Business of Media
First ABC strike in 17 years takes flagship programs off air
Some of the ABC’s most prominent radio and television presenters suffered disruptions to their broadcasts on Wednesday as production and technical staff walked off the job for the first time in 17 years, report Nine Publishing’s Zoe Samios and Angus Thompson.
ABC Radio National’s flagship breakfast show with Patricia Karvelas, ABC Sydney breakfast with James Valentine and ABC News Breakfast with Michael Rowland and Lisa Millar were among the programs temporarily affected as members of one of the broadcaster’s unions – the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) – took strike action following months of frustrations with ABC management over a wage and work conditions agreement.
The ABC is in the final stages of signing a new three-year agreement with its employees, which includes an 11 per cent increase in wages and a one-off $1500 bonus. Despite reaching a resolution, CPSU members decided to push ahead with plans to strike for one hour at both 7am and 3pm to vent their frustration at the difficult negotiating process that began nine months ago.
The CPSU and the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) had both planned to strike on Wednesday, but the latter pulled out after reaching an agreement with ABC management to draft the new agreement.
Australian TikTok general manager insists app is safe for users despite bans overseas
The Aussie boss of one of the most popular social media apps has defended the site, saying China does not hold personal data of Australian users, reports News Corp’s Isabel McMillan.
On Wednesday evening, TikTok Australia’s general manager Lee Hunter told The Project that Aussies should feel “safe” on the app, claiming China has no access to users’ personal data whatsoever because “TikTok doesn’t operate in China.”
“We are a global company,” Hunter said.
“For Australians, the user data is held in the US and Singapore with strong cyber security to make sure the data is safe.
“There are lot of misperceptions around what happens on TikTok, but Australians are safe on TikTok.”
It comes as companies around the world have banned the app, with some countries outlawing it altogether.
Publishers prepare for showdown with Microsoft, Google over AI tools
Since the arrival of chatbots that can carry on conversations, make up sonnets and ace the LSAT, many people have been in awe at the artificial-intelligence technology’s capabilities, report the Wall Street Journal’s Keach Hagey, Alexandra Bruell, Tom Dotan, and Miles Kruppa.
Publishers of online content share in that sense of wonder. They also see a threat to their businesses, and are headed to a showdown with the makers of the technology.
In recent weeks, publishing executives have begun examining the extent to which their content has been used to “train” AI tools such as ChatGPT, how they should be compensated and what their legal options are, according to people familiar with meetings organized by the News Media Alliance, a publishing trade group.
“We have valuable content that’s being used constantly to generate revenue for others off the backs of investments that we make, that requires real human work, and that has to be compensated,” said Danielle Coffey, executive vice president and general counsel of the News Media Alliance.
DirecTV reaches deal to carry Newsmax, ending dispute
DirecTV and Newsmax have reached a new distribution deal that will return the conservative news channel to the satellite broadcaster’s lineup Thursday, the companies said, reports the Wall Street Journal’s Joe Flint.
The agreement comes nearly two months after DirecTV stopped carrying Newsmax when the two companies had failed to come to terms on a carriage pact.
Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. DirecTV said the return of Newsmax would come at no extra cost to its customers.
In addition to resuming carriage on DirecTV’s satellite service, Newsmax will be carried on the company’s streaming service and U-verse video service. Together, those services have between 13.5 million and 14 million subscribers.
Agencies
Talent welcomes Meagan Jeffery as global chief information officer
Talent has announced the appointment of Meagan Jeffery as the company’s new global chief information officer, effective immediately.
Jeffery will work closely with global CEO, Mark Nielsen, and the wider Talent team, focusing on building Talent’s technology function, leveraging enablers such as data and AI and also provide contractors and customer with the highest level of service.
Jeffery joins Talent following an extensive career spanning more than 25 years in the technology sector. She has held roles in retail and investment banking, superannuation, insurance broking, energy, utilities, and federal and state government.
In recent roles she has advised and supported boards, CIOs and IT executives with strategic planning, digital transitioning, and sourcing of technology services.
Having worked in Australia, South Africa, and the UK (London), Meagan is cross-culturally sensitive and able to provide effective, hands-on leadership and motivation to teams with varied cultures, work ethics and social customs.
Future Lions 2023 launches with Volvo and Forbes CMO Network as official partners
Future Lions, AKQA and Cannes Lion’s annual global competition celebrating young people’s bold and progressive ideas, is now open for entries.
This year’s Future Lions theme is a call for young people to protect what is most important about our home planet – life itself.
Now in its 17th year, AKQA is proud to announce Volvo Cars as the official client partner and Forbes CMO Network as the media partner for Future Lions 2023.
Feeling safe is about much more than physical safety. The rise in awareness of mental health creates more need for psychological safety, and the climate crisis raises the focus on planetary safety. A physical manifestation of Volvo Cars’ Safety in Mind vision, the newly released Volvo EX90 displays new technologies designed to help keep you safe on the road, and makes you feel safe too.
To maintain the position as a pioneer of the protection of people and the planet, Volvo Cars is inviting young people to find new and innovative solutions to prove it beyond the car.
Television
Mick Molloy in hot water over ‘reckless joke’ about smuggling fruit ahead of The Front Bar Adelaide taping
One of Australia’s top comedians has drawn the ire of a state politician for a “reckless joke” about smuggling fruit over the Victorian border for a major AFL event, reports News Corp’s Andrew Hough.
Cult Channel Seven footy show The Front Bar, and hosts Mick Molloy, 56, Andy Maher, 58, and Sam Pang, 49, will broadcast from Adelaide Oval next month to celebrate the first Gather Round.
But Molloy has been accused in state parliament of a “reckless” joke to The Advertiser promoting the popular show’s first interstate taping about “bringing fruit over in my boot”.
After she ruled out contacting producers, Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven has been urged to intervene amid fears it may trigger a biosecurity alert.
See Also: Why Triple M’s Sydney Breakfast lured Mick Molloy out of his radio hiatus
Neighbours cast still awaiting production details
Neighbours cast are yet to be given a starting date for production to resume, or details on storylines, reports TV Tonight.
Alan Fletcher, currrently on tour in the UK, told TV Tonight,”Fortunately, I know nothing. All I know is what has been announced in the media. Everyone’s very tight-lipped about about the future for the show.”
Fletcher likened the huge job of restarting production to a decomissioned cruiseliner having to be taken from dry dock and returned to sea.
BAFTA TV Awards: ‘This is Going to Hurt,’ ‘The Responder’ lead pack of nominees
British Academy voters have spread the small-screen love across the 2023 BAFTA TV awards, with a broad selection of shows landing nominations, reports the Hollywood Reporter’s Alex Ritman.
Announced March 22, BBC/AMC comedy-drama This is Going to Hurt and BBC police drama The Responder lead the pack of nominees with six nods each, closely followed by Apple TV+ shows Bad Sisters and Slow Horses, Netflix’s The Crown and BBC/Amazon Western The English with five. Am I Being Unreasonable?, Big Boys, Somewhere Boy and Top Boy landed four nominations each. 128 programs in total were nominated.
While it’s a close race among the shows, among the networks, the BBC has a commanding lead with 81 nominations, followed by Channel 4 with 33, Netflix with 24, ITV with 19, Apple TV+ with 15, Sky with 14 and Disney+ with 8 nominations.
Among the names getting their first BAFTA TV nomination are several recognizable stars, including Gary Oldman for Slow Horses, Cillian Murphy for Peaky Blinders and Daniel Radcliffe for Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.