Business of Media
Google accused of flouting Russian, Iranian trade sanctions with Australian companies ads
Telstra and Qantas have halted marketing on Google after their advertisements appeared on Russian, Iranian and pornographic websites – potentially breaching trade sanctions and causing reputational harm, reports The Australian’s Jared Lynch.
US-based ad tech company Adalytics found scores of businesses and government agencies – including the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and US Treasury – have had advertisements appear on a range of compromising websites.
The revelations are a shock to most companies and entities, which have trusted Google’s Search Partners program to ensure their advertisements comply with various laws and international sanctions.
Anchorage Capital weighs MediaWorks acquisition
Anchorage Capital Partners is believed to be weighing a purchase of New Zealand radio broadcaster and outdoor advertiser MediaWorks ahead of its attempted acquisition of Southern Cross Media Group assets, reports The Australian’s Bridget Carter.
MediaWorks is owned by Oaktree Capital Management and Sydney-based Quadrant Private Equity.
It comes after the Sydney-based private equity firm launched a $226m buyout proposal with Australian-listed KIIS FM owner ARN Media to acquire Southern Cross, which owns the Triple M and Hit radio stations, for 29.6c per share of cash from Anchorage and 0.753 ARN shares equalling 61.4c per share or $154m in total.
Jezebel to be resurrected by Paste Magazine
Jezebel, the famed feminist website, is set to return less than a month after it was shuttered, reports The New York Times’ Katie Robertson.
Paste Magazine, a music and culture outlet, acquired Jezebel on Tuesday and planned to start publishing on the site again as soon as Wednesday, said Josh Jackson, a co-founder and the editor in chief of Paste.
“The idea of there not being a Jezebel right now just didn’t seem to make sense,” Jackson said.
Entertainment
Australia’s Spotify Wrapped reveals Down Under’s favourite artists
Spotify has revealed what Australians listened to most throughout the year in 2023, reports News Corp’s Joshua Haigh.
Every year, Spotify Wrapped reveals the listening habits of users across the globe, but the music streamer has also compiled Australia’s very own Spotify Wrapped to reveal what us Aussies are getting down to… and there are some surprises.
Iconic pop queen Taylor Swift has been named Australia’s most streamed artist for 2023, but she didn’t manage to score the top song. Instead, that honour has gone to Miley Cyrus’ Flowers which took the top spot as the country’s most streamed track.
Radio
Real reason Kyle Sandilands stormed off radio show revealed by Jackie ‘O’ Henderson
Jackie “O” Henderson has revealed the reason co-host Kyle Sandilands sensationally stormed off their radio show just minutes into the live broadcast, reports News Corp’s Eli Green.
The shock jock left the recording booth just 11 minutes into the show on Tuesday morning after an on-air fight with Henderson.
Henderson admitted that she may have helped push Sandilands too far, leading to the storm off, calling him a “c**k sucker” after he used the same term to attack newsreader Brooklyn Ross.
Television
‘Shirvo’ set for Summer Bay
“Look who’s coming to Summer Bay in 2024,” Sunrise host Matt Shirvington has teased on his Instagram, reports TV Tonight.
Appearing alongside Home & Away legend Ray Meagher, ‘Shirvo’ is expected feature as himself, rather than as another character.
Sports Media
Sporting codes and viewers the losers in mooted broadcast rights changes, industry says
Free to air television providers appear likely to get a double free kick from the Albanese government, under mooted new legislation governing the broadcasting of live sports and the prominence of content apps on smart televisions, reports The Australian’s Cameron England.
The government will this week introduce a dual “prominence and anti-siphoning” Bill, which will set out the rules for sports broadcast rights and the placement of content apps on televisions.
While sports broadcasters such as Optus and Foxtel Group have argued that the government should adopt the so-called Model 1 for the reform of the anti-siphoning rules, which are designed to ensure free access to major sporting events for Australian viewers, the government has flagged it will stick with its preferred option in Model 2.
Hamish McLachlan reveals next big move in new life adventure
Channel Seven host and commentator Hamish McLachlan will head off on his European sabbatical in two weeks, reports News Corp’s Jackie Epstein.
McLachlan, wife Sophie and their children Milla, 11, Indi, 9 and Lexi, 7, will live in a small country town in the south of France called Mougins.
The brother of former AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan, is excited for a new life adventure.
“Gill might do my lawns, he’s unemployed,’’ McLachlan said.