Business of Media
Seven West, Network 10 edge towards TV deal at Southern Cross
Seven West Media and Network 10 are shaping up as the likely buyers of Southern Cross Austereo’s regional TV stations in a deal more than five years in the making, reports The AFR’s Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport in Street Talk.
The two networks are the preferred parties to acquire their respective affiliates. Sources said nothing had been signed and there was no guarantee any deal would go ahead, but an agreement was being negotiated and could be finalised within the next month.
If the sale gets across the line, industry sources told this column it would make sense for Ten and Seven to continue to run those affiliate stations.
According to an SCA coverage map dated June 2022, for 10 Network a sale would mean picking up Southern Cross’ stations across the country. For Seven, this means Tasmania, Darwin and South Australia.
Sources said SCA was negotiating with Seven and Ten around the $15 million to $20 million mark. Earnings for the unit, which consists of 96 regional television licences, declined from $38 million to $19 million after Nine switched its affiliate arrangements back to Win in 2021.
REA Group withdraws Rightmove takeover bid after British company’s rejection
Digital advertising company REA Group has pulled its takeover proposal for British property portal Rightmove after being rejected for the fourth time when its target said its latest £6.2bn ($12.03bn) bid undervalued its growth prospects, reports The Australian’s Ben Wilmot.
In the wake of that move, REA has dumped plans to formally bid for the British company, confirming that it does not intend to make an offer for Rightmove, despite what it called the “clear strategic rationale” and opportunity to create a global and diversified digital property company.
The Australian company said a combined company would have had strong margins and significant cash generation, underpinned by number one positions in Australia and Britain.
“REA believes the proposed combination would have provided Rightmove shareholders the opportunity to meaningfully participate in a fast-growing, diversified, global leader whilst receiving value certainty in an operating environment challenged by increased market competition,” the Australian company told the London Stock Exchange.
News Brands
‘Read the room’: Premier blasts Nicheliving head after tussle with veteran reporter
West Australian Premier Roger Cook has leapt to the defence of a veteran Perth TV reporter involved in a tussle with the head of beleaguered Perth building company Nicheliving in the line of duty over the weekend, reports Nine Publishing’s Hamish Hastie.
On Saturday morning Geof Parry and a 7 News cameraman approached Nicheliving managing director Ronnie Michel-Elhaj outside his wife Natalie’s under-construction luxury Applecross property after spotting him speaking to tradesmen on the balcony.
Parry attempted to ask Michel-Elhaj questions about why construction continued on his wife’s property while more than 200 Nicheliving customers were still waiting for their properties to be completed up to four years after signing contracts.
The footage shows Michel-Elhaj swiping the microphone from Parry’s hand and telling the cameraman to stop filming him as Parry tries to shield the camera.
Parry told 6PR’s Mornings the encounter “went a bit pear-shaped” and that Mihel-Elhaj “got a bit angry”.
“I had him locked against the fence and he was holding on to me and we went through the fence,” he said.
“He says he’s got some injuries, I’ve got a couple of bruises, my injuries aren’t serious, I don’t know about his, but he has reported the matter to the police as I understand it.”
Mihel-Elhaj took to LinkedIn on Sunday to criticise Parry. “Once again, Seven West [Media] and reporter Geof Parry have relentlessly ambushed my family and me for sensationalist purposes,” he said.
Who was on ABC’s Media Watch this week: Tony Armstrong’s insurance policy
The ABC’s Tony Armstrong was revealed as the voiceover man in a major advertising campaign for a large insurance company, contrary to ABC policy on this week’s episode of Media Watch.
In response to the news, the ABC released this statement:
The voiceover was done without the ABC’S knowledge, this was due to a misunderstanding with Tony’s external representation. They have been provided a copy of the external work guidelines and reminded all ABC employees are required to meet them. Tony is a high valued employee and has the ABC’s full support.
Also on Media Watch this week:
The ACCC takes Coles and Woolworths to court over claims of fake discounts in a series of promotions that were heavily spruiked by the Seven and Nine networks.
Realestate.com.au and Domain hit publish on tasteless clickbait articles about the Easey Street murder house in Melbourne.
Television
Third time’s a charm: How Industry quietly became the best show on TV
There is a moment in the final episode of the third season of Industry, HBO’s buzzy drama set in the world of high finance, where Eric Tao, the managing director of the investment bank Pierpoint (think Goldman Sachs on steroids), decides to address the trading floor. It has been a tough few days, and with the legacy bank facing potential oblivion, he must inspire the team, reports Nine Publishing’s Thomas Mitchell.
“Money tames the beast,” Eric explains. “The end of the story is money.”
For a show driven by money – the making of it, the spending of it, its power to corrupt – it’s a neat trick. Yet, in season three, Industry broadened its scope, exploring a world beyond Pierpoint’s anxious trading floor where money is only the beginning of the story.
Across eight episodes, the latest series offered commentary on almost every contemporary issue imaginable, from sexual politics to the monopolisation of media, green energy, white privilege, mummy issues, daddy issues and cocaine’s stranglehold on the upper middle class.
“I think we finally figured out how to write the show three seasons in,” laughs co-creator Konrad Kay. “Everything feels more expansive, and it goes to places it was afraid to go to in seasons one or two.”
Radio
‘Boys’ area’: Inside Kyle Sandilands’ $20k a week LA mansion
Kyle Sandilands has given fans an inside glimpse of his luxurious Hollywood pad where he and KIIS FM co-host Jackie O Henderson spent last week broadcasting reports realestate.com.au.
The opulent eight-bedroom mansion in Beverly Hills’ prestigious Trousdale Place was home to the Aussie radio duo’s show while they visited the US for newsreader Brooklyn Ross’ wedding to his partner Damien Dirienzo.
American reality television personality and real estate broker Kendra Wilkinson revealed on The Kyle and Jackie O Show that the property was valued at US$29m, making it one of the most sought-after estates in the Hollywood Hills.
The luxurious mansion, costing $80,000 (US$55,000) a month to rent, was patrolled by Sandilands’s security team to ensure his family’s safety.
In Sandilands’ virtual tour, he showcased the mansion and highlighted its grand entrance adorned with an enormous chandelier and glass doorway, along with stunning city views from the pool and the temporary in-home studio he shared with Henderson.
The sprawling complex is just a couple of suburbs away from a property Sandilands himself owns.
He purchased the Holmby Hills residence for just under $5 million and it features six bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms.
In addition to the estimated $20k rental expense last week, Sandilands also spent $23,000 (US$16,000) on a team dinner at high-end Las Vegas steakhouse Papi Steak, ahead of Ross’ nuptials.
Nova919 host Jodie Oddy says Bali holiday hell made her a vaccine ‘poster child’
One day into a Bali “de-stressing” holiday with husband Greg earlier this month, Jodie Oddy felt a burning sensation on her neck, reports News Corp’s Belinda Willis.
The sensation quickly turned into a rash, weeping blisters and pain so extreme it has spurred the Nova919 Adelaide radio host into calling on the Federal Government to extend access to free shingles vaccinations.
“There’s an assumption that it’s an older person’s ailment but we’ve been getting phone calls from people who got it when they were 17 or 18 years of age … people have got it in their eyes, in their ears,” Jodie, also a television reporter, says about her illness.
Sports Media
Gerard Whateley makes call on commentary future
Leading sports commentator Gerard Whateley has remained loyal to Fox Footy and will not cross to Seven for the 2025 AFL season, reports Nine Publishing’s Jon Pierik.
A source close to Whateley, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told [Nine Publishing] on Monday that Whateley would not join the list of prominent names heading to Seven ahead of the 2025 season as the host free-to-air broadcaster continues to revamp its coverage.
Seven’s new head of sport, Chris Jones, has been bold in securing football commentators, including Age columnist Caroline Wilson and Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes from Channel Nine, and former St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt, but Whateley will remain at Fox Footy, despite interest from the network.
Whateley remains under contract with Fox for at least two more years. He is expected to continue to host nightly review show AFL 360, but with a fresh partner as News Corp’s chief football writer, Mark Robinson, will reportedly not return for a 15th year in the role.
A source with knowledge of his situation said Whateley was likely to call matches for Fox next season, with the pay-television operator now providing its own commentary team for all matches under the new broadcast rights deal.
Mark Robinson departs AFL 360 after 14 years: No show on last show
It’s the end of an era at Fox Footy with Mark Robinson bidding farewell to AFL 360, reports News Corp’s Scott Gullan.
The popular co-host has been the driving force for the award-winning show since its inception 14 years ago.
His combination with Gerard Whateley has been a stunning success story for the network, with AFL 360 one of the longest-running sports programs in Australian television history.
Football’s odd couple, as they were known, kept viewers entertained three times a week from 6.30pm with Robinson’s humour and brilliant interviewing skills making the show a must-watch for footy fans.
Robinson’s long-time on-air partner Gerard Whateley shared a touching tribute to round out the final episode of the year on Monday night.
“Tonight, the big thank you is to Robbo. We were brought together with almost nothing in common, other than footy. It’s a passion that bound us to each other, and also bound us to you,” he said.
“In television terms, it’s an astonishingly long time to spend together and I’ll always have the sense of gratitude for the almost 1500 shows that we’ve done in partnership together. Robbo, it’s been grand.”
There was no explanation from Whateley last night as to why Robinson didn’t appear on his final episode.
Instead, Whateley, who had been tipped to also move to Seven, confirmed that he would be back on AFL 360 for AFL season 2025.
Speaking about Robbo’s Monday Fox Footy no-show on SEN 1116 breakfast this morning, Tim Watson said, “He should have been there.” Watson’s breakfast co-host Garry Lyon added: “I think it’s fair to say that Gerard would have liked Robbo there for the final show.”
About his own future, Watson didn’t have any news early today. “I will have an announcement to make on Thursday,” said Watson. Watson noted this is his last week on air this year at SEN 1116.