Radio
Nine’s radio sale hits turbulence as bidders walk
It looks like Nine’s push to sell its national talkback radio network for anything near $50 million has hit a wall, with the two leading bidders walking away.
That includes a consortium linked to former owner John Singleton, leaving the sale looking suddenly shaky.
According to The Australian’s Steve Jackson, buyers baulked at tight deadlines and what they saw once the books were opened.
Publishing
Arts sector rift widens after Adelaide Festival backlash
The Australian arts world is in full circular firing squad mode after Randa Abdel-Fattah was dropped from Adelaide Writers Week.
Jewish creatives have accused the sector of hypocrisy, pointing to Abdel-Fattah’s past call to exclude a Jewish writer from the same festival.
As Elizabeth Pike details in The Australian, the fallout has been rapid and wide-reaching.
Social Media
Meta reveals early impact of under-16 social media ban
More than 500,000 Instagram and Facebook accounts have been taken offline since Australia’s under-16 social media ban came into force last month, according to new data from Meta.
The update, the first since the December 10 rollout, offers an early look at enforcement on Meta’s platforms, with large-scale account removals signalling a serious compliance push.
According to The Australian Financial Review’s Amelia McGuire and Tess Bennett, the teen response is mixed.
Government keeps advertising on X amid deepfake storm
Elon Musk’s X is under fire after reports that the platform is awash with AI-generated deepfake images sexually exploiting women and children, often without consent.
Some material allegedly crosses into criminal territory, yet the content continues to circulate in plain sight.
As Crikey’s Cam Wilson reports a spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office said it is focused on restricting access to nudify tools, but stopped short of explaining why public money is still flowing to the platform.
Film
Audience voting opens for AACTA Awards as debate returns
Voting is now open for the AACTA Audience Choice Awards, with the public choosing from a shortlist ahead of finalists being announced. The format is familiar. So is the pushback.
Last year, all six Favourite TV Series finalists were Netflix titles, only two were Australian, and the winner was Outer Banks.
In Favourite Film, no Australian titles made the cut, sparking industry criticism and calls from TV Tonight’s David Knox for a rethink.