Thursday January 16, 2020

Podcast Week

By James Manning

• Global Truths needed now, Kate Meade, True Crime

Dr Keith Suter needed now more than ever

Dr Keith Suter (pictured) and his Global Truths podcast should be more in demand than ever in the uncertain times we face in 2020 and beyond.

Topics you hear PodcastOne specialist Suter talking about range from international conflict and political tension to the impacts of climate change and birth control.

“There is a shortage of babies being born now,” Suter told Mediaweek referring a Global Truths podcast that dropped over the summer.

“Some older people will remember discussion of the population bomb. Now some are worried because there are few too babies and too many older people.”

The drop in population trends is impacting all sorts of countries. “Denmark, which is very family friendly with paid parental leave etc. is now below replacement rate which is 2.1 people per family and Denmark is 1.7. China is also now at 1.7 and the government is encouraging families to have two children.”

Suter said the trend is part of modern life where people would prefer to earn money than raise children. He indicated a real issue will now be can capitalism continue to support countries without population growth? “The issue of climate change is worrying some people who ask why should they bring children into the world in a gloomy situation. Many are worried about future prospects for the globe.

“The big picture is there is a global economic slowdown. Some people are now calling it a late capitalist period. China is reaching a mature economy stage.

With my podcast I very much look at the bigger picture. Conventional mass media focus on immediate issues. Global Truths stands back to look at how current events fit into the bigger picture.

Recent Global Truths podcasts have provided good backgrounders for listeners on Ukraine and Afghanistan plus NATO and the future of Australia’s relationship with China.

Suter is an academic who teaches on the Sydney campus of Boston University. He teaches politics to American students who are spending time in Australia for a semester as part of their US degrees.

Suter is more well-known as the foreign affairs editor for Sunrise and Weekend Sunrise. He also appears regularly on ABC and commercial talk radio stations like Fiveaa, 2HD and 2GB. “I am a media tart,” he laughed.

To keep up with global current affairs, Suter told Mediaweek: “I like a diversity of opinion” and explained he regularly visits The New York Times, BBC, Fox News and CNN. “I did a degree in international politics, but I always need to keep updating it. There is no one magic source of information that will enable you to be well informed.

Listen to Global Truths here.

ACE enters podcast space with Women of Influence

ACE Radio’s Kate Meade, host of networked breakfast show The Morning Rush, was listed in the Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence in 2018 and it was this that inspired ACE Radio to launch its first official podcast, Women of Influence, with Meade at the helm.

Season one of the podcast launched in July 2019 and season two kickstarts on Friday the 17th of January with one of radio’s biggest names, Jackie O.

The episode covers aspects of Jackie’s life that her audience may not be aware of, including Jackie O the dancer, the Jackie O who once considered leaving her radio partner Kyle Sandilands for Nova, and Jackie O the leader, whose experience has taught her what’s required in surrounding yourself with a strong team.

Season two also features Mia Freedman, Amanda Keller, Sarah Wall and Emma Hawkins however, it’s not just high-profile figures that feature. The Women of Influence podcast is unique in that it is also a celebration of every day, Australian women, serving as a library dedicated to their stories.

Kate Meade with Jackie O

ACE Radio CEO Mark Taylor said: “We love having another string to our bow, as well as the variety of guests Kate is introducing to our audience. It’s an important time to champion women and ACE couldn’t be happier to get behind the podcast for another year.”

Listen to Women of Influence here.

Meshel Laurie & Emily Webb’s Australian True Crime returns

Labelled Australia’s largest independent podcast, Australian True Crime, has started a new season.

Hosted by Meshel Laurie and journalist and true crime writer Emily Webb, Australian True Crime has notched up over 135 episodes and a loyal audience of over 1.4 million listeners each month. Together with expert interviews, the ever-curious hosts probe the underbelly of Australia.

Meshel Laurie and Emily Webb

The podcast ventures deep behind the headlines and features interviews with people directly impacted by crime – victims, police, families and friends and sometimes even perpetrators of crime.

“We are proud to give people a way to share their experiences and perspectives and especially highlight missing persons cases and unsolved cases that have not had a lot of coverage or may have faded from public memory,” Webb said.

The first episode of the new season features an interview with Fiona Splitt, the widow of gold prospector Bruce Schuler, who was murdered on a remote cattle station in Far North Queensland in 2012. The Supreme Court charged the station’s owners with the murder, despite never finding the body or supporting forensic evidence.

Australian True Crime is part of the Acast Creator Network.

Episodes are released weekly every Thursday.

Listen to Australian True Crime here.

December Podcast ranker: Schwartz Media & Wil Anderson go Top 10

• The latest Australian Podcast Ranker chart has been released.

PodcastOne’s Hamish and Andy maintain top spot in a top 10 featuring six native podcasts and four radio show podcasts.

Two podcasts are new to the top 10 – 7am from Schwartz Media and Philosophy from Wil Anderson and Whooshkaa.

Sitting at #2 on the chart is The Lighthouse from News Corp/Nova Entertainment after jumping five spots this survey.

Other new entrants this month in the top 50 are:

#13 Bedtime Explorers from The Parent Brand
#36 Stories from The Parent Brand
#39 What Happened to Zac? from Nova Entertainment
#40 TOFOP from Wil Anderson and Charlie Clausen on Whooshkaa

Current participating publishers include News Corp Australia, PodcastOne Australia, NOVA Entertainment, Southern Cross Austereo, Australian Radio Network, Nine Radio and SEN/Crocmedia.  Additional publishers will join the ranker in coming months.

The Podcast Ranker is based on a 4-week reporting period. The entities listed are ranked by Average Weekly Downloads (Monday to Sunday) in accordance with the IAB Tech Lab’s Podcast Technical Measurement Guidelines.

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Alan JOnes
Mediaweek Industry Awards: Best AM Breakfast Radio Show

Winner: Alan Jones (2GB and 4BC)

This will be a reasonably controversial choice from our readers as the Alan Jones breakfast show has gone through a tumultuous 12 months. The polarising breakfast show host is due back on air next week for his 2020 program.

During 2019 former 2GB management signed Jones two a new two-year contract with what was then Macquarie Media (now Nine Radio).

At the time the company commented:

Macquarie Media Limited today announced that it has re-signed Alan Jones, the host of its 2GB Sydney and 4BC Brisbane breakfast radio programs, to a new two-year contract which will commence on July 1st 2019 at the conclusion of his current contract. 

In announcing the signing, MML Chairman Russell Tate said he was very pleased that Jones would continue to be an integral part of the Macquarie on-air team for at least another two years.

Mr. Tate commented that “Over his already extraordinary radio career, Alan has dominated Sydney radio with 218 ratings survey wins, including 15 consecutive years at Number 1 on 2GB – an unprecedented achievement.

Macquarie Media made no mention of Jones’ fee, but it was reported he will continue to earn $4m annually.

It wasn’t long after Jones’ new deal was announced that he made the now infamous comments about New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. After a prompt backlash inside and outside of Australia, Jones apologised for his remarks.

His employer also put him on notice that he was close to being fired.

Russell Tate commented: “Notwithstanding his apologies, I have today discussed the matter with Alan and advised him that any recurrence of commentary of this nature will result in the termination of his contract,” Tate said.

The controversy caused an exodus of advertisers from the station, although it didn’t seem to impact his ratings too much. His year high was 17.6% mid-2019 and Jones finished the year down a little on 16.1%, still well ahead of all others in the Sydney market.

Taking second place in our reader voted Industry Awards was a show that couldn’t be more different to the Alan Jones program – ABC Radio’s RN Breakfast. The program is hosted by Fran Kelly while guest hosts across the summer have included Cathy Van Extel and Tom Tilley.

Fran Kelly

Third place went to Nine Radio’s Melbourne station 3AW and the Ross and John breakfast show with Ross Stevenson and John Burns. Nine Radio announced late in 2019 that Burns will leave the show mid-year without revealing who would join Stevenson on the program.

See also:
Australia’s highest-rating breakfast radio team splits

Star-studded drama series Stateless to debut on ABC

Powerful new six-part drama series Stateless will debut on the ABC and ABC iview on Sunday, 1 March at 8.40pm, following its world premiere at distinguished film festival, the 70th Berlinale, next month.

Starring a multi award-winning cast including Yvonne Strahovski (The Handmaid’s Tale), Jai Courtney (Suicide Squad), Asher Keddie (The Cry, Offspring), Fayssal Bazzi (The Commons), Marta Dusseldorp (Janet King, A Place to Call Home), with Dominic West (The Affair, The Wire) and Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine, Carol), Stateless is a compelling drama that centres on four very different people whose lives intersect at a detention centre in the Australian desert. 

An air hostess escaping a cult, an Afghan refugee saving his family, an Australian father escaping a dead-end job and a bureaucrat trying to contain a national scandal each struggle – to the limits of their sanity – with an immigration system that is itself struggling.  In their stories we see the challenges of border protection countries around the world are currently grappling with.

Co-created by Blanchett, Tony Ayres and Elise McCredie, Stateless is written by McCredie and Belinda Chayko, directed by Emma Freeman and Jocelyn Moorhouse, produced by Sheila Jayadev and Paul Ranford for Matchbox Pictures and Dirty Films, with Blanchett, Andrew Upton, Ayres and Liz Watts as Executive Producers. McCredie is Showrunner and Executive Producer. ABC Executive Producers are Sally Riley and Andrew Gregory. The series will be distributed worldwide by NBCUniversal International Distribution.

Stateless is a Matchbox Pictures and Dirty Films production for the ABC and received major production investment from Screen Australia and the ABC and is financed with support from the South Australian Film Corporation. Matchbox Pictures is an NBCUniversal International Studios company and Stateless will be distributed worldwide by NBCUniversal.

Top photo: Stateless, Gordon (Dominic West) at the GOPA Eistedfodd, image credit Ben King

Tennis world raises close to $5 million for bushfire relief

The biggest names in world tennis, Serena Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Naomi Osaka, Petra Kvitova, Dominic Thiem, Coco Gauff and Australia’s Nick Kyrgios came together last night to raise funds for bushfire relief.

AO Rally for Relief at Rod Laver Arena was broadcast around the world and helped bring the total funds raised by tennis so far for bushfire relief efforts across Australia to $4,826,014.

“It was incredible to be in Rod Laver Arena to see the global tennis community come together to support bushfire relief efforts,” said Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley.

“I don’t think there was a dry-eye in the house when Mark Seymour opened the night with “throw your arms around me” as images from around Australia took over the screens.

“While the cheers for the biggest players in our sport were loud, the moment of the night was the standing ovation by the 15,000-strong crowd for the 30 volunteer firefighters who were special guests at the event.

“We hope to raise millions of dollars throughout the summer of tennis and tonight is just the start. My wish is for Australian Open 2020 to be remembered as much for the good we’ve done for these fire ravaged communities as for the spectacular tennis.”

World No.1 Nadal announced that he and Federer were teaming up to pledge an additional $250,000 to the Bushfire Relief effort, “Talking with Roger a couple of hours ago we decided to give $250,000 Australian dollars to the bushfire relief together,” Nadal said.

“Hopefully that keeps inspiring the people to support this terrible disaster that we’re going through and it helps recover all the things that we need,” Nadal continued.

“I’m always happy to help, always happy to give my time or my money, it was an absolute pleasure to be here tonight playing with all the other legends of the game… This is the way to do it, we all come together for other people and I think that’s a true inspiration for many other countries as well,” 20-time Grand Slam champion Federer said.

An enthusiastic crowd of 14,108 fans attended AO Rally for Relief, with 100% of ticket sales going to support the Victorian Bushfire Relief.

Additional information about the Australian Open and tennis community fundraising efforts can be found here.

Australian Open tennis
TV Guide: Australia Open 2020 commences Monday on Nine

When the world’s best tennis players go to battle in the first Grand Slam of the year, television viewers will have the best seat in the house with Nine’s broadcast of Australian Open 2020.

From Monday, January 20 until Sunday, February 2, the tournament’s best matches and biggest moments will be broadcast live and free on Nine and 9Gem.
 
And on Australia’s leading commercial free-to-air video-on-demand service, 9Now, viewers will be treated to every ball of every match on every court, ensuring Australians get the best tennis experience available, anytime, anywhere, on a device of their choosing.
 
For two weeks the eyes of the sporting world will be on Melbourne to witness history in the making.
 
The  expert team of hosts and commentators, backed by the unrivalled resources of Nine’s Wide World of Sports, will take viewers closer to the game than ever before. The hosting lineup will feature James Bracey, Rebecca Maddern and Tony Jones, while over on 9Gem,  hosts will be Erin Molan, Seb Costello and Alicia Loxley.
 
Commentating across the tournament will be John McEnroe, Jim Courier, Todd Woodbridge, Lleyton Hewitt, Jelena Dokic, Sam Smith, Alicia Molik, Dylan Alcott, Sam Groth, Casey Dellacqua and Tom Rehn.
 
Additional off-court reporting will be provided by Clint Stanaway, Lauren Phillips, Madeline Slattery and Danika Mason. And funny man Andy Lee will bring his unique take on the game in a series of one-on-one interviews with the champions of the sport.
 
The broadcast will utilise 360-degree, Matrix-style cameras: immersive video technology that positions cameras right around the court to simultaneously capture every angle. The resulting vision will give viewers a panorama-like experience of the world’s greatest tennis players in action.
 
New analysis technology will ensure our commentators are able to scrutinise the game like never before, with every inch of play under the microscope.
 
For the very first time, Electronic Line Calling technology will be available on every single court, across the entire tournament.
 
Once again, the hosting set will be positioned on a half-court tennis court. Court Nine is located near Margaret Court Arena and this outdoor studio will welcome tennis fans to Melbourne Park as they arrive at the precinct through the city entrance. As well as providing the backdrop to our hosting of the Australian Open, the set will be home to the Today show team, who will broadcast LIVE from Melbourne Park each day from January 20.
 
When not being used as a live television studio, Court Nine will be open to the public, bringing the game closer to fans than ever before. Tennis enthusiasts can even have their service speed measured on the half-court. Players will also conduct pre and post-game interviews on Court Nine, with the public able to watch on.

Summer TV Ratings: Big Bash double-header and tennis stars don’t outrate Celebrity

By James Manning

A mid-week Big Bash League double header secured a win for Seven all people giving it four wins from four nights so far in week three of the ratings year.

The BBL match between Perth and the Melbourne Stars had audiences of 516,000 and 276,000 for the two innings. The Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Renegades then did 360,000 and 389,000.

A Current Affair had a rare night off at Nine with the 2020 Australian Open Rally for Relief fundraiser screening from 7pm across Nine and GO! The average audience was 465,000 with the biggest crowd in Melbourne – 147,000. That gave Nine a share of 17.5%, its best for the week so far.

I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! continues to rank #1 non-news for 10 with 679,000 last night after 725,000 a week ago. There were plenty of A-grade comedians on The ProjectTom Ballard, Celia Pacquola and Luke Heggie. The 7pm audience of 465,000 also got to see Steve Price make his apology over comments about Jacinda Ardern.

The ABC’s best was News on 602,000 and then 7.30 on 488,000.

SBS had two shows just over 200,000 – Tony Robinson Down Under and When Buildings Collapse.

Week 3 TV: Wednesday
WEDNESDAY METRO
ABCSevenNine10SBS
ABC9.2%719.3%917.5%10 14.2%SBS One5.5%
ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY2.7%7TWO3.6%GO!2.6%10 Bold6.2%VICELAND1.7%
ABC ME0.7%7mate3.3%GEM2.0%10 Peach2.9%Food Net1.3%
ABC NEWS1.6%7flix2.0%9Life2.5%  NITV0.1%
        SBS World Movies1.2%
TOTAL14.1% 28.3% 24.6% 23.3% 9.7%

 

WEDNESDAY REGIONAL
ABCSeven AffiliatesNine Affiliates10 AffiliatesSBS
ABC8.2%719.6%914.3%WIN12.9%SBS One5.4%
ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY3.3%7TWO4.6%GO!3.3%WIN Bold6.9%VICELAND1.6%
ABC ME0.9%7mate4.3%GEM2.7%WIN Peach2.5%Food Net1.0%
ABC NEWS2.0%7flix (Excl. Tas/WA)2.0%9Life3.3%Sky News  on WIN0.7%NITV0.2%
  7food network (QLD only)0.0%      
TOTAL14.4% 30.6% 23.7% 23.0% 8.3%

 

WEDNESDAY METRO ALL TV
FTASTV
84.3%15.7%
Wednesday FTA
  1. Seven News Seven 956,000
  2. Nine News 6:30 Nine 833,000
  3. Nine News Nine 806,000
  4. I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! 10 679,000
  5. Seven News At 6.30 Seven 673,000
  6. ABC News ABC 602,000
  7. The Chase Australia Seven 548,000
  8. 2020 Australian Open Rally For Relief Nine 530,000
  9. Seven’s Cricket: Big Bash League Perth V Melb Stars S1 Seven 516,000
  10. 7.30 Summer ABC 488,000
  11. The Project 7pm 10 465,000
  12. Hot Seat Nine 415,000
  13. Seven’s Cricket: Big Bash League Syd Thun V Melb Ren I Seven 404,000
  14. 10 News First 10 393,000
  15. Seven’s Cricket: Big Bash League Syd Thun V Melb Ren S2 Seven 389,000
  16. Seven’s Cricket: Big Bash League Perth V Melb Stars Seven 386,000
  17. Seven’s Cricket: Big Bash League Perth V Melb Stars Seven 377,000
  18. Seven’s Cricket: Big Bash League Syd Thun V Melb Ren S1 Seven 360,000
  19. The Chase Australia 5pm Seven 350,000
  20. The Project 6.30pm 10 289,000
Demo Top 5

16 – 39 Top 5

  1. I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! 10 161,000
  2. Seven’s Cricket: Big Bash League Perth V Melb Stars S1 Seven 114,000
  3. 2020 Australian Open Rally For Relief Nine 104,000
  4. The Project 7pm 10 98,000
  5. Nine News 6:30 Nine 95,000

 

18 – 49 Top 5

  1. I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! 10 310,000
  2. Seven’s Cricket: Big Bash League Perth V Melb Stars S1 Seven 197,000
  3. Nine News 6:30 Nine 196,000
  4. The Project 7pm 10 196,000
  5. Nine News Nine 178,000

 

25 – 54 Top 5

  1. I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! 10 353,000
  2. Nine News 6:30 Nine 260,000
  3. The Project 7pm 10 236,000
  4. Nine News Nine 230,000
  5. Seven’s Cricket: Big Bash League Perth V Melb Stars S1 Seven 226,000
WEDNESDAY Multichannel
  1. NCIS (R) 10 Bold 201,000
  2. NCIS: Los Angeles (R) 10 Bold 195,000
  3. NCIS: Los Angeles Ep 2 (R) 10 Bold 183,000
  4. Bondi Rescue Ep 2 (R) 10 Bold 159,000
  5. Border Security Australia’s Front Line 7TWO 149,000
  6. Bluey ABCKIDS/COMEDY 142,000
  7. Hey Duggee ABCKIDS/COMEDY 133,000
  8. Rusty Rivets ABCKIDS/COMEDY 127,000
  9. Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 125,000
  10. Bananas In Pyjamas AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 125,000
  11. Play School AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 123,000
  12. Octonauts PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 122,000
  13. 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (R) SBS VICELAND 119,000
  14. Peter Rabbit ABCKIDS/COMEDY 119,000
  15. Ben And Holly’s Little Kingdom AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 119,000
  16. Peppa Pig PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 118,000
  17. Border Security Australia’s Front Line 7TWO 117,000
  18. Go Jetters PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 117,000
  19. Andy’s Wild Adventures ABCKIDS/COMEDY 117,000
  20. Olobob Top PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 116,000
WEDNESDAY STV
  1. Live: BBL: Thunder V Renegades FOX CRICKET 210,000
  2. Live: Between The Innings FOX CRICKET 199,000
  3. Live: BBL: Scorchers V Stars FOX CRICKET 193,000
  4. Live: Between The Innings FOX CRICKET 158,000
  5. Live: BBL: Thunder V Renegades FOX CRICKET 128,000
  6. Live: BBL: Scorchers V Stars FOX CRICKET 105,000
  7. Love It Or List It Australia Lifestyle Channel 55,000
  8. Family Guy FOX8 44,000
  9. Live: B4 The Bash! FOX CRICKET 41,000
  10. The Big Bang Theory FOX Funny 40,000
  11. The Big Bang Theory FOX Funny 38,000
  12. Location, Location, Location Lifestyle Channel 35,000
  13. The Simpsons FOX8 34,000
  14. ODI Ind V Aus Game 1 FOX CRICKET 34,000
  15. Arrow FOX8 34,000
  16. Vanderpump Rules ARENA 33,000
  17. Family Guy FOX8 33,000
  18. The Simpsons FOX8 32,000
  19. Prodigal Son FOX One 31,000
  20. Selling Houses Australia Lifestyle Channel 31,000

Shares all people, 6pm-midnight, Overnight (Live and AsLive), Audience numbers FTA metro, Sub TV national
Source: OzTAM and Regional TAM 2018. The Data may not be reproduced, published or communicated (electronically or in hard copy) without the prior written consent of OzTAM

Media News Roundup

Business of Media

Chris Kenny defends News Corp amid Murdoch attack

News Corp commentator Chris Kenny has defended the company’s coverage of climate change as the media giant faced intensified criticism over its reporting, this time from James Murdoch, who broke ranks with the family empire and took aim at its news outlets in Australia, reports AFR’s Max Mason.

James Murdoch, who remains a board member of News Corp, accused the company of promoting climate change denialism in the middle of Australia’s bushfire crisis.

“The point about climate change is that it presents an enormously complex range of debates around various scientific findings, meteorological records, historical context, modelled predictions, possible policy responses and their likely costs and benefits,” he told The Australian Financial Review.

“If, like me, you accept the science of global warming but are vitally interested in scientific analysis and policy options while being wary of alarmism and ideological opportunism, there are few media organisations outside of News Corp that provide fact-based, varied and realistic debate.”

Read more

Amazon Studios' Jennifer Salke Touts "Increased Appetite" for Global TV Strategy

“Global” was the buzzword when Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke appeared before reporters at the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour on Tuesday afternoon, reports The Hollywood Reporter’s Natalie Jarvey.

The executive, flanked by TV co-heads Albert Cheng and Vernon Sanders, touted Amazon’s efforts to bring original programming to the company’s 100 million-plus Prime members around the world. When she was pressed on how that strategy differs from Netflix, which operates in 170 countries around the world, Salke pointed to Joe and Anthony Russo’s spy drama Citadel, which will feature interconnected local-language versions shot in multiple countries including Italy, India and Mexico. Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden, both of whom have global fan bases, are set to star.

Another project the exec described as fitting into Amazon’s global ethos is Steve McQueen’s Last Days, which is expected to feature an international cast portraying people from around the world who leave a dying Earth to colonize Mars.

“It’s no longer a barrier to read a translation for our customers,” Salke explained. “We’re seeing increased appetite, especially with younger Prime members. They really have no barrier to entry with language. The world is big, but it’s getting smaller in that way.”

Read more

Apple Takes a (Cautious) Stand Against Opening a Killer’s iPhones

Apple is privately preparing for a legal fight with the Justice Department to defend encryption on its iPhones while publicly trying to defuse the dispute, as the technology giant navigates an increasingly tricky line between its customers and the Trump administration, reports The New York Times Jack Nicas and Katie Benner.

Timothy D. Cook, Apple’s chief executive, has marshaled a handful of top advisers, while Attorney General William P. Barr has taken aim at the company and asked it to help penetrate two phones used by a gunman in a deadly shooting last month at a naval air station in Pensacola, Fla.

Executives at Apple have been surprised by the case’s quick escalation, said people familiar with the company who were not authorized to speak publicly. And there is frustration and skepticism among some on the Apple team working on the issue that the Justice Department hasn’t spent enough time trying to get into the iPhones with third-party tools, said one person with knowledge of the matter.

The situation has become a sudden crisis at Apple that pits Mr. Cook’s longstanding commitment to protecting people’s privacy against accusations from the United States government that it is putting the public at risk. The case resembles Apple’s clash with the F.B.I. in 2016 over another dead gunman’s phone, which dragged on for months.

Read more

News Brands

Former SBS journalist Scott McIntyre spared jail in Japan

Australian journalist Scott McIntyre has been spared jail after facing a Tokyo court over trespassing, reports the Herald Sun’s Sophie Welsh.

McIntyre was detained for several days over the Christmas period, and those close to him claim he was held in a cell with the lights on 24-hours a day and was only allowed to bathe once every five days.

It is understood that McIntyre has been in detention since at least December 16, and was denied bail a few days later.
His trial began on January 10.

A friend of McIntyre’s, Sean Carroll, shared the news on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon.

“Scott McIntyre’s trial just concluded in Tokyo,” Mr Carroll wrote.
“He was given a six-month suspended sentence with three years probation.
“He is now a free man.”

Read more

Television

‘National disgrace’: Karl Stefanovic unloads on children’s deaths

Today host Karl Stefanovic has laid into the much-maligned National Disability Insurance Scheme, labelling it a “national disgrace”, reports news.com.au.

A story published by the Adelaide Advertiser this morning revealed the scheme was particularly bad in South Australia, with the southern state enduring the longest wait times for NDIS support packages.

South Australians are waiting more than 200 days for support with kids younger than six waiting seven months for help from the government.

The horrific national statistics also revealed over the past three years, 1279 people had died while waiting for support from the scheme. Among the 1279, 65 of those deaths were children — 35 of whom were aged six and under.

Stefanovic described the deaths as “disturbing”.

“More than 400 people have died every year waiting for access to the NDIS. Sixty five children, 35 of whom are under six years of age. It’s unbelievable,” he said.

“Late last year the minister in charge Stuart Robert said waiting times categorically weren’t a problem. If 65 children dying in this children, if those figures are to be believed isn’t a problem, then you need help minister.”

Read more

Steve Price issues groveling apology to Jacinda Ardern: ‘What I said was dumb’

Steve Price has issued a groveling apology to Jacinda Ardern after Twitter unleashed fury on the controversial broadcaster Tuesday night, reports news.com.au’s Bella Fowler.

It comes after he let his mouth run while comparing the New Zealand Prime Minister’s family holiday to Australia with Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s infamous December trip to Hawaii amid the national bushfire crisis, in a puzzling argument.

“She should be in her own country and spend money in her own place,” he growled.

“Typical virtue-signalling from Ardern. I get sick and tired of that woman!,” he asserted, prompting viewers to call him out as “sexist”.

Read more

Miguel says Amanda Keller ‘probably won’t even go’ to the Logies this year

Some, defend the Hard Quiz comedian Tim Gleeson’s parody of the public-voted award, while others abhorred his perceived bullying behaviour, believing the gong truly belonged to Amanda Keller, reports The Daily Telegraph’s Bella Fowler.

TV and radio personality Keller was nominated, but became the targeted victim of Gleeson’s aggressive smear campaign.

In last nights episode of I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here, Miguel made it known he’s staunchly camp Keller – certifiably ripping into Gleeson in the process.

The Living Room co-host and close friend of Keller didn’t hold back as he slammed Gleeson – revealing Keller “probably won’t even go” to the ceremony this year, and saying Gleeson “wiped his arse” with the award.

Read more

Radio

Jackie O reveals she almost left Kyle Sandilands and jumped ship to Nova

Jackie O has revealed for the first time why she almost ended her radio partnership with Kyle Sandilands and jumped ship to a rival station, reports news.com.au’s Andrew Bucklow.

“I remember going into the (Southern Cross Austereo) boss’s office to negotiate and they were just basically saying, ‘We could take you or leave you. You’re not getting anything else, so be happy with what you’ve got’.”

Jackie was so furious with the treatment she received that she approached a rival radio station with the intention to jump ship without Kyle.

“I spoke to Nova,” Jackie told podcast host Kate Meade. “I had a meeting with them and was really close to going.”

Southern Cross Austereo found out about Jackie’s secret meeting with Nova and quickly changed their tune, she said.

“Wouldn’t you know it, they offered me a lot more money,” Jackie laughed.

Read more

Nick Allen-Ducat to join Newcastle’s Hit106.9 Breakfast team

Newcastle’s Hit106.9 will welcome Nick ‘Ducko’ Allen-Ducat to its breakfast team, joining Jess Farchione and Nick Gill from Monday 20 January.

Allen-Ducat comes with an array of radio experience, spending most of his time with Nova Entertainment in Sydney and most recently in Brisbane across announcing and producing roles. In 2019, Nick became the host of Smashdown, a national children’s TV program due to air on Channel 9GO! this year.

Allen-Ducat, said: “I’m so excited to be joining the Hit Newcastle family for 2020, Nick Gill and Jess Farchione are loads of fun and I can’t wait to see what we get up to together! Newcastle are in for one hell of a ride!”

“Newy is an incredible city, I am pinching myself that I get to call it home and work on a breakfast show with such amazing people every day, even if there are two Nicks on the team,” he said.

Southern Cross Austereo Group Content Director for NSW & ACT, Jase Allen, said: “There was instant chemistry the moment the three of them were in the studio together and a sense of excitement that made it impossible to go with anyone else. Ducko brings a wealth of radio experience and we look forward to him becoming the newest Novocastrian.”

Nick, Jess & Ducko on Newcastle’s Hit106.9, 6 am to 9 am weekdays from Monday 20 January. 

Conflicting reports on why 3AW ended Jane Bunn weather spot

3AW is adamant that Jane Bunn’s segment came to an end because Seven ended its commercial agreement, reports The Age’s Broede Carmody.

3AW’s station manager Stephen Beers said there were no plans to replace Bunn with someone from Nine.

“Jane’s spot was a commercial agreement with Seven,” he said. “Seven have stopped paying, so the spot has ended. It was the same as a cross to the Seven newsroom we used to do in drive. The stopped spending and the cross stopped. We didn’t sack Jane, Seven stopped spending.”

Seven’s managing director for Melbourne, Lewis Martin, has hit back at the claims.

“When Nine Radio told us yesterday they were happy to continue to take our advertising spend but that Jane’s services were no longer required – without notice or a call to Jane after five years on their network, I might add – we elected to review our position,” he said.

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Sport

World’s top tennis stars rally for bushfire relief

The top stars of the tennis world came together to raise nearly $5 million for victims of the bushfires that have ravaged the country. But it was the volunteer firefighters who stole the show, reports The Herald Sun’s Peter Rolfe.

In the fun and supportive spirit of the night, superstar Rafael Nadal got Victorian CFA member Deb Borg to hit the court with him.

With more than $4.8 million raised for the cause, Nadal revealed he and Roger Federer had decided to donate $250,000 of their own cash to help tackle the “terrible disaster”.

Kyrgios said: “To see all the fire fighters here, it’s emotional, it’s fun,” he said.

Former world No. 1 and 2018 Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki said players from around the globe wanted to show their support for a country that had “been through a lot”.

“We all love Australia and we all want to help as much as we can,” she said.

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