Former Channel 4 Chief Executive Alex Mahon and ex-BBC Chief Content Officer Charlotte Moore are among the recipients in the 2026 New Year Honours list.
Mahon, who currently heads live entertainment group Superstruct Entertainment after eight years as Channel 4 CEO, was made a CBE for services to broadcasting and diversity. Moore, who took over as CEO of Left Bank Pictures last year, was awarded an OBE for services to public service broadcasting.
Elsewhere, actor Idris Elba was awarded a knighthood for services to young people. Meera Syal, the comedian, writer and actor, known for The Kumars at No 42, becomes a dame for services to literature, drama and charity.
Last of the Summer Wine, Keeping Up Appearances and Open All Hours creator Roy Clarke was given a knighthood for services to entertainment.
Martin Baker, Chief Commercial Affairs Officer and Managing Director of the Paralympics for Channel 4, received an MBE for services to broadcasting.
Former British Film Institute execs Tina McFarling and David Thomas Gurney were also awarded MBEs. McFarling was the BFI’s Head of Strategic Communications until July 2025, while Gurney MBE was Film Laboratory Lead until summer 2025.
Composer Max Richter, whose scores include Waltz With Bashir, Wadjda, and Hamnet, has earned a CBE.
Actor and presenter Warwick Davis received an OBE, as did Little Britain comedian Matt Lucas and presenter and writer Richard Osman.
Match of the Day presenter Gabby Logan and football commentator Clive Tyldesley are also appointed OBEs.
Comedian Bill Bailey, actor Sally Lindsay and children's TV star Paul Chuckle are made MBEs. Wicked star Cynthia Erivo becomes an MBE in recognition of her work as an actor, singer, producer, and author.
TV chef Marcus Wareing and Location, Location, Location presenter Phil Spencer also received MBEs.
Broadcasters call for programmable 5G connectivity
A collection of broadcasters and technology suppliers has called on mobile operators to enable standardised, interoperable, quality on-demand (QoD) network application programming interfaces (APIs) for live 5G broadcasts.
Jonathan Newman becomes UKTV’s Chief Commercial Officer
UKTV has formally appointed Jonathan Newman as Chief Commercial Officer, and David Swetman as Director of Content Partnerships and Sales for the UK and Ireland at UKTV and BBC Studios.
Netflix raises prices as content spending increases
Netflix has raised its prices for customers in the United States, with all subscription tiers rising by at least $1.
DAZN to bring live sports to the skies and seas
Sports streamer DAZN is set to launch DAZN Inflight, a service designed to give fans access to live sports on the go, whether travelling by plane or boat.
YouTube expected to approach 3 billion global users by 2027 – report
YouTube is expected to approach three billion users worldwide by 2027, while Netflix is forecast to reach over one billion monthly active users globally, according to data from research outfit Omdia.
