Radio
Sabra Lane signals exit from AM
Steve Jackson writes in The Australian that ABC’s flagship morning program AM could soon be looking for a new host.
Apparently long-time presenter Lane had told management she’s ready to step aside.
Insiders say Lane’s frustration has been building for some time, with AM stripped of resources and increasingly resembling a straight news bulletin rather than the agenda-setting current affairs show it once was.
Nine eyes Southern Cross Austereo after Domain sale
With $3 billion about to land from the Domain deal, Nine is sizing up its next move… and Southern Cross Austereo is suddenly in the frame.
That’s according to James Madden in The Australian.
While some describe the chats between senior executives as casual, the presence of lawyers suggests deal terms may already be on the table.
Social Media
OmeTV first to face eSafety action
OmeTV has become the first app targeted under Australia’s new online safety rules, with eSafety issuing a formal warning over concerns it exposes children to predators.
As Lachlan Leeming details in The Daily Telegraph, the warning to parent company Bad Kitty’s Dad, LDA, could escalate to a ban or fines of up to $49.5 million if safeguards are not introduced.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has also alerted Apple and Google, stressing law enforcement fears about the app’s risks to young users.
Streaming
Spotify prepares more price hikes
Spotify says price rises are here to stay, with co-president Alex Norström confirming they are now part of the company’s “toolbox” as it pushes towards 1 billion users.
The Australian Financial Review’s Daniel Thomas and Anna Nicolaou report that Norström says the hikes will come with fresh features to soften the blow.
After years of holding steady, Spotify only began lifting subscription prices in 2022.
AI
Tech Council split on copyright reform
The Tech Council of Australia is showing cracks over calls to loosen copyright laws for AI training.
As John Buckley writes in Capital Brief, at a recent meeting, one member warned the push was “too narrow” and risked reputational damage.
Chair Scott Farquhar has argued lighter rules could attract billions in data centre investment, a view backed by the Productivity Commission. But creative industries and media execs remain strongly opposed.
Television
ABC moves Spicks & Specks to 6pm
ABC has rejigged its early evening schedule, shifting Spicks & Specks repeats into the 6pm slot and bumping Antiques Roadshow to 5pm, with Hard Quiz staying at 6:30pm.
Recent experiments like Claire Hooper’s House of Games and Alice Zaslavsky’s A Bite to Eat pulled smaller audiences, prompting the move back to proven favourites.
As David Knox writes in TV Tonight, director of Screen Jennifer Collins says ABC is prioritising primetime commissions, while using 6–7pm to hold daytime viewers and lead them into the 7pm news.
Film
Cinemas reinvent for the streaming era
Elias Visontay writes in The Sydney Morning Herald that cinemas are leaning into experiences to win back audiences, adding live music, comedy and food-and-drink packages alongside films.
Retro screenings remain sell-outs, while craft-friendly pop-ups cater to multitasking streamers.
The strategy reflects a sharp decline in attendance: Screen Australia reports admissions have dropped from 91.3 million in 2016 to 55.4 million in 2024, with average ticket prices climbing to $17.26.
Netflix scores surprise box office win
Netflix has landed a rare theatrical No. 1 with Kpop Demon Hunters, which pulled an estimated $18–20 million over the weekend.
The animated musical outpaced Weapons on $15.6 million, playing across 1,700 screens with more than 1,100 sell-outs.
Produced by Sony Pictures Animation, Variety’s Rebecca Rubin writes that the film marks an unusual big-screen success for the streamer.