Business of Media
Bruce Lehrmann to challenge findings of failed defamation case on procedural fairness grounds, notice of appeal documents reveal
Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann is planning to challenge findings made against him in the Federal Court on the grounds he was denied procedural fairness, attacking Justice Michael Lee‘s approach to Network Ten’s truth defence, reports the ABC’s Elizabeth Byrne.
Lehrmann has lodged an appeal against findings he did, on the balance of probabilities, rape Brittany Higgins at Parliament House in 2019.
The findings meant his bid to sue Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson for defamation failed, because they had proved their truth defence.
Female staff at Nine called to join legal action over sexual harassment
Ousted Nine news boss Darren Wick was not given a $1 million golden handshake when he left the broadcaster ahead of multiple female staff members complaining about his behaviour, report News Corp’s Matthew Benns and Jonathon Moran.
Female staffers described the reported payment to the former news and current affairs chief as “a slap in the face” after it was claimed the company didn’t properly respond to his alleged lecherous and “inappropriate behaviour” for years. They have now been called to join a legal action against their employer.
The Daily Telegraph has been told by multiple sources that Wick did not receive a $1 million payment signed off by chief executive Mike Sneesby without the approval of the seven member Nine board.
Paramount leaders unveil “shared vision” amid takeover offer
Paramount Global’s new trio of co-CEOs laid out their vision for the Hollywood studio as the controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, mulls a sweetened takeover offer from a buyer consortium led by Skydance and RedBird Capital, reports The Hollywood Reporter’s Etan Vlessing.
Redstone addressed the investors as the meeting began, indicating the company’s most important goal was “driving value for all our shareholders,” which would come by reducing overall debt to strengthen the balance sheet and continue to invest in “best-in-class content.”
News Brands
‘The heady days’: Original staff recall launch of The Australian
In 1964, publisher Rupert Murdoch mustered all hands on deck as he steered a course for the first edition of the first truly national daily newspaper, The Australian, Alan Howe reports for the masthead.
That early crew was a group of mostly young men and women, who barely knew each other and had arrived in Canberra from around the country for this challenging venture.
The flyer for this cruise stated once everyone was aboard, it would set course for an uncertain destination, the weather would be a challenge, and there were no lifeboats. Only the captain, Murdoch, was utterly confident.
Radio
ABC Radio’s rating crash in Melbourne, lift in Sydney
For ABC Radio, the latest ratings results are a tale of two cities – ABC Melbourne has recorded its lowest-ever audience share for the station since the existing survey format began more than a decade ago, while the public broadcaster’s Sydney network has bounced back to register its highest listenership this year, report The Australian’s Sophie Elsworth and James Madden.
ABC Melbourne’s audience share of the local radio market was 5.6 per cent, according to research company GfK’s third survey of the year, which covered the period from February 25 to March 30, and April 14 to May 18.
Mildura Digital Television to hand back licence to ACMA
Mildura Digital TV has launched a television commercial advising audiences that the 10 broadcast signal is closing down effective midnight June 30, 2024, reports TV Tonight.
The commercial will run all month, advising people that they will need to watch 10 content through the 10Play app thereafter.
A series of FAQs also outlines that the channel has run at a loss since its inception in 2006 and the licence will be handed back to the Australian Communications and Media Authority -a very rare outcome in the broadcast landscape.
“Emotional conclusion”: Sam Reid & Anna Torv to leave The Newsreader
The upcoming third season of The Newsreader on ABC will be the last for stars Sam Reid & Anna Torv, reports TV Tonight.
The in-demand stars have other projects which will preclude their availability on a fourth season. Sam Reid is currently featuring in a second season of Interview with the Vampire for AMC+ while Anna Torv, recently starring in The Last of Us and The Dry 2: Force of Nature, has the upcoming Leonard Cohen bio film, So Long, Marianne.
An ABC spokesperson told TV Tonight, “Season three will see out the 1980s, providing an emotional conclusion to the saga of Helen, Dale and News At Six.
Royal Australian Mint to release Bluey-themed Dollarbucks coins
One dollar coins featuring Australia’s favourite blue heeler, Bluey, will be released by the Royal Australian Mint tomorrow, reports the ABC’s Charlotte Gore.
The 2024 Bluey Dollarbucks are a collection of three colourful coins that feature Bluey on her own, the Heeler family together, and Bingo and Bluey dressed up as The Grannies.
The Dollarbucks will be available for sale as individual coin cards or in a three-coin set with a sticker sheet.
Adam Hills is so popular he turns down offers from the royal family
It’s rare that an athlete can reach the global stage in one sport, let alone two, but just a few years after representing Australia in disability rugby’s World Cup, Adam Hills is off to Italy this month to compete in the world championships for disability tennis, reports Nine Publishing’s John Bailey.
Yes: this is the same Adam Hills who’s already conquered the stand-up scene in both Australia and the UK. He’s also written children’s books, made documentaries, co-owns a few restaurants and of course hosts two wildly successful TV shows, Spicks and Specks and The Last Leg. Princess Anne once presented him with an MBE. What did you get up to this week?