Streaming
NRL eyes record-breaking $3 billion broadcast deal
The NRL is gearing up to secure the most lucrative TV rights deal in its 117-year history, with negotiations set to begin in the coming weeks. ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys is armed with fresh data positioning rugby league as Australia’s most-watched sport, overtaking the AFL – a compelling bargaining chip for broadcasters.
As Peter Badel writes in The Daily Telegraph, V’landys and NRL chief Andrew Abdo will enter talks with unprecedented leverage, drawing inspiration from the NFL’s mammoth $113 billion rights deal.
The American league’s model – selling key matchups to individual broadcasters – has maximised value, a playbook the NRL is keen to replicate.
BINGE Original wins coveted award at SXSW
BINGE Original TV series, Mix Tape, which premiered at the 2025 SXSW Film and Television Festival in Austin Texas, has won the event’s coveted Audience Award.
Starring Teresa Palmer (The Clearing, The Fall Guy), British actor Jim Sturgess (Across The Universe, Cloud Atlas), Rory Walton-Smith and Florence Hunt (Bridgerton, Cursed), the international co-production between the Foxtel Group, Aquarius Films and Subotica, scooped the prestigious TV Spotlight Award at the 32nd SXSW Film & TV Festival.
A four-part event miniseries, Mix Tape begins in Sheffield, England in 1989 with a couple called Daniel and Alison and their all-encompassing teenage romance, played out through the music of their generation.
Tech
Meta unveils election strategy
As Australians prepare to vote in the upcoming federal election, Meta has outlined its strategy to ensure platform integrity and combat misinformation across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.
Cheryl Seeto, Meta’s head of policy in Australia, said the company understands its role as a major platform for public discourse and is taking that responsibility seriously.
“Our election integrity approach has been shaped by learnings from past elections globally, including in the US, India, the EU, Brazil, and Indonesia in 2024. We’re applying those lessons here in Australia.
Atlassian gains key US government approval
Atlassian has cracked the US federal market, securing FedRAMP certification – a critical security benchmark that unlocks access to government agencies. The approval positions the Aussie software giant to capitalise on a lucrative public sector push, aligning with Washington’s mandate to boost productivity through tech-driven efficiencies.
As Jared Lynch reports in The Australian, the certification comes as Elon Musk, in his role as Trump’s budget enforcer, eyes a multitrillion-dollar shake-up of the US public service.
With agencies under pressure to streamline operations, Atlassian’s cloud-based tools could become an attractive solution for cost-conscious government departments.
Business
Fuel empire founder and property mogul Nick Andrianakos dies
Nick Andrianakos, the petrol station tycoon who built a billion-dollar property empire, has died suddenly in Greece at 81. The Greek Australian businessman suffered a fatal heart attack during a meeting in Argos, with his passing confirmed by family.
As Yolanda Redrup reports in The Australian Financial Review, best known for founding Milemaker Petroleum, Andrianakos struck a major deal in 2017, selling 54 service stations to Caltex for $95 million – while retaining ownership of the land beneath them.
This strategic move transformed him from a fuel operator into a high-profile landlord, securing long-term rental income from the multinational.
Trust in institutions falls, but business holds sway
Australians’ trust in traditional authorities continues to erode, with the latest Edelman Trust Barometer showing overall confidence in business, government, media, and NGOs has dropped to 49%. The decline mirrors global trends, placing Australia alongside France (48%) and just ahead of the US (47%).
While businesses are seen as more competent and ethical than governments, public scepticism runs deep, reports Danielle Long in The Australian.
The report found that 66% of Australians believe business leaders lie, while 68% think journalists distort the truth. A growing perception that institutions serve only the wealthy has further fuelled disillusionment.
Retail
Online shopping hits $69B as Aussies chase bargains
Australians spent a record $69 billion online in 2024, up 12% from the previous year, with platforms like Amazon, Shein, and Temu driving the surge. Consumers hunted for deals, switched retailers, and took advantage of sales to stretch their budgets, according to Australia Post’s latest e-commerce report.
As Jessica Yun writes in The Age, online marketplaces accounted for nearly 40% of the spending growth, with shoppers favouring cheaper alternatives.
However, as consumers prioritised low-cost goods, average basket sizes shrank to $95 – the lowest in a decade – highlighting ongoing cost-of-living pressures.
Television
Network 10 revives Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
In a bold programming move, Network 10 is bringing back Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, reviving one of Australia’s most recognisable game shows. The surprise comeback marks a shift away from Nine, where the format first launched in 1999 before morphing into Millionaire Hot Seat, which was axed in late 2023.
As Kyle Laidlaw writes in TV Blackbox, the global franchise remains a ratings powerhouse, with successful runs in the UK and US.
While Nine dabbled in special editions, the full-scale revival is now in 10’s hands, with sources confirming casting is complete and filming set to begin in Melbourne.
Publishing
The Hunger Games franchise reloads
Suzanne Collins is returning to the world of The Hunger Games with Sunrise on the Reaping, the fifth instalment in the blockbuster series. The franchise, which has sold over 100 million books and generated $5 billion at the box office, has left an undeniable mark on pop culture – spawning a surge in archery interest and even influencing real-world protests.
As Nell Geraets writes in The Sydney Morning Herald, Collins’ dystopian universe has proven to be a marketing juggernaut, with adaptations dominating screens and merchandise sales thriving years after the original trilogy ended.
The 2020 prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, reignited fan interest, and now, anticipation is at fever pitch for the latest chapter.