Media Roundup: Nine's data breach, V’landys' future plans, CoStar’s Domain bid, ACMA's smart TV call, The Reject Shop exits ASX and Oxford’s ‘untranslatable’ words
See the top industry stories trending today.
Publishing
Nine data breach exposes 16,000 subscribers
A data breach at Nine has left the personal details of 16,000 subscribers to The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and The Australian Financial Review exposed online, raising fresh concerns about audience data safety in media and advertising.
As Cam Wilson writes in Crikey, the incident, traced to an "unauthorised change" by a third-party supplier, was first flagged by independent security researcher Kaspar, known for finding open Amazon S3 buckets.
Despite the alarm being raised on 19 March, Nine only locked down the data after a media query from Crikey on 26 March.
Television
V'landys set to drop one hat as media, codes, and commercial pressures mount
One of Australian sport's most influential powerbrokers, Peter V’landys, is tipped to relinquish one of his high-profile roles, most likely his long-held Racing NSW post, as he prioritises rugby league, media rights, and NRL expansion.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the pressure of running two major sporting codes in an increasingly complex media and commercial environment may finally be forcing a choice.
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The speculation, revealed on Off the Record, a new podcast from the paper's Phil Rothfield and The Australian's Andrew Webster, suggests V’landys is weighing up life balance, rising tensions in racing, and the demands of a shifting broadcast landscape.
CoStar's Domain bid gains momentum
CoStar's $2.8 billion push to acquire Domain is gaining momentum, with Nine backing the latest bid after a week of high-level meetings.
As Calum Jaspan writes in The Sydney Morning Herald, the revised offer of $4.43 per share lands just below Nine's asking price and keeps the US real estate giant firmly in the race to secure one of Australia's most strategic digital assets.
The deal would mark a significant shift in the local media and advertising landscape.
Free-to-air apps to take top billing on smart TVs under new ACMA rules
Streaming platforms might dominate headlines, but free-to-air networks are getting a boost in discoverability thanks to new prominence rules from ACMA.
As Kyle Laidlaw reports in TV Blackbox, from 2026, smart TVs and streaming devices sold in Australia will be required to give apps like ABC iview, 7plus, and 9Now prime placement, making it easier for viewers to find local broadcasters without endless scrolling.
It's a win for traditional networks in the battle for screen space, especially as BVOD plays a bigger role in audience strategies and advertising revenue.
Radio
Nine Radio kicks off 2025 on top
Nine Radio has stamped its authority on the national radio landscape once again, with 3AW in Melbourne and 2GB in Sydney both claiming the #1 position in their respective markets in the first GfK radio survey for 2025.
With significant audience shares across the day, the network has not only retained its dominance but in many cases, surpassed recent performance benchmarks, making it a standout start to the year.
Legal
Roberts-Smith moves to reopen case, alleging Nine misconduct could have swayed outcome
Ben Roberts-Smith has launched a late legal play to reopen his failed defamation appeal against Nine, claiming secret recordings reveal journalist Nick McKenzie was improperly briefed on confidential defence strategy during the original trial.
As 7news.com.au reports, his legal team says the alleged leak undermines the fairness of proceedings and warrants a full retrial.
In an urgent application filed Thursday, Roberts-Smith's lawyers argued the court was misled by the concealment of "privileged and confidential" information, accusing McKenzie of "wilful misconduct" and stating the former soldier was unaware of any breach until long after the appeal had been heard.
Brands
Brett Lee-backed Sydney Beer Co falls flat, owing nearly $10 million
Craft brewer Sydney Beer Co, part-owned by cricket legend Brett Lee, has gone belly-up with close to $10 million in debts, leaving a trail of creditors that includes the ATO, the McGrath Foundation, and its own chairman.
As Simon Evan writes in The Australian Financial Review, the biggest bill is a $6.2 million related-party loan from an entity tied to chair David Catterall.
Once stocked in BWS, Dan Murphy's and 350 venues nationwide, the brand had recently pushed into the US and Malaysian markets.
Retail
Dollarama moves in as The Reject Shop exits ASX in $259m deal
The Reject Shop is set to delist from the ASX after accepting a $259 million buyout from Canadian discount retail heavyweight Dollarama.
As rCarrie LaFrenz writes in The Australian Financial Review, The deal will see the chain’s footprint more than double to 700 stores, with major shareholder Kin Group, run by billionaire Raphael Geminder, backing the move.
While sales for the brand have ticked up recently, profit margins have lagged, making the timing right for a new owner with global scale.
Books
Oxford adds 'gigil' and other global gems as untranslatable words find adland relevance
The Oxford English Dictionary has embraced gigil, a Tagalog word for the overwhelming urge to squeeze something unbearably cute, into its latest update, alongside a host of culturally rich, previously "untranslatable" terms.
As Danielle Lavelle writes in The Guardian, it's a nod to how language evolves through emotion, experience, and increasingly, global influence.
Words like gigil, utepils (Norwegian for enjoying a beer outside), and komorebi (Japanese for sunlight filtering through leaves) aren’t just linguistic curiosities; they're brand-building gold.
- Sydney Morning HeraldThe AgeYouTubeThe GuardianSeven NetworkNineSevenNews CorpBen Roberts-SmithDomainThe AustralianThe Sydney Morning HeraldACMAGoogleTwitterFacebookInstagramThe Australian Financial ReviewABC iview9NowASX7PlusAndrew WebsterCrikeyBVODNick McKenzieNine EntertainmentMetaGen ZXATOPhil RothfieldBrett LeeBWSCoStarSydney Beer CoDan MurphyLiquorlandKasparAmazon S3 Peter V’landysRacing NSWOff the RecordMcGrath FoundationDavid CatterallDan Murphy’ DollaramaThe Reject ShopRaphael GeminderKin GroupThe Oxford English Dictionary
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