Business of Media
Google ruling a milestone for Rod Sims and ACCC
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ACCC chief Rod Sims has won a stunning victory against technology behemoth Google, with the Federal Court’s ruling the company misled consumers on their ability to turn off location data, reports News Corp’s John Durie.
This is the function crucial to Google’s hoovering of data and the reality is you can’t really turn off the function because the tech platform has every angle covered.
The case, launched in October 2019, is a global first for the ACCC and is being followed in other jurisdictions in the US and Europe.
Sky News searches for free-to-air future for Alan Jones, Andrew Bolt
Sky News Australia is trying to strike a deal to keep programs such as The Bolt Report, Jones and Co and Paul Murray Live on free-to-air television as it nears the end of its agreement with broadcaster WIN Corp, reports SMH‘s Zoe Samios.
The news channel has been broadcasting to regional areas since 2018 through Bruce Gordon’s WIN Network, a deal that has helped prominent conservative commentators such as Andrew Bolt and Alan Jones grow audiences because of the absence of a paywall. That arrangement will expire at the end of July and is not expected to be renewed because of an affiliate deal signed between WIN and Nine Entertainment Co, owner of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
Industry sources familiar with Sky News’ plans, who spoke on condition of anonymity because commercial talks are confidential, said the company’s chief executive Paul Whittaker had contacted regional broadcasters such as Prime Media Group and Southern Cross Austereo in an attempt to secure an alternative free-to-air broadcast future for his channel. The sources said the talks are in the early stages and there is no guarantee any deal will succeed.
The ABC’s legal department has been criticised for its size, amid mounting legal bills
The ABC is looking to expand its already “bloated” in-house legal department, amid wider concerns about the looming cost of the national broadcaster’s defamation fight with former Attorney-General Christian Porter, reports News Corp’s James Madden and Sophie Elsworth.
A job ad posted online by the ABC earlier this month read: “This is an exciting opportunity to join the ABC’s highly regarded in-house legal team consisting of 28 talented lawyers based at (Sydney headquarters) Ultimo.”
But the size of the national broadcaster’s legal department has raised eyebrows in both the legal and media fraternities, with many observing that it is considerably oversized when compared with those of the commercial media companies in Australia.
The Australian asked four other major news organisations about the size of their respective legal teams, and each said they employ fewer than a dozen in-house lawyers, but use external legal firms as required. One respected media lawyer, who asked not to be named, described the ABC’s 28-strong legal department as “woefully bloated”.
US networks at war over ratings data during pandemic
A fascinating stoush has emerged in the US over the collection of ratings data, during the pandemic, reports TV Tonight.
CBS, ABC, NBC and other TV networks want Nielsen to submit to an audit by Ernst and Young, according to Variety.
At issue is a Nielsen decision to keep its field agents out of the homes that participate in the company’s measurement process. Insights company VAB, which represents networks to advertisers, is concerned that Nielsen did not maintain its outreach to households, and also believe the company counted homes that residents may have left during the pandemic as Americans relocated to be closer to family.
News Brands
‘Alone in her grief’: mourning monarch is a picture of loneliness for UK papers
Images of the Queen sitting alone with her thoughts at the funeral of Prince Philip dominate the front pages of the Sunday papers reports The Guardian’s Martin Farrer.
Most titles chose to illustrate their royal coverage with pictures of the monarch in the otherwise-deserted quire of St George’s Chapel in Windsor, during a ceremony pared back dramatically due to social distancing.
Channel 10 newsreader Jennifer Keyte says female ageism is dead in TV land
The days of female television presenters and hosts having an expiry date are well and truly over, as many women beyond 60 are now gracing our screens, reports News Corp’s Sophie Elsworth..
Some of the nation’s most prominent newsreaders, including Jennifer Keyte — who reads 10 News First’s weeknight Melbourne and Adelaide bulletins — have noticed a “massive change” in recent times of older women being in the hot seat.
“When I started presenting we were seen as the co-anchor, so the man was the credibility and we were the colour,” said Keyte, 61.
Television
SAS Australia: Who Dares Wins starts filming next month
Channel Seven is set to double its chances at ratings success this year with two versions of its mega-top rated reality series SAS Australia: Who Dares Wins set to begin filming next month, reports News Corp’s Amy Harris.
Along with another instalment of last year’s breakout hit Celebrity SAS, the network is also in the final stages of casting its ‘civilian’ version featuring ‘regular people’.
As reported in The Saturday Telegraph, embattled former Souths skipper Sam Burgess will take part in the series as he continues to work on changing his life following his highly publicised divorce and legal battles.
Other cast names swirling in recent weeks include ex-Test cricketer Michael Clarke, retired Olympic swimmer Grant Hackett and former league and union giant Sonny Bill Williams.
Meanwhile there is some speculation that one of the main women in Clarke’s life may also compete — with his ex-wife Kyly Clarke (currently appearing on Dancing With The Stars) and current on-off fashion designer squeeze Pip Edwards also touted as possible cast members.
‘They’ve got a big fight on their hands’: US giant Netflix gets dose of reality in Byron Bay
Byron Baes was supposed to be one of Netflix’s most celebrated productions – a local reality show that would send a strong signal that the global streaming giant was committed to investing in Australian content. Instead, it has caused anger in one of NSW’s most famous coastal towns, reports SMH’s Zoe Samios.
A group of locals has united to try and stop the $US242 billion ($313 billion) streaming service’s attempt to create its first locally-commissioned reality series and some of Byron Bay’s most popular cafes, restaurants and clothing stores are refusing to sign filming permits.
They are demanding answers about why Netflix failed to properly consult the community before it decided to commission a program focused on the town.
Bec Judd quietly dropping her TV and radio commitments
After speculation Rebecca Judd would no longer appear on television, it’s been confirmed the mum of four has stepped down as a host on Postcards, reports News Corp’s Jackie Epstein.
Judd had been working on the travel lifestyle show since 2011 with COVID halting production last year.
In November she quit her KIIS FM radio show saying she would be stepping back from media commitments to soak up the “golden years” at home with her four children and husband, former AFL superstar, Chris Judd.
Postcards has embarked on a new era with the show launching on Friday with some fresh and familiar faces. It was confirmed the Melbourne power WAG and businesswoman would not be part of Channel 9’s line-up.
Sport
UEFA looks for alternative as startup Sports Flick deal waivers
A $60 million deal to exclusively broadcast the UEFA Champions League is in danger of falling over amid concerns the successful bidder, a mysterious Sydney-based startup called Sports Flick, cannot get financial guarantees from a bank, reports SMH‘s Zoe Samios and Vince Rugari.
Sports Flick – a service that primarily streams niche sports like Indian baseball, Nicaraguan football and bare-knuckle boxing – is struggling to officially complete a deal to become the broadcast partner for the world’s most watched club tournament, despite beating out some of the industry’s biggest players nearly two months ago.
Sources with knowledge of the talks, who spoke anonymously for commercial confidentiality reasons, said UEFA has started contacting rival bidders, including streaming service Stan, to see whether they are still interested in acquiring the rights. The talks have occurred, the sources said, because Sports Flick has been unable to get financial guarantees to support the $60 million three-year deal.
European super league: Premier League ‘big six’ agree to join new competition
European football was thrown into turmoil on Sunday night after new plans for a European super league were revealed that would see six English clubs – Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham – join the breakaway league alongside six other teams from Italy and Spain, reports The Guardian’s Ed Aarons and Sean Ingle.
After a dramatic day that earlier saw Boris Johnson and the French president, Emmanuel Macron, both condemn the proposals after they had been met with widespread criticism from around the continent, a statement just after 11pm UK time from the newly-formed European Super League confirmed plans to begin the new competition in August. The plans, which would represent one of the biggest changes ever made in the football calendar, threaten not only the future of the Champions League but could have a seismic impact on the entire structure of the club game in England after the Premier League had urged clubs “to walk away immediately before irreparable damage is done”.