Business of Media
Alan Jones’ old media company eyes Southern Cross regional TV assets
The conservative broadcaster behind Alan Jones’ former online talk show has emerged as a surprising suitor for Southern Cross Austereo’s television network as it attempts to create a new regional media group, reports The AFR’s Sam Buckingham-Jones.
Maurice Newman, the former ABC chairman who now chairs Australian Digital Holdings TV, has been working with the company’s co-founder Jack Bulfin and former Seven Network news executive Jason Morrison on a deal to buy the network, slash content costs and create local news shows.
Former Seven West Media commercial director Bruce McWilliam has been advising the trio on the approach, people close to the discussions who were not authorised to speak publicly said. More formally, Australian Digital Holdings TV has engaged 333 Capital and law firm Squire Patton Boggs.
While those conversations have languished, the Australian Digital Holdings TV consortium has made what it believes to be a “robust and compelling offer” for the stations. The offer is expected to be about $15 million.
Nine board puts (some of) its money where its mouth is
The AFR’s Hannah Wootton details the Nine shareholdings of some of the board:
Chairwoman Catherine West and long-time director Samantha Lewis owned just 100,000 Nine shares apiece, while Mickie Rosen has 80,000. Mandy Pattinson has less than 10,000 and it seems acting CEO Matt Stanton has none at all.
On Monday West scooped up just shy of $50,000 worth of Nine stock (44,000 shares to be precise). It’s small change compared to the $208,000 she was paid last financial year or the $350,000-odd she is likely to earn now as chair, but at least she listened to her shareholders.
So too did director Andrew Lancaster, who bought $44,500 worth of shares the day after the AGM. They’re held in his self-managed superannuation fund too, so no questioning he’s backing Nine for the long haul.
YouTubers horrified by prospect of social media bans
Top children’s YouTubers say they will be forced out of a job if the Albanese government bans the online video platform for anyone under 16, a move that a senior minister says would likely involve exemptions and carve-outs, report The AFR’s Sam Buckingham-Jones and Euan Black.
Government Services Minister Bill Shorten said the Albanese government had not decided how it will enforce the ban, which will cover the likes of TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X. It could require all social media users in Australia to share official identity documents to prove they are over 16 years old.
Shorten spoke to The Australian Financial Review on the sidelines of the Tech Council of Australia’s National Tech Summit in Melbourne. He suggested there could be exemptions to the social media ban on educational grounds.
“The 16-year-old proposition isn’t the be-all-and-end-all. There will be exemptions. There’ll be carve-outs,” he said. “But what it does do is it starts to refocus the debate.”
News Brands
News Corp celebrates Australia vs India summer of cricket in three languages
To celebrate the five-Test series that starts in Perth on Friday, November 22, News Corp Australia is publishing a special eight-page print and digital wrap in three languages – English, Hindi and Punjabi.
The special edition, which will be on sale on Tuesday, November 12, will showcase some of the biggest names in cricket and introduce the next generation of stars to audiences across Australia.
It will feature in the The Daily Telegraph in Sydney, the Herald Sun in Melbourne, The Courier-Mail in Brisbane and The Advertiser in Adelaide.
This will be followed by a 16-page launch guide on November 17, also containing content in Hindi and Punjabi, and even more stories about the summer of intrigue that awaits.
Included in Tuesday’s wrap will be a pull-out poster of Indian superstar Virat Kohli, as well as features on rising batting genius Yashasvi Jaiswal, the rivalries to keep an eye on this summer and why this series now competes with The Ashes for popularity.
Sunday’s launch guide will also feature exclusive columns from Indian legend Ravi Shastri and the recently retired David Warner. Former Australian skipper Tim Paine will be joining the team, featuring Robert “Crash” Craddock, Ben Horne and Dan Cherny, throughout the series.
Publishing
After a tough year, Sydney’s restaurant stars celebrated at Good Food Guide Awards
Restaurants from Blacktown to Bangalow received hospitality’s top honours during a star-studded awards ceremony at the Sydney Opera House on Monday, for the 40th annual The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide awards, presented by Vittoria Coffee and Oceania Cruises, reports Nine Publishing Good Food reporter Bianca Hrovat.
Seafood champions Josh and Julie Niland took home the Vittoria Coffee Restaurant of the Year award for their fine-dining restaurant Saint Peter, which reopened at Paddington’s historic Grand National Hotel in August.
Saint Peter was one of four restaurants to receive the Good Food Guide’s highest achievement, three hats, alongside Quay (The Rocks), Sixpenny (Stanmore) and Oncore by Clare Smyth (Barangaroo).
Celebrity cook and television personality Adam Liaw welcomed a crowd of 500 to the Concert Hall, marking 40 years since former chief restaurant reviewer Leo Schofield (“Mr Public Stomach”) launched Sydney’s first Good Food Guide to eating well.
This year, for the first time, the collection of restaurant, bar and cafe reviews will be available digitally via the new Good Food App, launched today.
See also: The complete list of winners at the SMH Good Food Guide 2025 Awards
The Age edition of The Good Food Guide will launch next Monday night.
Television
How long since somebody bought a house on The Block to live in it?
The Block has become addicted to attention-seeking moneybags, reports News Corp’s Claire Sutherland.
Who can remember that last time anyone bought a Block house because they liked it and wanted to live in it?
Instead, viewers have had to put up with an unrelatable cavalcade of gazillionaires (including, most memorably, a fake one) who throw cash around like confetti.
It was kind of entertaining for a while, but in a cost-of-living crisis it’s just gauche, and gross.
Given one team had plans for a helipad on The Block Gisborne a couple of years ago, it’s fair to say the houses have been unrelatable for a while.
Throw in a bunch of showoffs with more money than the average viewer would see in 20 lifetimes monopolising the bidding and it’s really making a mockery of the idea this is a renovating show.
Last night’s buyer of all five houses, Adrian Portelli, has declared this season will be his last. Serial pest bidder Danny Wallis was uncharacteristically quiet, so maybe he’s done too.
If that’s the case the show might have a major problem. If they overcapitalise with the likes of $30,000 barbecues and $200,000 wine fridges they might find few real buyers left when the billionaires disappear.
Radio
Review: SAFM’s new Adelaide brekky duo Bernie Vince and Emma G
Launching a breakfast radio show at the end of the year is a tough gig, but SAFM’s Bernie Vince and Emma Georgiadis sound like they are up to it, reports News Corp’s Anna Vlatch.
Bernie and Emma G – Best Mates for Breakfast has made its debut on Monday, November 11.
The promo at the start included the phrase “How’s the energy” and it wasn’t an empty promise.
AFL star Vince and Georgiadis, who was a schoolteacher in a former life, were not only enthusiastic but effervescent from the moment the show kicked off just after 6am.
Telling listeners they had met while working together on (Triple M’s) drive show “six or seven years ago”, the two come across as old friends.
They genuinely sound excited to be on-air together, giving each other a friendly ribbing and even talking over one another – as tends to happen when good pals have a catch up.
See also: SCA reports audio revenue edges higher as new breakfast show launches
Sports Media
Channel 7 sports presenter Tim Watson announces retirement after 30 years
Channel 7 sports presenter Tim Watson has announced his television retirement after three decades with the network, reports News Corp’s Jackie Epstein.
The footy legend and long-time broadcaster and commentator revealed his future during Seven News on Monday night.
“I have enjoyed the best job in the world at a network that has been incredibly supportive,” Watson, 63, said.
“Surrounded by dedicated and talented people who work hard every day to produce the best news bulletins, it’s been a privilege and a pleasure to be invited into people’s homes to deliver the sporting news.”
The news of Watson’s departure was accidentally leaked on radio in September by his then colleague Luke Darcy.
But Watson, who co-hosts SEN breakfast radio with Garry Lyon, has not officially commented until now.
He will present his final sports bulletin on Friday December 20.
7NEWS presenter Rebecca Maddern is the hot favourite to replace Watson in a revamped role.
AFL trade season continues for media as Nine signs James Hird
The 9Network has signed AFL icon James Hird as the newest addition to its AFL analysis team for the 2025 season.
Hird will work as a presenter on two of Nine’s marquee programs – Footy Furnace and Footy Classified.
With an AFL career that includes a Brownlow Medal in 1996 and a Norm Smith Medal for his heroics in Essendon’s 2000 premiership, Hird’s knowledge and passion for the game make him an attractive addition to Nine’s AFL line-up.
Nine said it is committed to delivering comprehensive AFL coverage every week, with two episodes of Footy Classified, The Sunday Footy Show and Footy Furnace ensuring fans stay connected to every moment of the game.
Brent Williams, director of sport for the 9Network, said of the new appointment:
“As a player, James Hird’s achievements on the field comfortably put him in the upper echelon of AFL greats. Off the field he has always proven to be a polished media performer with a strong opinion and unique insights. James played a huge part in the success of The Footy Show over many years and we’re thrilled to be welcoming him back into the Wide World of Sport and Nine family.”
James Hird added: “I’m incredibly excited to rejoin the 9Network and be part of such a passionate team covering the AFL. I am thrilled to bring my perspective to the table on Footy Classified. With Footy Furnace entering its second year, we’re set to deliver even more hard-hitting insights and conversations that fans won’t want to miss. I can’t wait to get started and dive into what promises to be an unforgettable season.”