Television
German backpacker slips away as media scramble for exclusive
Carolina Wilga, the German backpacker who survived 11 days lost in WA’s outback, has quietly left Australia, flying out of Perth over the weekend.
Despite TV crews staked out at the hospital, she slipped away mid-week, unseen and unbothered. A now-deleted social post showing her departure has only added fuel to talk she’s sold her story.
As Steve Jackson reports in The Australian, word in media circles is a major current affairs program has locked it in, now it’s just a matter of who got there first.
Survivor: Australia v The World sets global stakes
Network 10 has announced the return of Survivor Australia, with a twist that raises the stakes… and the international pressure.
Survivor: Australia v The World will premiere on Sunday, 17 August at 7pm, pitting seven homegrown Survivor icons against a cast of international contenders in what will also mark host Jonathan LaPaglia’s final season (more on that later).
The format brings together past winners, fan favourites and fierce game-players from five global editions, Australia, the US, South Africa, Québec, New Zealand and Finland, for a 14-player showdown over 16 days.
Scott Cam unfazed as Adrian Portelli retires from The Block bidding
Scott Cam says he won’t be losing sleep over Adrian Portelli stepping away from The Block auctions. In fact, he reckons the billionaire’s exit is a win for regular Aussies hoping to snag a home without competing against deep pockets.
According to Siobhan Duck on realestate.com.au, after dropping more than $27 million on eight homes over two seasons, Portelli has officially retired his paddle.
Cam says the shift could bring prices back to earth and open the door for “mums and dads” to finally have a fair shot.
Jackie Woodburne returns to TV in new thriller
Jackie Woodburne is stepping out of Neighbours and into darker territory with Imposter, a new four-part drama for Channel 5 in the UK.
Produced by Fremantle Australia and created by Neighbours EP Jason Herbison, the series also stars Coronation Street’s Kym Marsh.
As David Knox reports on TV Tonight, it’s Woodburne’s first major TV role outside of Neighbours in three decades.
Online
YouTube takes the TV crown as living room viewing surges
YouTube has officially overtaken traditional TV in the US, with Nielsen data showing it’s now the most-watched platform on television screens, beating Disney’s entire network and streaming output combined.
Viewers are clocking over a billion hours a day on the platform, mostly on TV sets rather than phones. In response, creators are making longer, more polished content built for the lounge room.
As Ben Fritz details in The Australian, no soundstages or studio gloss needed, just algorithms, ambition and a global audience watching from the couch.
Gaming surges as Aussies spend more time online
New Ipsos iris data shows 16.8 million Australians visited a gaming site or app in June, up 3.9% year-on-year.
Three in four Aussies aged 14+ are now playing online games, confirming gaming’s status as a mainstream, cross-generational habit.
From phones to PCs, it’s clear: gaming isn’t niche, it’s everyday.
Microsoft SharePoint flaw exposes banks and governments
A SharePoint bug has left about 100 organisations worldwide, including US and German governments, open to cyber attacks.
As Paulina Durán and Paige McNamee report on Capital Brief, Microsoft patched 2019 and Subscription Edition versions, but the 2016 release remains vulnerable.
Experts warn the flaw allows remote access, data theft and persistent backdoors.
Streaming
Optus Sport subscribers to get refunds by cheque after shutdown
Optus Sport is closing its doors on 1 August, handing Premier League and FA Cup rights over to Nine and Stan. Customers who paid the $199 annual fee are set to receive refunds for unused time.
But here’s the twist, according to Eelemarni Close-Brown and Caitlin Cassidy in The Guardian Australia, some refunds will come by cheque. Optus says this happens when electronic payments aren’t possible, which feels a bit old school in 2025.
Eligible customers need to submit their postal and email details by 29 August to claim their cash, but be prepared for a slower, paper-based payout in some cases.
Ted Lasso Season 4 kicks off with core cast back on the pitch
Apple TV+ has officially started filming Ted Lasso Season 4, with production underway in Kansas City and more to come in London.
Jason Sudeikis is back in the title role, joined by returning favourites Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt and Jeremy Swift.
It’s still unclear if this season will be the show’s last, but, as Joe Otterson reports for Variety, for now, the Lasso crew is lacing up once again, and Apple’s ready to believe.
Retail
ACCC’s sham discount case focuses on a 24-item shopping list
The ACCC’s battle with Coles and Woolworths over alleged fake discounts is zeroing in on a shortlist of 24 everyday products, from Tim Tams to Rexona deodorant.
As Carrie LaFrenz reports in The Australian Financial Review, the Federal Court stepped in back in May, pushing both sides to agree on which groceries would be analysed as part of the case.
The dispute over the number of items to include has been a sticking point as the court weighs whether these retail giants misled shoppers with their promotions.
Vale
Cosby Show star Malcolm-Jamal Warner dies in Costa Rica drowning
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for playing Theo on The Cosby Show, has died at 54 after an accidental drowning in Costa Rica.
According to Javier Cordoba and Andrew Dalton in The Sydney Morning Herald, authorities say Warner was swimming at Playa Cocles on Sunday when a strong current pulled him under. Beachgoers pulled him from the water, but he could not be revived.
Costa Rica’s Red Cross confirmed he had no vital signs when first responders arrived.