Media
Nine keeps radio future on the table
The Australian’s James Madden writes the network has confirmed it’s taking a hard look at its talkback radio business, which includes 2GB, 3AW, 4BC and 6PR.
Mediaweek hinted at the possibility of an impending sale earlier this month, when National Content Manager Greg Byrnes told this publication: “We’re a high-profile media asset, so there was always speculation around our talk stations.”
Now it seems they’re getting to the pointy end of business, with CEO Matt Stanton revealing an internal review will now be held of its entire audio division.
Meanwhile…
All this comes following yesterday’s news that Catherine West will retire as chair and non-executive director at the conclusion of the company’s 2025 Annual General Meeting on 7 November.
Read Mediaweek’s report on the move here.
Speaking of West, The Sydney Morning Herald’s Elizabeth Knight’s offered her take on what she’s calling Nine’s own ‘Survival drama’. Ouch.
ABC News Online tops complaint list
TV Tonight’s David Knox writes that the ABC Ombudsman’s latest report shows ABC News Online drew the most audience complaints between July 2023 and June 2024, with 1,227 logged.
Half of them alleged bias, while 41% challenged accuracy, while more than a third focused on coverage of Middle East conflicts.
Social Media
X pushes back on teen social media ban
Elon Musk has taken aim at the Albanese government, arguing Australia’s planned under-16 social media ban would curb free speech and children’s right to access information.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald’s Nick Newling the company wants at least a six-month delay.
Trump clears path for US takeover of TikTok
The US President has confirmed TikTok will stay in the US after striking a deal that hands its American operations to a group of local investors.
Names on the list include Oracle founder Larry Ellison, Michael Dell and Rupert Murdoch.
The Guardian is running a live blog capturing the story as it unfolds.
Meanwhile…
If you thought teens were the only ones we needed to worry out when it comes to getting their information for sources like TikTok, hoo boy have I got news for you.
Turns out one-in-five American adults are now getting their news from the app.
Legal
Amazon to pay billions in Prime settlement
The Australian Financial Review’s Jody Godoy writes the company has agreed to a US$2.5 billion settlement with the Federal Trade Commission after being accused of tricking customers into Prime subscriptions.
The deal includes US$1 billion in fines and a US$1.5 billion fund to reimburse around 35 million subscribers.
AI
Australia ‘risks losing AI boom’
That’s according to a new report from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
The Australian Financial Review’s Tess Bennett writes that the paper warns Australia risks handing the spoils of the AI boom to global tech giants while keeping the downside risks at home if it doesn’t step up regulation.
Spotify cracks down on AI-fuelled spam tracks
The music sharing giant says it stripped 75 million spam tracks from its catalogue in the past year, blaming the surge on AI tools making it easier for fraudsters to pump out fake music.
The Guardian’s Dan Milmo writes the platform admitted that the rise of generative tech has coincided with a flood of low-quality uploads, prompting a tougher stance on suspicious content.
Entertainment
Keeping ‘The Dream’ alive
Can you believe it’s been 25 years since the Sydney Olympic Games?
This month doesn’t just mark a quarter of a century since Cathy Freeman lit up Olympic Park – it also marks 25 years since The Dream with Roy and HG crashed into late-night TV and became an instant cult classic.
The Sydney Morning Herald’s Louise Rugendyke sat down with the pair to discuss what she calls ‘the greatest TV show ever’.