Television
Broadcasters eye more daytime booze ads under code shakeup
Australia’s free-to-air networks are pushing for changes that could open the tap on an extra 800 hours of alcohol ads a year.
As Amanda Meade writes in The Guardian Australia, the move is part of a proposed revamp of the Commercial Television Code of Practice currently under review by ACMA.
If Free TV Australia gets its way, M classifications would stretch to a five-hour daytime block from 10am to 3pm.
Meet the woman behind every famous face on Aussie TV
If you’ve spotted a familiar face on an Aussie reality or talk show lately, chances are Georgina Harrop had a hand in it.
With 35 years in the biz and over two decades specialising in casting, she’s the quiet force behind the chaos, connecting networks with talent and talent with airtime.
In a rare peek behind the curtain, she’s offered some industry secrets in this interview with David Knox in TV Tonight.
Journalism
The Age dubs school parking drama ‘woke’… then walks it back
The Age briefly went full tabloid this week, slapping the word ‘woke’ on a headline about a parking dispute at Melbourne’s prestigious Caulfield Grammar.
As Daanyal Saeed writes in Crikey, locals are fuming over proposed parking changes near the $38k-a-year school, with one parent unloading in a quote that made it to the headline.
The Age has since cleaned things up, and the headline’s been softened and the offending quote pulled.
Companies
Alpha-H snapped up by Hong Kong buyer in push into Asia
Cult Aussie skincare brand Alpha-H, best known for its Liquid Gold exfoliator, has changed hands.
The Gold Coast-born business has been sold by private equity player the Riverside Company to Hong Kong supplements group Vita Green.
As Carrie LaFrenz writes in The Australian Financial Review, Vita Green is eyeing off Asian expansion, with plans to fast-track Alpha-H’s presence across the region.
Exoticathletica collapses owing millions as buyers circle
Bold prints and body-positive branding weren’t enough to save Exoticathletica, the once-buzzy Aussie activewear label now in administration and more than $13 million in debt.
As Sarah Perillo reports for The Daily Telegraph, the Noosa-based business has collapsed, with administrators on the hunt for a buyer to salvage what’s left.
Among the long list of unpaid bills are major players like Active Apparel Group, Shopify, PayPal and American Express. Even the ATO is chasing over $800,000.
Social Media
MrBeast sparks permit drama at Mayan ruins
YouTube juggernaut MrBeast has ruffled feathers in Mexico after posting a video filmed inside the ancient ruins of Chichén Itzá.
As Georgie Hewson writes for ABC.net.au, the clip shows the creator and his crew climbing a Mayan pyramid and exploring the site after dark, both of which are off-limits to the public.
Mexican authorities are now questioning whether proper permits were secured.
Brands
NRMA’s ‘Help Company’ pitch winning new customers and minds
NRMA Insurance’s gamble on becoming “a help company” is paying off, with half of all new customers saying the brand’s fresh marketing convinced them to sign up.
According to Danielle Long in The Australian, it’s been a year since the national rollout kicked off during the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, a splashy moment that grabbed the country’s attention.
But the campaign didn’t just stay on screen, NRMA has reshaped everything from logos and websites to policies and sponsorships, turning a simple promise of “help” into a full-on brand overhaul.
Tech
Google rolls out AI mode to transform search experience
Google is taking its search engine to the next level with a fresh wave of AI tech unveiled at its developers conference.
As Michael Liedtke writes in The Australian Financial Review, the latest update, launching soon in the US, aims to make searching feel more like chatting with a knowledgeable expert than typing keywords into a box.
This “AI mode” promises to change how people find information, offering deeper, more conversational answers across a huge range of topics.
Radio
Christian O’Connell clears up Jack Post exit from Gold 104.3 breakfast show
Christian O’Connell has finally addressed Jack Post’s sudden departure from Melbourne’s top-rating Gold 104.3 breakfast show.
As Sarah Patterson writes in Radio Today, in a recent bonus podcast episode, Christian revealed Jack made the decision himself and doesn’t have any new gigs lined up.
Christian described their relationship as more than just co-hosts, a mentorship that grew into a genuine friendship. “I’m heartbroken, but in the right way,” he said.
AI
Chicago Sun-Times caught out over AI-made summer reading list
The Chicago Sun-Times is under fire after publishing a summer reading list that apparently includes a handful of completely made-up book titles.
As Marina Dunbar writes in The Guardian, the paper is accused of leaning on AI, specifically ChatGPT, to whip up the recommendations, a move that didn’t quite go to plan.
Social media quickly picked up on the blunder, pointing out how the AI-generated list paired real authors with fictional books.
Retail
Woolworths sparks price war with $100m grocery discount push
Woolworths is turning up the heat in the supermarket showdown with Coles and Aldi by slashing prices on over 400 everyday groceries.
As Eli Greenblat writes in The Australian, backed by $400 million in cost savings, the retailer is betting it can win shoppers with cheaper shelf prices on staples from Greek yoghurt to tomato sauce.
Despite these cuts kicking in this month, a fresh JP Morgan report reveals Woolworths’ usual price edge over Aldi barely budged in May, sitting steady at around 7.7 per cent.
Vale
George Wendt, cheers legend, dies aged 76
George Wendt, best known as the lovable Norm Peterson on the classic sitcom Cheers, has passed away peacefully at 76.
The character’s iconic entrance, met with a chorus of “Norm” from the bar crowd, remains one of TV’s most memorable moments.
According to news.com.au, a family spokesperson shared the news with The New York Post, describing Wendt as a devoted family man and cherished friend.