Business of Media
A Current Affair reporter Seb Costello appears in Melbourne court on assault charges
A Current Affair reporter Seb Costello has appeared in court on two assault charges, reports News Corp’s Anton Nilsson.
Costello was allegedly involved in an altercation with a 23-year-old man and 22-year-old woman in a Richmond laneway in Melbourne on February 11.
The usually suited-up Channel Nine reporter was dressed in a casual black top and appeared on a video link beamed into Melbourne‘s Neighbourhood Justice Centre on Wednesday morning.
Costello stayed silent as a magistrate addressed the court.
The matter was adjourned until November 3 when a contest mention – a kind of preliminary hearing – will occur.
Tony Gallagher confirmed as new editor of the Times
Tony Gallagher has been confirmed as the new editor of the Times, with journalists at the paper speculating on whether he will shift its political tone further to the right, reports The Guardian’s Jim Waterson.
Gallagher, who was deputy editor at the paper, takes over from John Witherow, who has stepped down after nine years at the helm.
Journalists at the Times describe Gallagher as a workaholic obsessed with politics and football, whose interests are aligned with its proprietor, Rupert Murdoch. He led the Sun during the 2016 EU referendum when it enthusiastically backed Brexit and urged voters to “BeLeave in Britain”, in contrast to the Times, which supported remain.
The Times’ readership is split politically, with journalists at the outlet speculating on how Gallagher will shape the paper’s editorial line as the prospect of a Labour government becomes more likely.
Vietnam preparing rules to limit news posts on social media accounts
Vietnam is preparing new rules to limit which social media accounts can post news-related content, three people familiar with the matter said, as authorities tighten their control over news and information sources in the country, report Reuters’ Fanny Potkin and Phuong Nguyen.
The rules, expected to be announced by the year-end and with details yet to be hammered out, would establish a legal basis for controlling news dissemination on platforms like Facebook and YouTube while placing a significant moderation burden on platform providers, two of the sources added.
The sources asked not to be identified, as discussions about the new rules remain confidential.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Information and Communications and Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Lions Gate explores spinning off studio instead of Starz Channel
Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. is now considering a spinoff of its studio business rather than its Starz premium-cable channel, according to a securities filing, reports The Wall Street Journal’s Dean Seal.
The movie and television production company said Wednesday that despite volatile market conditions, it still remains on a path to separate the two segments, as it first disclosed last year.
Rather than unloading the Starz business, which it acquired for $4.4 billion in 2016, Lions Gate said the negotiations process has pushed the company toward the possibility of spinning off its studio side instead.
Lions Gate said in November that recent transactions in the media space had encouraged it to explore a potential sale or spinoff. That same month, the owner of the hit children’s show CoComelon agreed to be acquired in a deal that would value the company at $2.75 billion.
Radio
Steve Bedwell makes emotional plea for help in crowd-funding campaign
Former radio star Steve Bedwell has started a crowd-funding page seeking assistance in his debilitating battle with early onset dementia, reports News Corp’s Jackie Epstein.
Bedwell revealed the diagnosis last year and has been receiving ongoing treatment, which he says makes it difficult to hold down regular work.
He co-hosted Triple M’s Timbo (Tim Smith) and Bedders, a breakfast show that dominated ratings from 1998 to 2001.
He said he wants to get back on his feet.
“There comes a time when things get to the point that you have to be pragmatic and you have to lower your pride a bit and try to live and get by,’’ he told the Herald Sun.
“I’m fighting something I can’t see, that’s the problem. Many people face these things every day, but it’s hard when your brain starts to go and that’s fundamentally your tool. I’d like to think that science will help and I need to be around for my girls.”
Ex-Matildas star the victim of attempted carjacking during radio interview
A former Matildas player was the victim of a frightening carjacking attempt during a live interview on national radio that left listeners terrified, reports Nine Publishing’s Vince Rugari.
Elissia Carnavas (née Canham) was making her first appearance on Tuesday night in an intended weekly spot on SEN Radio’s The Global Game, co-hosted by commentator and journalist Simon Hill and ex-Socceroo and Sydney FC captain Alex Brosque, to talk about women’s football.
Mid-sentence, the 37-year-old suddenly began screaming repeatedly before the line dropped out.
“I have no idea what has gone on there,” Hill said.
“I really hope Elissia is OK. That’s a very scary moment that’s just happened live on air.”
Television
Was everyone else too busy? Why Australian Idol’s new judges are a big let-down
We have to assume everyone else was taken. There’s no other explanation for the four judges who were announced today for the Australian Idol reboot, reports Nine Publishing’s Angus Livingston.
Seven announced Idol’s return all the way back in October 2020, which has been memory-holed as part of our Great National Forgetting of COVID times. The only Delta we’d heard about back then was the one who performed Kids with Robbie Williams at the AFL grand final on the weekend.
Fast-forward two years, and the first real details of the show have emerged. The singing competition will be hosted by Idol alum Ricki-Lee Coulter and former Network 10 host Scott Tweedie. The judging line-up features radio presenter Kyle Sandilands, US singer Meghan Trainor, Australian singer Amy Shark and Grammy Award-winning jazz musician Harry Connick Jr.
Maybe they had some superstar judges lined up in 2020, only for the long, dark march of the pandemic to strip them away – but going off this announcement, it must be a tough market for judging talent on the international reality TV singing competition circuit.
Glasgow or Liverpool to host Eurovision 2023
The 67th Eurovision Song Contest will be held in either Glasgow and Liverpool in 2023, reports TV Tonight.
The BBC has confirmed five other cities Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield are no longer in the running following a detailed assessment process.
The UK is hosting the 2023 contest on behalf of Ukraine, which won the competition this year.
Sports Media
Nine Entertainment mulls Tennis Australia’s $500m price to extend rights deal
Nine Entertainment and Tennis Australia are considering a blockbuster $500m deal for broadcast rights, in a move that would have major consequences for summer sports, reports News Corp’s John Stensholt.
The deal would extend Nine’s current contract for tennis rights, centred around the popular and high-rating Australian Open tournament over two weeks each January.
Nine’s deal expires after next year’s Australian Open in only 16 months time, and the network and Tennis Australia are currently locked in an exclusive “first rights” negotiation period for the incumbent broadcaster.
Tennis officials have indicated to Nine that a bid worth $100m annually, representing a hefty 66 per cent increase on the value of the current deal, would probably be enough to clinch a new deal without Tennis Australia having to take the rights to market.
Nine chief executive Mike Sneesby is considering the deal, though the large increase may mean he passes on the offer and allows Tennis Australia to explore competition for the rights.