Journalism
Media bosses push back on AI copyright grab
Australia’s top media execs are lobbying PM Anthony Albanese over a proposal to let AI firms train on local content without paying for it. Nine’s Matt Stanton raised the issue directly, warning it risks gutting copyright protections.
A letter to Communications Minister Michelle Rowland, signed by major publishers and creatives, slams the idea as a giveaway to Big Tech at the expense of Aussie artists and journalists.
According to Paul Sakkal in The Sydney Morning Herald, AI tools like Google’s are lifting news and repackaging it as answers, slashing clicks to original articles by up to 80 percent.
Streaming
Disney to launch streaming TV Hulu brand in Australia
During an earnings call overnight, Disney announced that it will replace its general entertainment streaming Star brand globally with Hulu.
In Australia, along with most international territories where Disney+ operates, Star is a brand integrated into Disney+ which offers general entertainment that is distinct from Disney’s family content.
On Disney+ it operates along verticals including Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar National Geographic, ESPN, and, of course, Disney.
Companies
McIntyre tipped for top REA job
REA Group is close to naming a new CEO, with ex-Carsales chief Cameron McIntyre emerging as a strong external contender. The $33 billion News Corp-owned company says an announcement is due within weeks.
According to John Buckley in Capital Brief, McIntyre, who oversaw major growth at Carsales, is among several names linked to the high-profile role. REA and McIntyre are staying quiet for now.
Whoever gets the nod will take over one of the Murdoch family’s most prized assets.
Radio
Howard Stern weighs his SiriusXM exit strategy
According to Caitlin McCormack in the New York Post, the legendary broadcaster’s blockbuster $500 million deal with SiriusXM is nearing its end, and the radio icon sounds torn.
At 71, he’s reportedly mulling a short-term extension, but only if the dollars still make sense.
Sources say Stern doesn’t want to abandon his staff, but he’s also fed up with SiriusXM’s increasing spotlight on rival host Andy Cohen.
Social Media
Elon Musk hints at Vine comeback
Elon Musk says X has recovered the old Vine video archive and is working to restore user access, sparking fresh buzz about a possible comeback.
The short-form app, shut down by Twitter in 2016, still has a cult following thanks to viral YouTube compilations and its influence on digital creators.
As Sarah Perez writes in TechCrunch, Musk has teased a Vine revival before. This time, it looks like he’s actually dusting off the loop.
AI
AI firms caught scraping Aussie news sites by the millions
OpenAI, Perplexity and other AI players are hitting Australian news sites hard, scraping content tens of millions of times a month, even after publishers tried to block them.
As Sam Buckingham-Jones writes in The Australian Financial Review, Nine Entertainment has been tracking the data and says bots tied to these companies are persistently mining its websites, which include The Age, SMH, and AFR, to train AI tools like ChatGPT.
It’s a stark reminder of the growing tension between AI developers and media companies, as tech giants build billion-dollar products on the back of journalism they haven’t paid for.
Television
Peter Greste turns up in surprise Seven reality drop
The former Al Jazeera journalist has made an unexpected reality TV debut in Ultimate Escape, now quietly streaming on 7Plus.
In the show, Greste teams up with his brother in the high-stakes NZ-set survival series.
As David Knox reports on TV Tonight, the series was shot in 2023 and described as Alone meets Hunted, and released with no fanfare, cast included.
Vale
Rock trailblazer Col Joye dies at 89
As Nell Geraets writes in The Sydney Morning Herald, Joye he rose to fame in the 1960s with Col Joye and the Joy Boys, becoming the first Aussie rock act to top the national charts.
Joye’s career spanned nearly 70 years, earning him an Order of Australia and ARIA Hall of Fame honours.
He also famously helped launch the Bee Gees after seeing them perform in 1961.