Business of Media
Britain to ban foreign governments from media ownership
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will legislate to prevent a foreign government from buying a British news company, as he seeks to protect the Daily Telegraph newspaper and Spectator magazine from an Abu Dhabi-backed takeover, reports Nine Publishing’s Hans van Leeuwen.
Sunak’s move potentially opens the door for Rupert Murdoch to make a play for one or both titles, following reports this week that his News Corp was looking at joining forces with Daily Mail owner Lord Rothermere to launch a rival bid.
The move comes after months of pressure from Conservative MPs and the right-wing press, who have argued that the United Arab Emirates’ lack of press freedom makes it an unfit owner for British media assets.
Neil Young to return music to Spotify as he attacks ‘disinformation’ across streaming services
Neil Young is to return his music to Spotify after keeping it off the streaming platform for more than two years, reports The Guardian’s Ben Beaumont-Thomas.
Young removed his entire catalogue from the world’s biggest streaming company in January 2022, in protest against Joe Rogan whose chart-topping podcast was exclusive to Spotify.
Rogan was widely accused of spreading misinformation about Covid vaccines via the podcast, not only by Young but also a group of 270 scientists and healthcare professionals who said Rogan’s misinformation was “a sociological issue of devastating proportions and Spotify is responsible for allowing this activity to thrive on its platform”.
Don Lemon says Elon Musk canceled his show on X after tense interview
Don Lemon says Elon Musk canceled his deal with X because Musk wasn’t happy with an interview the former CNN host did with him, report The Wall Street Journal’s Joseph Pisani, Isabella Simonetti, and Alexa Corse.
Lemon said Musk informed him of the decision hours after his interview with the billionaire and owner of the social-media platform on Friday. Lemon said his questions were respectful and wide-ranging, though he described the interview as “tense at times.”
“We had a good conversation,” Lemon said. “Clearly he felt differently. His commitment to a global town square where all questions can be asked and all ideas can be shared seems not to include questions of him from people like me.”
Radio
Mix94.5’s Pete & Kymba strip naked to present show after John Cena’s Oscars stunt
Two Aussie radio hosts stunned listenings on Wednesday morning when they “stripped down in 30 seconds” and presented the show entirely naked, reports News Corp’s Joshua Haigh.
In honour of John Cena’s infamous naked Oscars stunt, Mix94.5’s Pete & Kymba stripped down to their birthday suits and presented the show in the buff.
While Pete was loving the idea of revealing all and immediately stripped completely naked, it took Kymba almost an hour to pluck up the courage to strip fully.
Television
HBO’s White Lotus, House of the Dragon to find new streaming home in Australia
A new streaming service will launch in Australia next year when US subscription platform Max launches as home to the likes of House of the Dragon, White Lotus and Succession, hit shows that until now have been part of Foxtel’s exclusive deal with HBO parent Warner Bros Discovery, reports Nine Publishing’s Calum Jaspan.
Speaking at a Morgan Stanley Investor Conference last week in San Francisco, global head of streaming and games at Warner Bros Discovery Jean-Briac Perrette said Max can quickly become one of the top three streaming services in markets such as Australia amid its global rollout.
‘New but not improved’: TV networks to vote on Logies for first time
Just weeks after announcing an overhaul of categories in an attempt to bestow the awards greater legitimacy, the annual Logies, which celebrate the best in Australian television, are now reshaping their judging process, reports Nine Publishing’s Thomas Mitchell.
In a significant departure from previous years, the Logies will allow current employees of major broadcasters, including free-to-air networks Nine, Seven and Ten, as well as streaming platforms like Netflix, Stan, Binge or Prime Video, to apply to be members of the judging panel. Until now, employees of major networks or streaming platforms were not eligible to be judges.
Ray Meagher: “But was it Summer Bay? Hmmm…. in my humble opinion, not to that extent.”
When you’ve been voted Australia’s Greatest Character of All Time you’re doubtless entitled to a little privilege. But the man behind ‘Alf Stewart’ never seeks it, reports TV Tonight.
Gold Logie winner Ray Meagher has played Alf for over 36 years, affording him a Guinness World Record as being the longest-serving actor in an Australian drama.
Meagher was there for Home & Away‘s pilot in 1988. He was there when Kerry Stokes acquired control of Seven from Christopher Skase. And he’s the only original cast member still with the show.
Sports Media
The Melbourne president didn’t want this remark ‘ending up in the newspapers’
It would be an understatement to say that Melbourne’s off-season hasn’t gone to plan. But the Demons have also struggled of late with their communication, both with the media and directly with their fans. This was evident when CEO Gary Pert said in a radio interview that the club had the best culture he’d experienced, reports Nine Publishing’s Sam McClure.
The Scoop has since learned that eyebrows were raised at the Demons’ season launch at the MCG two weeks ago when president Kate Roffey declared Melbourne wanted “to be more like Collingwood”.
She prefaced the comment by stating that she didn’t “want this ending up in the newspapers”, which usually means it will end up in the newspapers.