Business of Media
Seven to stop disclosing ad revenue figures to industry body
Seven West Media will stop disclosing how much money it makes from advertising to the television sector’s industry body, a decision that will affect broadcasters’ ability to assess the performance of the market, reports SMH‘s Zoe Samios.
The media company controlled by billionaire Kerry Stokes informed industry body ThinkTV of its decision almost two weeks ago, claiming leaks to media left it with no choice. The withdrawal is despite the latest leaked data showing a large uptick in the $2.3 billion free-to-air television advertising market and growth in the amount of revenue Seven made in the first three months of the year.
No middle ground for Roberts-Smith in high-stakes trial
There are two very different versions emerging in court of the former SAS soldier’s actions in the heat of battle in Afghanistan, reports AFR‘s Max Mason.
Ben Roberts-Smith is the ideal soldier. An upstanding man who made great sacrifices for his country and put his life on the line for his comrades and is now battling jealousy and slander from those looking to tear down a tall poppy.
Or, Ben Roberts-Smith is a murderer. An arrogant, overly aggressive soldier who killed Afghans, captured enemy combatants and adolescents outside of the heat of battle, pressured junior soldiers to commit murder, covered up his crimes, and intimidated those who could speak out against him.
Three weeks into the highest-stakes defamation action Australia has ever seen, it has made clear there is no middle ground between these two wildly divergent portraits of Roberts-Smith being painted by two vastly dissimilar barristers: Bruce McClintock, SC, representing the former Special Air Services soldier, and Nicholas Owens, SC, representing Nine, two journalists and one former journalist.
Roberts-Smith denies punching woman and lying about how much she drank
Ben Roberts-Smith has rejected allegations that he punched a women with whom he was having affair in the face, and made up a story that her injuries were solely the result of her falling down the stairs at an event at Parliament House, reports AFR‘s Max Mason.
As the third week of Roberts-Smith’s defamation trial against Nine (owner of this masthead) came to its end, the media company’s barrister Nicholas Owens, SC, intensely scrutinised the former Special Air Service soldier’s personal life, including the breakdown of his marriage with his wife and an affair with a woman known as person 17. Both women are expected to give evidence against Roberts-Smith later in the proceedings.
News Brands
ABC pulls Andrews interview after Premier posts Twitter video
The ABC has pulled an interview between former radio broadcaster Jon Faine and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews just hours before it had planned to publish it online, saying it lacked editorial value in the wake of a social media video posted by the Premier on Sunday about his return to work, reports the SMH‘s Zoe Samios.
Faine interviewed the Premier last week and provided the ABC with an 1800-word written interview after The Age turned down the offer on the grounds that the government wanted to choose the interviewer. The Age had requested one of its own staff journalists conduct the interview but the government insisted on Faine, who is a columnist with The Sunday Age.
In a statement issued late on Sunday, the ABC confirmed it had decided not to run Faine’s article because the video released by Andrews provided “significant details” of his injury and recovery.
Daniel Andrews snubs The Age for comeback interview over Jon Faine
The return of comeback kid Daniel Andrews to work on Monday has already prompted a media frenzy in Melbourne not seen since last year’s four-month Covid-19 lockdown, reports News Corp’s Nick Tabakoff.
Andrews’ office has granted the Herald Sun’s health editor Grant McArthur and the ABC’s Virginia Trioli print and electronic media exclusives with the Premier for Monday and Tuesday.
But Diary has learnt there were big dramas behind the scenes last week about another in-depth Dan comeback interview that was proposed weeks ago – but ultimately canned – with Melbourne’s The Age newspaper.
Labor politicians flock to Sky News in a strategic approach to reach a wider audience
Labor politicians are more frequently appearing on Foxtel’s Sky News in a strategic move by the party to push their agendas into what the Left often argue is a channel dominated by conservatives, both in terms of hosts and viewers, reports News Corp’s Sophie Elsworth.
Sky News chief executive officer Paul Whittaker describes the station as “the wallpaper in Canberra, we are on in every office” – regardless of political allegiance.
“We run lots of progressive voices and, I would argue, far more than the ABC ever runs a conservative voice.”
MP Andrew Laming sues ABC journo Louise Milligan for defamation
Embattled Liberal MP Andrew Laming has launched defamation action against ABC investigative journalist Louise Milligan for a series of tweets which he claims “irrevocably” damaged his “personal and professional reputation”, reports News Corp’s Sophie Elsworth.
The ABC have confirmed they will cover Milligan’s legal bill, with the Four Corners reporter engaging Sydney-based lawyers Bird and Bird to represent her.
Laming, who will not contest the next election after reports emerged of his poor behaviour toward women, has already obtained apologies from several political figures and journalists including former Victorian senator Derryn Hinch and Labor senator Murray Watt.
Television
Plan to cut Foxtel’s Australian drama spend in half blocked in Senate
Plans to cut in half Foxtel’s obligation to fund Australian drama have been blocked in federal Parliament, with Labor’s spokesman for the arts accusing his ministerial counterpart of cosying up to Hollywood while “hating” Australian storytelling, reports SMH’s Karl Quinn.
Amendments to the Broadcasting Legislation Act proposed by Arts and Communications Minister Paul Fletcher would have cut Foxtel’s obligations under the New Eligible Drama Expenditure (NEDE) scheme from 10 per cent of its annual programming spend to just 5 per cent.
Charges dismissed against Andrew O’Keefe under mental health act
Domestic violence charges against Andrew O’Keefe have been dismissed after being dealt with under the NSW Mental Health Act, reports TV Tonight.
O’Keefe was initially arrested in the early hours of January 31 and charged with common assault of his ex-partner, Dr Orly Lavee at her Randwick apartment. Two additional charges were later added.
The former Seven presenter attended Waverley Local Court today which heard the couple were arguing after Lavee thought she believed he was carrying an ice pipe, which he denied.
The court heard the former The Chase host assaulted Dr Lavee twice in the space of an hour, spitting, slapping, kicking and shoving her to the ground.
Magistrate Ross Hudson said there was clear evidence of longstanding bipolar disorder and that O’Keefe was in a hyper manic state at the time of offending.
A further assault charge, related to an alleged incident in Kangaroo Valley, was dropped, and an apprehended violence order between the pair continued.
Sports Media
A-League in $30m digital splurge as private equity deal looms
The A-League will make a $30m bet on a bold digital strategy designed to win the hearts and minds of soccer fans, as part of what looms as the most crucial off-season in the game’s recent history once Sunday’s grand final is played, reports The Australian’s John Stensholt.
Soccer’s huge spend will form the foundation of what the A-League — now under the club’s Australian Professional Leagues control after decoupling from governing body Football Australia — hopes will arrest a decline in crowd and broadcast numbers amid falling interest in the code in recent years.
The strategy will likely see football content such as written stories, videos, highlight packages, behind the scenes footage, news clips, short matches and longer replays, with both an Australian and international focus.
The A-League will also need to find a new sponsor for the league having failed to sign a replacement for car manufacturer Hyundai since its long-term and lucrative deal expired last year
Sky New Zealand extends broadcast partnership with NRL
The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) and Sky New Zealand have extended and broadened their broadcast partnership until the end of the 2027 season, ensuring all NRL Telstra Premiership and NRLW games will be broadcast live across the Tasman.
The new agreement covers both regular seasons along with the Finals Series, Grand Finals and the Ampol State of Origin men’s and women’s series.
For the first time, selected games during ANZAC Round, Magic Round and the State of Origin Series will also be made available on free-to-air television in New Zealand.
Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Phil Rothfield reported:
The NRL has a new $160 million war chest to launch an all-out assault on the New Zealand All Blacks as a result of a monster new television deal.
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo has landed a 70 per cent TV rights increase across the ditch as a result of a bidding war between the incumbent network Sky TV and telco/streaming company Spark.
The five-year broadcast deal – which now includes games on free-to-air – has gone from $94 million to more than $160 million over five years.
‘May as well call off the third’: QLD great’s sad concession accidentally caught on mic
Maroons legend and Channel 9 commentator Paul Vautin had an embarrassing moment caught on microphone as the Blues celebrated their series victory to condemn Queensland to another big Origin loss under Paul Green, reports Fox Sports.
Vautin summed up what many Queensland fans are probably thinking, inadvertently telling viewers the NRL might as well scrap the third game as Queensland’s players trudged off the pitch.
“They may as well call off the third…,” Vautin said as his mic was then cut by the producer.
Buzz’s Best: Top 10 all-time State of Origin commentators
Ahead of Game 2 of State of Origin, The Sunday Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield nominated his top 10 Origin commentators.
1 Ray Warren
2 Darrell Eastlake
3 Joey Johns
4 Gus Gould
5 Jack Gibson
6 Ken Sutcliffe
7 Fatty Vautin
8 Ian Maurice
9 Billy Slater
10 Paul Gallen