Social Media
Government defends YouTube age carve-out, citing ‘community sentiment’
The federal government has offered yet another justification for sparing YouTube from its under-16 social media ban, this time pointing to “broad community sentiment” and the platform’s perceived educational value.
As Sam Buckingham-Jones writes in The Australian Financial Review, the exemption stands in contrast to sweeping age restrictions set to hit TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
In Senate responses, the Department of Communications said the decision reflects YouTube’s role as a learning tool, aligning with public opinion rather than lumping it in with platforms seen as purely social or entertainment-based.
Streaming
Netflix doubles down on games
Netflix is levelling up its gaming push, expanding beyond mobile to TVs in a move that could reshape how brands engage with audiences on the platform.
As Tim Biggs writes in The Sydney Morning Herald, while its gaming arm has flown under the radar since launching in 2021, the streamer is now making it a strategic focus, with ambitions far beyond just play.
Leading the charge is Alain Tascan, a gaming veteran who joined Netflix from Epic Games, where he helped scale Fortnite into a global juggernaut.
Comedy Central exits Fetch TV as Paramount reshapes local channel strategy
Comedy Central has officially signed off from Fetch TV, marking the end of an eight-year partnership.
As Kyle Laidlaw writes in TV Blackbox, the move, effective 31 March, comes as part of a broader strategic shake-up by Paramount as it reassesses how its brands are distributed in the Australian market.
While Comedy Central content won’t vanish entirely, with titles shifting to 10 Peach, 10 Play and Paramount+, the channel’s departure signals a trend towards consolidating content under owned platforms and reducing third-party licensing.
Streamers tighten local spend as producers brace for leaner years
Australian producers are sounding the alarm as global streamers hit pause on local commissions, tightening budgets amid growing commercial pressures.
As James Manning writes in The Australian, once eager to splash cash on Aussie originals, platforms like Netflix and Prime Video are now more cautious, and the ad market is watching closely.
The pivot follows a 29% drop in screen production spend, reported by Screen Australia, with insiders suggesting the boom of recent years was partly driven by a desire to stave off local content quotas.
Television
Trust still matters as Aussies turn to TV and digital for news
Free-to-air TV and news apps remain the go-to sources for Australians seeking news, according to the latest News Media in Australia: 2025 report.
As David Knox reports in TV Tonight, 50% of adults tuning into FTA and 46% relying on websites and apps, legacy broadcasters and established publishers continue to hold valuable ground in a fragmented media market.
For advertisers, trust is currency, and SBS and the ABC top the rankings.
Advertising
As political ad spend shifts online, truth takes a back seat
With the election race officially on, Australians are bracing for a barrage of political advertising, much of it crafted for persuasion, not precision.
As Toby Ralph writes in The Australian, Hi-viz photo ops and punchy slogans will flood screens, but behind the scenes, a less visible shift is shaping the landscape: the migration of ad dollars from traditional media to digital platforms.
While TV, radio and print still carry political messages, much of the $15 billion ad market now flows through social media, where oversight is patchy and fact-checking is optional.
Brands
Family feud spills into court as Cue Clothing faces succession showdown
The high-end retail empire behind Cue, Veronika Maine and Dion Lee is now the backdrop for a bitter family fallout, with former executive Justin Levis launching legal action against his parents over control of the business.
The dispute exposes fractures within one of Australia’s best-known fashion dynasties, and throws the future of the brands into question, reports Carrie LaFrenz in The Australian Financial Review.
Levis claims he was ousted from the company in 2024, despite years of leadership and personal investment, including propping up Dion Lee with a $20 million family loan before it fell into administration.