Business of Media
KKR signs deal for new privately owned international news powerhouse
Axel Springer has struck a €13.5bn (AUS$22bn) deal that will see its media assets, which include Politico, Business Insider and newspapers Bild and Die Welt, hived off into a private company with the aim of building an international digital news media powerhouse, reports The Guardian.
The move will see the German conglomerate, which last year decided against bidding for the London Daily and Sunday Telegraph because its focus is a “digital first, digital-only” acquisition strategy, become fully privately owned for the first time since its flotation in 1985.
Under the deal announced on Thursday, Axel Springer will be controlled by the billionaire Mathias Döpfner and Friede Springer, while the private equity group KKR will take majority control of its profitable classifieds business.
KKR became involved in Axel Springer in 2019, when it bought out the company’s minority owners in a deal valuing the company at €6.8bn.
WTFN integrates Fred Media and Radar teams, appoints new chief commercial officer
WTFN has announced that it is integrating its Fred Media (content distribution) and Radar (digital) teams to capitalise on developments in the marketplace and to more effectively drive its Total Distribution strategy. The new-look business will officially debut at the MIPCOM in Cannes next month with new joint Fred Media/Radar branding.
Derek Dyson, previously general manager at Radar, has been promoted to chief commercial officer at WTFN, taking responsibility for the newly integrated team and its global business strategy – and for also developing opportunities for Fred Media/Radar with the wider group’s talent and branded entertainment businesses – Empire Talent and WTFN BE.
Kylie Minogue’s Tension Tour to begin in Australia with seven concerts for MG Live
Kylie Minogue will begin her biggest world tour since 2011 with seven Australian concerts early next year, while also announcing that her new album will be released next month, reports The Australian’s Andrew McMillen.
“I am beyond excited to announce the Tension Tour 2025,” said the pop singer-songwriter in a statement on Thursday night.
“I can’t wait to share beautiful and wild moments with fans all over the world, celebrating the Tension era and more!”
That era will extend with the release of Tension II, her 17th album, on October 18 via Mushroom Music – a follow-up to her 2023 collection Tension, which is nearing half a billion streams worldwide.
Presented by her longtime promoter Frontier Touring and its new offshoot MG Live, Minogue’s seven-date Australian tour is set to begin in Perth (February 15), followed by Adelaide (Feb 18), Melbourne (Feb 20-21), Brisbane (Feb 26) and Sydney (March 1-2).
Was Peter V’Landy’s right? Which Ellison will run Paramount – Larry and David?
The deal that is expected to install Skydance chief David Ellison as chairman, CEO and hopefully saviour of Paramount Global is a labyrinth of entities, trusts and transactions, reports The Hollywood Reporter. Also potentially complicated, assuming the deal closes sometime next year, is the question of control.
Skydance sources say 41-year-old David will select the board and run things entirely independent of his father, Larry Ellison, also known as the world’s fifth-richest man, worth an estimated $176 billion, per Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index tally on Sept. 18. But Larry, 80, will own the controlling shares. Having previously bestowed billions on David and his sister, Megan, Larry has now backed his son to the tune of $6 billion as David pursued his dream of running a legacy studio.
What role, if any, Larry will play at the new Paramount is not clear. But given his track record of significant MAGA activity, there is certain to be scrutiny — though probably not of the regulatory variety — as Paramount Global runs CBS News operations and 28 licensed television broadcast stations controlled by the Lawrence J. Ellison Revocable Trust. On the other hand, Larry’s son does not share his politics and has contributed to Democratic causes. A Skydance source tells The Hollywood Reporter that Larry will be busy running Oracle and scoffs at the idea that the tech mogul would have any involvement with Paramount.
See also: Peter V’landys seeks meeting with Channel 10 over NRL rights
YouTube plans major revamp of TV app after overtaking Netflix, streaming rivals
YouTube is planning a major revamp of its connected TV app, adding new functionality and an entirely new look in a bid to defend its lead in streaming from other streaming platforms like Netflix, Max, and Disney+, reports The Hollywood Reporter.
The company announced its plans at a Made on YouTube event in New York Wednesday.
The new TV app includes a number of updated features, including some that could change how some creators categorize their videos by enabling them to organize shows around episodes and seasons, mirroring what viewers have come to expect on subscription video platforms.
According to the Nielsen Gauge, YouTube accounted for 10.6 percent of viewing on connected TV devices in August, compared to 7.9 percent for Netflix, and 3.1 percent for Prime Video (everyone else followed with less than 3 percent).
News Brands
Albanese, Karvelas clash over her ‘not terribly clever’ questions
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has given a snarky interview over tax reform and interest rates, accusing the media of focusing on “not terribly clever questions” as the government’s agenda stalls in the Senate against opposition from the Coalition and Greens, reports Nine Publishing’s Olivia Ireland.
During a 20-minute interview on Thursday, the prime minister criticised ABC host Patricia Karvelas’ questioning, the latest in a series of moments where Albanese has grown tetchy when pressed on hard topics. Thursday’s interview became tense when Karvelas asked the prime minister whether he was ruling out changes to capital gains and negative gearing tax rules.
“Well Patricia, I don’t answer … those sorts of questions,” Albanese said. Karvelas interrupted: “You mean good ones? That’s a good question. Are you going to say no to those things or not?”
Snapping back, Albanese said: “They’re not clever, they’re things that journalists … the next question is, when will the election be?”
Fran Kelly to present the 2024 Andrew Olle Media Lecture
ABC radio presenter, journalist and political correspondent Fran Kelly will deliver the 2024 Andrew Olle Media Lecture at W Sydney on Friday 18 October.
Kelly is currently the host of Saturday Extra on Radio National and previously hosted RN Breakfast for 17 years between 2005 and 2021.
Of the opportunity, Kelly said “I’m thrilled to have been asked to deliver the Andrew Olle lecture.
“As someone who’s spent most of my career in radio, its humbling to be associated with Andrew, a man who brought such warmth, intelligence, and journalistic integrity to the airwaves and had such a deep connection and affection with his audience. As a young radio journalist just starting out at the ABC, Andrew Olle represented a journalistic standard and style to strive for”.
ABC head of audio Ben Latimer said: “Fran exemplifies the ideals we honour in the Andrew Olle Media Lecture.
“For more than 20 years, Fran has been a pioneering presenter at the forefront of holding the powerful to account and her career is testament to her skill, determination and her ability to adapt.”
Sports Media
Sports power couple reveals how they make it work in the same industry
One sprints down the football field while the other reports the action on it. Parramatta flyer Bailey Simonsson and Fox Sports News presenter Sarah Karaoglu’s worlds may collide, but the couple is finding ways to make it work, reports News Corp’s Tamaryn McGregor.
Karaoglu and fiance Simonsson spend their downtime together taking labrador Koda to Coogee beach, planning their wedding and driving to Canberra to visit family.
But when the cameras are rolling and the whistle goes, it’s a different story for the sports power couple, who say running into each other on game day and talking all things sport together is their “normal”.