Business of Media
TV networks forgiven for content shortfalls
Commercial television stations have faced significant difficulties meeting Australian drama and children’s content quotas due to the Covid-19 pandemic hindering local production, reports News Corp’s Sophie Elsworth.
New annual figures released by government body, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, show the Nine Network and Network 10 both failed to meet their annual quota of first-release Australian drama last year, while the Seven Network failed to produce the minimum amount of children’s programs.
Despite this, the figures show that, overall, the commercial networks broadcast more than the required amount of Australian programming between 6am and midnight every day on their main channels and multichannels.
Due to the pandemic, ACMA accepted the noncompliance by commercial broadcasters, mainly due to the physical restrictions on producing content and the flow-on effects for TV networks.
News Brands
Journalist Steve Barrett thrown ‘under bus’
A former property developer who engineered a $5m blackmail plot lied “his head off” and threw veteran crime journalist Steve Barrett “under the bus” in an effort to “save his own skin”, a court has heard, reports News Corp’s Kieran Gair.
In closing submissions on Monday, defence barrister Clive Steirn SC told the NSW Supreme Court that Daniel Hausman had “lied his head off” in a desperate bid to “save his own skin”.
“He causes the achilles heel in the crown case,” Steirn said. “He has pleaded guilty to serious criminal charges (and) the only way he can improve his situation is by making a deal with the crown.”
Steirn said his client, who claims he was an unwitting cog in the extortion plot, had been seduced by Hausman’s information about the tax fraud syndicate’s exploitation of “mum and dad” investors.
Entertainment
Bert Newtown ‘had leg amputated for grandkids’
The wife of Bert Newton says the Australian television legend “chose life” after a toe infection spread, forcing the media pioneer to make a life or death decision, reports News Corp’s Remy Varga.
Patti Newton – a star in her own right – told reporters outside the Epworth Hospital on Monday she was “super proud” of her 82-year-old husband’s decision to have his leg amputated.
“It was a very big day for everybody,” she told reporters.
“It was needed and he had a choice and his choice was to live.”
NBC will not air 2022 Golden Globes
NBC will not air the Golden Globes next year, reports The Hollywood Reporter‘s James Hibberd.
NBCUniversal released the following statement Monday: “We continue to believe that the HFPA is committed to meaningful reform. However, change of this magnitude takes time and work, and we feel strongly that the HFPA needs time to do it right. As such, NBC will not air the 2022 Golden Globes. Assuming the organization executes on its plan, we are hopeful we will be in a position to air the show in January 2023.”
The decision follows months of criticism of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for a lack of diversity among its members, as well as ethical lapses.
Human Nature’s Andrew gives coronavirus to brother Mike
Human Nature’s Andrew and Mike Tierney have revealed they were both struck down by coronavirus earlier this year — with one of them to blame for the other’s infection, reports news.com.au.
The two band members, who are also brothers, appeared on 2Day FM’s breakfast radio show, The Morning Crew with Hughesy, Ed and Erin, on Monday to speak about their Covid-19 struggles.
Andrew told the radio show that he was to blame for infecting his entire family, as well as Mike, his wife and their daughter.
Andrew believes he caught coronavirus in early February, when he returned home to Las Vegas after touring Australia.
Television
SAS Australia to resume filming
Filming on SAS Australia will get underway this week on the third season for Seven, reports TV Tonight.
Seven previously called for “everyday Australians” for a new series, which shoots back to back with the completed second season with celebrities.
Seven sources confirm filming will begin this week in the Blue Mountains area, using the same base camp as the upcoming S2, but with new locations and challenges included.
Big Brother villain isolated for Covid test
Big Brother ‘villain’ Daniel Hayes was last night pulled from his housemates and isolated to await the results of a Covid test, reports TV Tonight.
Danny, who has been aggressively leading one of two alliances in the house, was called into the Diary Room after feeling ill to be tested by a medic.
“I’m spinning and I can’t walk straight,” he said. “I need more electrolytes or I need something, please.
“I’ve never had this before. Ever.”
With a temperature of 38.5 he was isolated into the house ‘attic’ which had been home to housemates SJ and Mary while he awaited the results of a Covid test.
Sport
Seven ‘concerned’ about Michael Slater’s Scott Morrison tweets
We’d love to be a fly on the wall when negotiations begin on renewing Michael Slater’s contract as a cricket commentator with Seven for the upcoming Ashes summer later this year, reports News Corp’s Nick Tabakoff.
Slater has been with Seven since it took over the cricket rights in 2018. But Seven insiders have told Diary that the network bosses are “keenly observing the appropriateness of Michael’s behaviour” on Twitter this week, after he posted a series of sledges at Prime Minister Scott Morrison over his border bans on travellers from India until May 15.
We’re told the word that best sums up Seven’s attitude to Slater’s tweets from his temporary home in the Maldives is “concern”.
The ex-Australian opener’s tweets have come as he waits to get home from his role as a commentator for the cancelled Indian Premier League.