Business of Media
Australia fines X for not providing information on child abuse content
Australia said on Sunday that it would fine X for failing to provide information about its efforts to combat child exploitation and that the social media service had told officials that its automated detection of abusive material declined after Elon Musk bought the company, reports The New York Times’ Kate Conger.
The amount of the fine is 610,500 Australian dollars, or about $384,000.
X, formerly known as Twitter, did not comply with a national law that requires platforms to disclose what they are doing to fight child exploitation on their services, Australian officials said. They said they had sent legal notices to X, Google, Discord, TikTok and Twitch in February, asking the companies for details about their measures for detecting and removing child sexual abuse material.
Piper Laurie, three-time Oscar nominee and Twin Peaks actress, dies aged 91
Piper Laurie, the strong-willed, Oscar-nominated actor who performed in acclaimed roles despite at one point abandoning acting altogether in search of a “more meaningful” life, has died at her home in Los Angeles aged 91, reports the ABC.
Laurie died of old age early on Saturday, her manager, Marion Rosenberg, told The Associated Press via email, adding that she was “a superb talent and a wonderful human being”.
Laurie arrived in Hollywood in 1949 as Rosetta Jacobs and was quickly given a contract with Universal-International, a new name that she hated and a string of starring roles with Ronald Reagan, Rock Hudson and Tony Curtis, among others.
News Brands
The ABC can make more money, says its new ex-Netflix content boss
The ABC should earn more money through bigger, bolder and more expensive bets on films and TV, the public broadcaster’s new content boss says, reports Nine Publishing’s Sam Buckingham-Jones.
Former Netflix executive Chris Oliver-Taylor joined the ABC in March this year to lead the new, 1700-strong content division that was created in a major restructure in July. It has about a third of the ABC’s $1.1 billion annual government-funded budget, which is divided between the news division, run by Justin Stevens, and transmission and infrastructure costs.
The ABC has the biggest creative team in the country and commissions the most scripted content, Oliver-Taylor said. In 2021-22, the ABC spent $177 million of its own budget and secured $144 million in other funding for Australian content, its annual report shows. But that is not reflected on the balance sheet – it generated just $21 million from selling content, and $41 million from all its sales areas.
The woman taking on the hardest job in Australian media
Karen Halligan may have signed up for the hardest job in Australian media, as she takes the helm at OzTAM later this year, the viewership ratings agency owned by Australia’s three commercial television networks (Seven, Nine and Ten), reports Nine Publishing’s Calum Jaspan.
See Also: “Too good to pass up”: Karen Halligan named as new OzTAM CEO
She joins OzTAM with an impressive and diverse resume, with senior roles at top independent and conglomerate media buying agencies, leading Southern Cross Austereo’s commercial division, three years in house at Coca-Cola before joining KPMG in 2018 to set up the consultancy’s own media advisory division.
Radio
Kyle and Jackie O to take on Melbourne in new $200m KIIS FM contract
Kyle Sandilands and Jackie Henderson are poised to sign a record, 10-year contract cementing their controversial and sometimes obscene breakfast radio show at KIIS FM, and extending their reach into Melbourne, reports Nine Publishing’s Sam Buckingham-Jones.
After a long negotiation process that included skywriting above Sydney, the duo, who host the top-rating Kyle and Jackie O Show, are within weeks of announcing a new deal.
Sources with knowledge of the negotiations, who were not permitted to speak publicly, said the deal between KIIS’ owner, ASX-listed ARN Media, and Sandilands and Henderson would include Melbourne syndication for the first time.
‘We‘re sharpening our spears’: triple j host slams voice decision
The ABC‘s youth radio network triple j played Yothu Yindi’s song Treaty on loop for an hour on Sunday following the defeat of the government and the Yes campaign’s quest to enshrine an Indigenous voice to parliament, reports The Australian’s Jenna Clarke.
“Last night was the most overt, most unconcealed manifestation of racism I’ve ever experienced in my whole life,” triple j presenter Nooky said.
Treaty was then played on repeat for the entire hour of Blak Out – the weekly show hosted by the Yuin and Thunghutti man from Nowra in NSW.
Television
Daryl Somers: “I am happy to hand the Mirror Ball over to Chris”
Daryl Somers has confirmed rumours that Chris Brown will host Dancing with the Stars for Seven next year, reports TV Tonight.
Industry rumours have been rife for several months that Brown might take to the dance floor alongside Sonia Kruger, particularly after both hosted the Logie Awards red carpet.
On his Hey Hey it’s Saturday Facebook page, Somers told fans, “Hi all. Just want to confirm the speculation that I will not be hosting Dancing With The Stars in 2024.
“Seven let me know recently that they have signed Chris Brown to the network full-time and amongst his commitments he will be hosting DWTS.”