Business of Media
Murdoch’s read the forecast – weather is taking the media industry by storm
Later this year, Rupert Murdoch is set to debut Fox Weather, a 24-hour streaming channel that promises to do for seven-day forecasts what Fox has done for American politics, financial news and sports. Not to be outdone, The Weather Channel — granddaddy of television meteorology — announced the creation of a new streaming service, Weather Channel Plus, that the company believes could reach 30 million subscribers by 2026, reports The New York Times‘ Michael M. Grynbaum.
Amid a waning appetite for political news in the post-Trump era, media executives are realising that demand for weather updates is ubiquitous and, for an increasing swath of the country, a matter of urgent concern. In the past week alone, temperatures in the Pacific Northwest broke records, wildfires burned in Colorado, and Tropical Storm Elsa strengthened into a hurricane over the Atlantic Ocean.
Radio
Covid’s boring, and I’m not: Kyle reigns
Radio kings Kyle Sandilands and Alan Jones are polar opposites in almost all aspects of life, but both adhere to the same broadcasting maxim: you’ve got to give the listeners a good reason to tune in, reports News Corp’s James Madden and Sophie Elsworth.
Sandilands and his on-air partner of 21 years, Jackie “O” Henderson, finally grasped radio’s holy grail on Tuesday, with the latest ratings survey showing the KIIS1065 duo had dethroned 2GB’s Ben Fordham from the No 1 spot in the cut-throat Sydney breakfast show timeslot – the most prestigious radio real estate in Australia.
Sandilands was quick to defend Fordham on Tuesday, saying that his friend piloted a “good show”.
But he also suggested that news and talkback programs on AM radio have lost their broad appeal, due in no small part to the “Covid fatigue” of listeners. “For sure they’re tired of Covid chat, because it’s the same information that’s just being recycled 24 hours a day. It very rarely changes,” Sandilands told The Australian.
“I would hate to be on a radio format where I’ve just got to keep recycling the same phrase over and over and over.”
Kyle Sandilands backs calls for Alan Jones to return to radio
Sydney’s new breakfast radio king Kyle Sandilands has backed calls for veteran broadcaster Alan Jones to return to the microphone, reports News Corp’s Jonathon Moran.
Celebrating his historic breakfast ratings win over 2GBs Ben Fordham, Sandilands confessed he keeps his eye on Jones, who stepped away from radio last year.
“Hideous colour palette mind you on the whole outfit,” he said of Jones’ wardrobe on Sky News Australia on Monday night. “That aside, because who am I to speak? But he still has plenty to say. I can’t help but watch him so I would love to see him back on the radio. The more the merrier, I love the whole radio industry.”
Fordham under the weather as Bailey bails from 2GB brekkie
Tim Bailey has announced his departure from Ben Fordham Live less than one year after joining the show, reports News Corp’s Mibengé Nsenduluka.
The former Channel 10 weatherman announced on Tuesday that he and his wife have moved to the Gold Coast, after finding their dream home.
“Mate, Benny I love you but I love wife, wine, bike and board a little bit more,” Bailey said on-air.
Television
Big Brother 2021 finalist Sarah Jane Adams’ stroke scare
The stress of the aftermath of Big Brother has taken its toll on Sarah Jane Adams to the point she has been tested to see if she has had a stroke, reports News Corp’s Jonathon Moran.
The 66-year-old, known as SJ, was struck with a nasty bout of vertigo in the days leading up to last week’s season finale, in which Marley Biyendolo took home the title and $250,000 cash.
Adams meanwhile has continued to undergo medical tests to see what caused the vertigo.
“It was very bad, I have had a scare,” she told Confidential.
“They told me I had to have a CT scan because I could have had a stroke. I am sure I haven’t had a stroke, I am so sure I haven’t even been back to the doctor yet. But I am getting old and this old machine needs a grease and an oil change occasionally. That is basically what it has come down to and so I am taking rest and not doing strenuous yoga practice, going back to the things that I love and give me joy in my life.”
Sports Media
Network 10 loses one of its big November races
Network 10 has lost one of the two big races from its November calendar this year. Not the Melbourne Cup, but the Australian Formula One Grand Prix to be staged later in the month won’t be proceeding.
The Australian Grand Prix will not take place in 2021, the Victorian State Government and race organisers confirmed yesterday.
The race, which was scheduled for November 19-21 at Albert Park in Melbourne, was set to be round 21 of 23.
A spokesperson for Formula 1 said that while they are disappointed the event can’t take place they “are confident we can deliver a 23-race season in 2021 and we have a number of options to take forward to replace the place left vacant by the Australian Grand Prix.
“We will be working through the details of those options in the coming weeks and will provide further updates once those discussions are concluded.”
Damien Hardwick’s 3AW ban after Caroline Wilson’s takedown
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has frozen out radio station 3AW for the past six months, reports News Corp’s Jackie Epstein.
Hardwick’s stance is in response to a pre-season comment piece written by The Age’s Caroline Wilson suggesting that his legacy at the Tigers would be tarnished after his marriage split and relationship with a club staffer emerged.
The personal news, revealed by the Herald Sun in January, led to some tension within the club.
The station confirmed a report on Footy Classified on Monday night suggesting Hardwick had taken issue with Wilson’s article and refused to go on any of their programs.