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Piers Morgan Shifts Focus to YouTube for Uncensored Show, Departing TalkTV

February 9, 2024

Piers Morgan has announced plans to transition his daily Uncensored show away from TalkTV, redirecting his efforts towards its YouTube channel.

Citing the flexibility and global reach of online platforms, Morgan aims to conduct longer, more expansive interviews while tapping into a broader international audience base.

With a current subscriber base of 2.35 million on its YouTube channel, Morgan’s show commands a significantly larger audience compared to its television viewership. This strategic move follows Morgan’s recruitment by News UK, a News Corp subsidiary, to spearhead TalkTV’s launch less than two years ago.

Morgan’s decision raises questions about the future trajectory of TalkTV and the evolving role of traditional television in the media landscape. Notably, Morgan’s interviews on YouTube consistently garner substantial views, underscoring the shifting dynamics of media consumption preferences.

In an interview, Morgan emphasized the importance of catering to audience preferences and adapting to changing consumption patterns. He cited an instance where an interview with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, published on YouTube in the afternoon, garnered significant traction, while airing it on TalkTV later in the evening risked being overshadowed by breaking news.

The move signifies Morgan’s commitment to exploring the potential of digital platforms, where content delivery is less restricted by fixed schedules and editing constraints. He expressed a desire to capitalize on the appetite for longer-form interviews, a format favored by the YouTube audience.

Morgan’s collaboration with News Corp will continue through the Uncensored brand, with plans for potential global expansion. Scott Taunton, executive vice-president of broadcasting for News UK, views this shift towards a “digital-first” approach as pivotal in broadening Morgan’s global reach and engagement.

While some of Morgan’s interviews may still feature on TalkTV, the shift underscores a broader trend towards digital-first broadcasting, as audiences increasingly gravitate towards online video content. This evolution aligns with Morgan’s vision to harness the expansive reach and interactive potential of digital platforms.

As Morgan embarks on this new chapter, his departure from traditional television highlights the growing significance of online platforms in shaping media consumption habits and content distribution strategies. With regulatory constraints less stringent on digital platforms, this move offers Morgan greater creative freedom and flexibility in content delivery.

In the ever-changing media landscape, the success of Piers Morgan’s Uncensored on YouTube may serve as a testament to the growing influence of digital platforms in reshaping the future of broadcasting.