Media Roundup: CoStar courts Domain, Meta gags ex-boss, WFH wars heat up, News Corp leads online ranks and all the Federal Budget coverage
See the top industry stories trending today.
Television
CoStar courts Domain, but deal still up in the air
CoStar boss Andy Florance touched down in Sydney over the weekend, fuelling speculation around the US property giant’s bold move on Domain.
As Sam Buckingham-Jones writes in The Australian Financial Review, but despite the high-profile visit - and a private jet branded for the occasion - Florance says it’s still too early to call whether a full takeover will land.
The $50 billion company snapped up a 16.9% stake in Domain last month at $4.20 a share, eyeing the rest at the same price. Nine, which holds 60% of the platform, is reportedly holding out for $4.65 - a valuation that would push its share to $1.76 billion.
Nine holds the line on Costello camera clash compensation
It's been nearly 300 days since former Nine chair Peter Costello knocked over a News Corp photographer at Canberra Airport, in a moment caught on camera and replayed endlessly online.
While the journalist escaped injury, his Canon gear didn’t, suffering more than $6,500 worth of damage.
As James Manning and James Madden write in The Australian, despite clear footage and an even clearer sense of accountability, Nine has only offered to cover half the cost.
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How the major networks are covering the Federal Budget
As Treasurer Jim Chalmers prepares to deliver his fourth Federal Budget, the television networks are gearing up to launch a full-scale cross-platform news and analysis rollout.
Mediaweek breaks down all the plans from Seven, Nine, Ten and the ABC, ahead of the big dance tomorrow night.
Brands
News Corp leads Ipsos Iris rankings
News Corp Australia has once again secured its position as the country’s leading digital news and information publisher, according to the Ipsos Iris February 2025 rankings released today.
The media giant reached more than 17.6 million Australians online, representing four in five internet users – and recorded a 2.2% year-on-year increase in total audience.
With 144 browser page views per person, News Corp Australia continues to blend reach with deep engagement, critical metrics for both advertisers and media buyers looking to place their bets on premium inventory.
Social Media
Meta gags ex-exec as tell-all memoir goes quiet
Meta has successfully blocked former policy chief Sarah Wynn-Williams from promoting her explosive memoir, Careless People, after winning an arbitration case tied to a non-disparagement clause she signed in 2017.
As Naomi Nix reports in The Age, just hours before a planned TV appearance, the media tour was scrapped.
The ruling bars Wynn-Williams from speaking to media or lawmakers in the US, UK, and EU, despite nearly 100 interview requests. The gag order even extends to political briefings, according to legal filings from her camp challenging the decision.
Why YouTube star Jordan Barclay is on the media boardroom speed dial
When Australia's media execs lose sleep over TikTok, YouTube and Facebook, there's one Gen Z creator they’re watching closely: Jordan Barclay.
As Sam Buckingham-Jones writes in The Australian Financial Review, at just 22, the YouTube powerhouse is pulling in six billion views, running a 100-person content machine, and redefining what screen-time means - without a TV licence in sight.
His shows may be built for YouTube, but more than half the views happen on actual TVs, and TV executives are taking note.
Business
WFH wars heat up as election politics enter the office
The return-to-office debate is shaping up as an unexpected battleground ahead of the next federal election, with business leaders warning that politicising work-from-home could unravel momentum on hybrid flexibility.
As Clare Armstrong repots in The Herald Sun, Labor is backing remote work as a driver of productivity and inclusion, while the Coalition wants public servants largely back at their desks.
Retail
Retailers back budget relief but warn more needed
Retailers have cautiously welcomed the Albanese government’s latest budget, applauding measures aimed at easing household pressure - but warning that support for small business still falls short.
As Celene Ignacio writes in Inside Retail, The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) gave a nod to energy bill relief and tax cuts, saying both would help lift consumer confidence.
The Stage Three tax changes, including lower rates and expanded thresholds, were highlighted as a win for working Australians and retailers alike.
Myer and Universal chart different survival strategies
Middle-market fashion retail is feeling the squeeze, with legacy brands like Katies and Noni B all but vanished.
As Eli Greenblat writes in The Australian, Olivia Wirth at Myer and Alice Barbery at Universal Store are steering very different ships, but both know survival depends on staying sharply in tune with their customers - and avoiding the missteps that have sunk others.
Shein and Amazon’s rock-bottom prices aren’t just disrupting fashion, they’re reshaping consumer expectations entirely.
Nike feels the squeeze as rivals close the gap
Nike's grip on the global sportswear game is loosening, with both legacy competitors and fast-moving disruptors chipping away at market share.
The brand reported a nine per cent drop in Q3 revenue, with direct-to-consumer sales - including online - taking a sharper 15 per cent dive, reports Heath Parkes-Hupton on news.com.au.
While the US$11.3 billion result beat Wall Street forecasts, investors weren’t impressed, Nike’s stock fell more than four per cent in after-hours trade.
Streaming
Netflix's Adolescence sparks conversation about hidden codes
Netflix’s Adolescence is making waves well beyond the screen, with a key scene decoding how emojis - like the 'pill' or '100' icon, can be loaded with misogynistic meaning.
The British drama, which hit No. 1 in Australia and 70 other countries last week, is connecting with parents and policymakers concerned about online influence on teenage boys.
In the show, a teenager explains how these symbols are used to spread 'red pill' and incel ideologies, ideas that now quietly circulate on social platforms through seemingly innocent visuals, reports Euan Black in The Australian Financial Review.
- Sydney Morning HeraldYouTubeThe GuardianABCNetflixTENNineSevenAppleNews CorpDomainThe AustralianGoogleFacebookInstagramThe Australian Financial ReviewAmazonPeter CostelloNoni BTikTokNine EntertainmentMetaFederal budgetAnthony AlbaneseGen ZXJim chalmersNikeJordan BarclayPeter DuttonMyerAndy FloranceCoStarCareless PeopleSarah Wynn-WilliamsSheinThe Australian Retailers AssociationKatiesUniversal StoreOliva WirthWall StreetWFHAdolescence
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