Business of Media
oOh! appoints Jacanda Capital to find Junkee buyer
Boutique corporate advisory firm Jacanda Capital has been appointed to lead the sale of youth-focused publishers Junkee Media by oOh!Media, reports AFR‘s Anthony Macdonald and Yolanda Redrup.
The outdoor media company announced last week it was planning to sell the company in the second half of the year, following a strategic decision to focus the business on its core business in the out-of-home advertising sector.
It is understood there has already been a number of media brands express interest in acquiring the title.
US President Biden says platforms like Facebook are ‘killing people’
President Joe Biden said Friday social media platforms like Facebook are “killing people” with misinformation surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic as the White House ramps up its rhetoric around false information on social media regarding the pandemic, reports CNN.
“They’re killing people – I mean they’re really, look, the only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated,” Biden told reporters as he left the White House for Camp David. “And they’re killing people.”
US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy warned Thursday health misinformation is “a serious threat to public health,” and the administration directly called out social media giant Facebook for not doing enough to stop the spread of false information on its platform. Meetings between the Biden administration and Facebook in recent weeks have been “tense,” a source familiar with the conversations told CNN.
Social media giant hits back: Facebook not reason vaccine goal missed
At a time when COVID-19 cases are rising in America, the Biden administration has chosen to blame a handful of American social media companies, Facebook responded to criticism from President Biden.
While social media plays an important role in society, it is clear that we need a whole of society approach to end this pandemic. And facts — not allegations — should help inform that effort. The fact is that vaccine acceptance among Facebook users in the US has increased. These and other facts tell a very different story to the one promoted by the administration in recent days.
The data shows that 85% of Facebook users in the US have been or want to be vaccinated against COVID-19. President Biden’s goal was for 70% of Americans to be vaccinated by July 4. Facebook is not the reason this goal was missed.
News Brands
Nine Entertainment’s newspaper arm aims for 50/50 gender split for columnists
Former Liberal leader John Hewson has been dumped as a regular newspaper columnist for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald because he is a man, reports News Corp’s Sophie Elsworth.
The 74-year-old, who has penned opinion pieces for the mastheads for almost two decades, was told on the weekend that his services were no longer required, as Nine Entertainment seeks to reach a 50/50 gender balance among its stable of opinion writers.
“We are committed to refreshing and diversifying our rotation of columnists, especially in line with our pledge for 50/50 gender balance,” SMH editor Lisa Davies posted on Twitter on Saturday, as she thanked Dr Hewson for his contributions.
See also: The media players that could buy youth website Junkee
Television
All eyes on Southern Cross Media’s TV business
Media industry veteran Rick Hutchinson is considering buying the television assets of Southern Cross Media Group in an attempt to establish an independent regional media network, reports the SMH’s Zoe Samios.
Other well-known media figures including ex Foxtel boss Peter Tonagh and former head of Multi-Channel Network Anthony Fitzgerald were approached to be involved in Hutchinson’s plans, according to multiple people familiar with the negotiations. The sources stressed the talks were still in early stages and there is no guarantee a deal will go ahead.
Producer Eureka under the microscope for Byron Baes and Luxe Listings
Production house Eureka had two of its productions under the microscope again on the weekend – Netflix commission Byron Baes and Amazon Prime Video series Luxe Listings Sydney.
Luxe Listings Sydney was again the subject of examination for a second successive weekend.
Andrew Hornery in The Sydney Morning Herald:
Fake auctions, professional actors pretending to be buyers and attention-seeking socialites clamouring for walk-on roles: it all adds up to Sydney’s newest and guiltiest TV pleasure, Luxe Listings.
In fact, just about the only genuine thing going on in the Sydney real estate horror show on Amazon Prime is the extraordinarily bloated egos on display.
Ellie Dudley in The Weekend Australian:
What could be more conducive to the launch of a six-part property porn docu-series about high-flying eastern suburbs Sydney realtors than a citywide lockdown?
But, as with all shows of this genre, it’s not always what you see that is the reality.
Let’s start with Simon Cohen, founder of Cohen Handler and – at least according to Cohen – the highest grossing buyer’s agent in Australia. Cohen has just scouted out a $33m 1903 mansion owned by Australian water-polo great Peter Montgomery in Castle Cove on Sydney’s north shore.
“It’s one of a kind,” Cohen, who has been hired by Tamara to find a home, tells the camera.
Tamara, meanwhile, arrives at the property with celebrity psychic Sharina Star. Ms Star’s mission? Ghostbusting.
“I’ve brought a friend,” Tamara announces in a thick Russian accent as she approaches the front of the house with Star.
Only this is the first time Tamara and Star have met.
Producers from Eureka Productions scouted the clairvoyant on an episode of Network 10’s morning program in which she did “face readings” with the hosts.
Meanwhile Nine’s Good Weekend magazine featured a cover story on Byron Bay by former resident David Leser:
Netflix announced in April this year that it would be coming to town to make its first Australian reality TV series, Byron Baes, a “docu-soap” purporting to follow “hot Instagrammers living their best lives”.
“This is our love letter to Byron Bay,” the global streaming giant gushed, drawing stylistic parallels to the American franchise The Real Housewives and an equal and opposite scathing response from the community.
“Wow, a love letter that Byron doesn’t actually want,” Mandy Nolan, now a federal Greens candidate, tells Good Weekend. “In domestic violence terms that’s called stalking. I don’t want your love letter. You’re creepy and abusive. Get out.”
Landmark gig for real estate agent Monika Tu who joins Luxe Listings Sydney
Guizhou-born Chinese estate agent Monika Tu has joined the cast of Luxe Listings Sydney in an attempt to improve the cultural diversity of the now-confirmed second Amazon Prime docu-reality series, reports News Corp property columnist Jonathan Chancellor.
Tu, who turns 59 in August, will be right at home on the series. She, too, claims to be “highly regarded as Sydney’s number one real estate agent for luxury properties”.
Caitlyn Jenner arrives in Sydney for Big Brother VIP Australia
Caitlyn Jenner is tipped to appear on Big Brother Australia’s celebrity version, reports News Corp’s Jonathon Moran.
The American reality star and former Olympic athlete has touched down in Sydney ahead of production starting over the coming weeks.
Channel 7 would not comment on casting, although it is believed they have aimed high.
Host Sonia Kruger recently confirmed there would be “some extraordinary internationals who will be taking part”.
Big Brother VIP will be shot at Sydney Olympic Park and will air on Seven later this year.
Far-right commentator Katie Hopkins dumped by Big Brother after Australia hotel quarantine claims
British far-right figure Katie Hopkins has been dumped as a cast member of Seven’s Big Brother VIP and will leave the country after breaching her contract, Guardian Australia can reveal, reports Guardian Australia’s Amanda Meade and Sarah Martin.
Hopkins, 46, broadcast a live video from what she claimed was a Sydney hotel room on Saturday morning, describing Covid-19 lockdowns as “the greatest hoax in human history” while joking about elaborate plans to breach quarantine rules.
On Saturday home affairs minister, Karen Andrews, ordered an urgent review of whether Hopkins has breached her visa conditions by publicly flouting quarantine rules.
But the review has been superseded by a decision to terminate her contract, Guardian Australia understands.
Katie Hopkins to be deported after hotel quarantine breach
British far-right commentator Katie Hopkins will be deported from Australia for breaching hotel quarantine rules as the federal government attempts to pass the buck to NSW over why she was allowed into the country, reports News Corp’s Georgia Clark.
Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews on Monday confirmed the government would cancel Ms Hopkins’ visa after footage emerged of her flouting hotel quarantine rules in Sydney and calling the lockdown a “hoax.”
“The Australian Border Force acted quickly to make sure that the visa on which she entered was cancelled … We will be getting her out of the country as soon as we can possibly arrange that. So I’m hopeful that it will happen imminently,” Andrews told the ABC.
Sports Media
Tara Rushton stays at Fox Sports, but Bozza and football team departing
Presenter Tara Rushton is staying at Fox Sports despite the pay TV network cutting ties with Australian soccer, reports News Corp’s Phil Rothfield.
Rushton – wife of rugby league legend Cooper Cronk – will continue to appear on The Back Page and will host the netball coverage from next year when Fox Sports picks up the rights to all major tournaments.
Other soccer commentators at the network, including Mark Bosnich, Robbie Slater, Andy Harper and Archie Thompson, are all finishing up. Foxtel chief executive Patrick Delany will host a dinner to recognise their contributions to the network’s soccer coverage over 16 years once Sydney’s out of lockdown.
Match caller Brenton Speed has been picked up by Channel 7 to call the rowing at the Tokyo Olympics but will be back to call NRL and AFL on Fox Sports.
Olympic Games restrictions, delays have us spitting chips
In quiet corners of a repurposed convention centre on the shores of Tokyo Bay, dozens of the world’s sports journalists are quietly spitting into cups, reports News Corp’s Wally Mason.
It’s all part of the uber-strict Covid protocols faced by the international media covering the Tokyo Olympics. And instead of getting swabs up our noses, we’re dribbling into plastic cups, which are then whisked away for testing. In the meantime, every journo has an app on their phone to record their temperature and anything that might look or feel remotely like a symptom. And although quarantine doesn’t involve being restricted to a hotel room — just as well, the rooms are tiny — there are severe restrictions on where you can go, how you get there and who you can talk to. Mostly that means your hotel and the main press centre, using approved Games transport.
Venues are closed and off limits until the events begin — and even then there are strict limits on who gets in. To cover an Olympic event next week, you need to apply for a spot now and take your chances. This despite the fact there will be no crowds at any event and therefore no shortage of seats. Public transport is off limits and restaurants outside the Games precinct are out of the question.
For most of the Australian media contingent, jumping through Tokyo’s health hoops began 96 hours before departure with a series of Covid tests and medical checks.
Ratings show 2GB missing Erin
The latest Sydney radio ratings show that the 2GB Continuous Call team has retained its place as the No.1 rugby league network, reports News Corp’s Phil Rothfield.
There is, however, a very interesting sidebar, in that their figures have fallen quite sharply since the departure of Erin Molan to 2DayFM breakfast.
Molan’s final two surveys on the CCT last year rated 10.6 and 10.4, according to official Nielson ratings.
In surveys three and four this year, they have slumped to 7.3 and 7.7. This is in the Saturday afternoon timeslot.