Business of Media
Scott Morrison backs Senate ABC inquiry, saying national broadcaster ‘not above scrutiny’
Scott Morrison has backed a Senate inquiry into the public broadcasters’ handling of complaints, after extraordinary pushback from the ABC chair, Ita Buttrose, that it amounted to “political interference”, reports Guardian Australia’s Paul Karp.
Morrison said the ABC was a government agency and “nobody was above the scrutiny of the Senate”, rejecting suggestions the ABC had been singled out for special treatment.
On Thursday the Senate environment and communications legislation committee, chaired by Liberal senator Andrew Bragg, announced a snap inquiry into complaints handling by the ABC and SBS, to report by 28 February.
The inquiry was announced after the ABC’s complaints division told Fox News it had not upheld any of the complaints made in a lengthy submission about a Four Corners program on Fox News, aired in August.
ABC chair Ita Buttrose slams Coalition after Morrison government launches inquiry into complaints handling
ABC chair Ita Buttrose has lashed out at the Coalition again after it established a Senate inquiry into the broadcaster’s complaints handling department, conceding that the relationship with the government was “strained”, report News Corp’s Sophie Elsworth and Adeshola Ore.
Ms Buttrose’s comments come less than 24 hours after she publicly attacked the Morrison government on Sunday, accusing it of “political interference” following the revelation of the surprise inquiry into the ABC’s audience and consumer affairs department, which it has vehemently stressed is an independent authority despite sitting within the public broadcaster.
She said the relationship breakdown between the ABC and federal government was “a matter that concerns me greatly”.
WAtoday journalists win top prizes at WA Media Awards
Journalists from WAtoday won major prizes at the WA Media Awards on Saturday night, with judges praising them for sifting through significant government spin, scrutinising relationships between government and business and telling stories that every West Australian should read, reports SMH’s Sarah Brookes.
Radio 6PR presenter and WAtoday writer Gareth Parker was crowned WA Journalist of the Year, and took out Best Columnist for his WAtoday opinion pieces, while Aja Styles was awarded the prestigious Arthur Lovekin Prize for breaking open WA’s higher education tomb with her ‘Stink from the Corpse’ investigations.
Long-awaited shield laws fail to protect journalist from corruption watchdog
Queensland will wait until next year to introduce protections for journalists who are now facing jail time if they do not give up sources to anti-corruption bodies, reports News Corp’s Lydia Lynch.
Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman has confirmed long-awaited journalistic shield laws, approved by cabinet on Monday, would be introduced to state parliament this week but would not extend the protection to secret “star chamber” hearings held by the corruption watchdog.
The decision is a major setback for a Brisbane television journalist who is facing prison for refusing to answer questions from the Crime and Corruption Commission about a police source.
The journalist, who can be identified only as “witness F”, has been fighting the watchdog in court for more than a year for the right to protect his source who tipped him off about a murder arrest in 2018.
News Brands
Why Foxtel is worth upwards of $2 billion
If pay TV turned streaming company Foxtel proceeds, as anticipated, with a listing in 2022, it is likely to be between $2 billion and $2.9 billion, report AFR’s Anthony Macdonald, Yolanda Redrup and Kanika Sood.
That’s the view of Morgan Stanley equity analyst Andrew McLeod, who says a four to six times EBITDA multiple is appropriate for the business.
McLeod, who published a note on Monday outlining Foxtel’s valuation and why it would be a good thing for News Corporation shareholders to “crystallise” the value of Foxtel. News Corp owns 65 per cent of Foxtel, while Telstra owns the rest.
The note comes after months of chatter about Foxtel reprising its float plans, with Street Talk revealing in July that it was talking to bankers to gauge their views.
Publishing
People Magazine heads to new ownership. Again.
People who read People magazine were treated last week to one of its most anticipated annual features: Sexiest Man Alive, reports The New York Times’ Marc Tracy.
This year’s nod went to the 52-year-old actor Paul Rudd, who told the magazine that he anticipated some changes in his life, now that he is officially sexy, including dinner parties with George Clooney and more yachting excursions. “And I’ll probably try to get better at brooding in really soft light,” he said.
While the magazine is still delivering the well-executed celebrity coverage and other stories its loyal readers have come to expect, People’s staff is in limbo, facing the uncertainty of yet another ownership change.
Dotdash, a New York company specializing in digital media, reached an agreement last month to acquire Meredith, the publisher that owns People, for $2.7 billion. When the deal goes through, People will have its second new owner in three years. The expected merger will create a media giant, called Dotdash Meredith, led by the Dotdash chief executive, Neil Vogel.
Radio
Lauren Phillips will leave Weekend Today to concentrate on radio gig
Lauren Phillips is strongly tipped to exit Weekend Today at the end of the year in a surprise shake up for the start-of-the-day program, reports News Corp’s Fiona Byrne.
Phillips, 34, joined the TV breakfast show as it’s weather presenter in December 2019 and since August has been juggling her five-day a week radio commitments as the co-host of KIIS FM’s breakfast shift alongside Jase Hawkins with her weekend gig.
Before dawn starts seven days a week is exhausting to write, let alone being that person who has to keep up that punishing schedule, so it would be completely understandable for Phillips to step away from her Weekend Today role in 2022.
Her departure would open up a prime on-air spot for up and coming TV presenting talent.
Billy Brownless and James Brayshaw to replace Mick Molloy
Billy Brownless has booted a winning goal with his radio career with his Triple M show being drop punted into one of the station’s most important shifts, reports News Corp’s Fiona Byrne.
Brownless and James Brayshaw will replace Mick Molloy as Triple M’s Drive team next year.
Molloy announced last week he would not be continuing with his national Drive show in 2022.
Triple M has taken a ‘local first’ approach to replacing the Molloy show, choosing to move its Rush Hour program from its early evening slot to the 4pm – 6pm Drive shift.
Brownless and Brayshaw have been hosting The Rush Hour for 11 years.
Television
Channel 10 reveals future of The Project amid dwindling ratings
Channel 10 has issued a statement about the future of The Project as the show continues to suffer through concerningly low ratings, reports news.com.au.
Despite the nightly current affairs program’s audience being in decline, a spokesman for the network recently told podcast That’s Entertainment that it’s “here to stay”.
“Recent media reports inferring that The Project will not be on [Channel] 10 in 2022 are completely fabricated, false and misleading.
“The Project has just celebrated its 12th birthday and is here to stay! At a time when information, context and understanding is more important than ever, The Project will continue to provide Australians with their dose of news delivered differently.”
Sam Pang tops list of Broadcasting’s Top 10
Sam Pang, Hamish Blake, Dr. Chris Brown, Georgie Parker, and Miguel Maestre have topped a list of Australia’s most popular broadcast personalities, reports TV Tonight.
The list by media agency Talent Corp surveyed almost 2500 participants on more than 100 of the country’s top personalities from film and broadcasting.
Stars were ranked on popularity, recognition, trustworthiness and ‘controversy’ in regards to brand endorsement.
When Australian Survivor comes to town everybody wins
With Australian Survivor filming in Charters Towers in Queensland, local business is booming. About 350 production crew members have descended on the small town, about 130kms southwest of Townsville, reports TV Tonight.
Production has been 10 months in the making for the Blood v Water series due in Q1 2022. A temporary accommodation camp has been set up on the outskirts of town.
Charters Towers Mayor, Cr. Frank Beveridge said, “Having a TV production like Survivor film here will create over 100 local jobs and provide over 5 million dollars into our local economy. The show will also showcase our beautiful natural environment to the world.
“Obviously with COVID it’s meant the major capital cities have closed down and people have come to the regions, but this is really the icing on the cake.
“We believe the local spend will be somewhere between $4 and $5 million, so it’ll be absolutely massive.”