiment just enough to catch the attention of global buyers. That same pipeline—backed by government creative sector incentives and co-production grants—means over 50 new unscripted formats are already commissioned for 2025. So if the product is thriving, why is the workforce falling apart? The Collapse of Freelance Jobs in Non-Scripted TV Right now, it’s estimated that 55% of the freelance production crew in non-scripted TV are out of work. That’s not a talent shortage—it’s a job shortage. Talented freelancers with years of experience in unscripted content are being overlooked, under-booked, or simply squeezed out. And it’s not just bad timing or the ebb and flow of production cycles. It’s systemic. Ageism in production is no longer subtle. Many over-50s in TV find themselves excluded from opportunity—not because they’ve lost relevance, but because budgets favour cheaper, junior hires and short-term contracts. Two Realities: Export Boom, Workforce Bust There’s a disconnect. On one hand, UK non-scripted TV is a global success story. On the other, freelance TV professionals—editors, producers, floor managers, APs—are being pushed to the margins of their own industry. How can we celebrate format success while ignoring the growing number of freelancers leaving television altogether? Fixing the Freelance Crisis To sustain the UK’s global lead in TV formats, we must address the freelance employment crisis. That means: • Recognising the long-term value of experienced crew • Funding mid-career retraining and upskilling • Creating policies that support freelance continuity and wellbeing • Ensuring that initiatives like Action for Freelancers deliver more than hashtags The strength of UK formats lies not just in great ideas—but in the teams that execute them, time after time, across every market. Final Word The UK’s role as a global leader in non-scripted television should be celebrated. But unless we rebuild trust and opportunity within the freelance workforce, we’re selling success on borrowed time. The next global hit may be British—but will we still have British crews left to make it?

UK TV Formats Are Thriving — But Freelancers in Non-Scripted TV Are Being Left Behind

The UK is now the world leader in non-scripted TV format exports, with one-third of global adaptations in 2024 coming ...
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A home kitchen setup with a vacant office chair and a man leaning over a counter, symbolising the struggle and uncertainty of freelance TV jobs.

Freelance TV Jobs Are Disappearing. Where Is the Real Action

If you’ve searched for freelance TV jobs lately, you already know what the data shows — they’re vanishing. Projects are ...
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Behind the scenes on a high-end TV (HETV)drama set with camera crew and actress in costume

What is HETV and Why is it Creating Unemployment?

Let’s talk about a term that gets thrown around a lot in UK production circles these days: HETV. High-End Television ...
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“DCMS building exterior with photos of UK ministers overlaid, featuring the text ‘Facing the Axe?’ and ‘Saving £1.6B’—highlighting debate over the Department for Culture, Media and Sport potentially being abolished.”

Axing of the DCMS: An Opportunity

DCMS Facing the Axe: What It Means for the UK’s Creative Sector Jonathan Glazier TV format expert and Director 30 ...
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Jonathan Glazier thought on the New Creator Economy and how it could benefit Freelancers

How Freelancers Can Thrive in the New Creator Economy (2025 Guide)

The freelance creative economy 2025 is at a major turning point. Traditional media jobs are shrinking, but the New Creator ...
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Jonathan Glazier TV Media Consultant alt.media news letter

🎯 Supporting the UK Film and HETV Industry – My marking, ❌ Could do Better

So HETV The Governments report "Supporting the UK Film and HETV" Industry was published in full this week but first, ...
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Jonathan Glazier's takedown of the government's plans for growth in the creative sector

🎭 UK Government Policy on Creative Industries:

I thought it would be useful to take a closer look at what the UK government is planning for the ...
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