Business of Media
Foxtel chief spruiks streaming success with an eye on ASX listing
Foxtel chief executive Patrick Delany has declared the struggling pay TV company is back in growth and focused on a broad portfolio of brands to reach Australians keen to stream content as residential broadcast subscribers continue to decline, reports AFR’s Miranda Ward.
Foxtel is hard at work spruiking its streaming business, which houses entertainment streamer Binge and sports platform Kayo, as it undertakes a feasibility study to assess the viability of a listing on the ASX this year.
While analysts and industry insiders believe successfully pulling off a float on the ASX will be a tough needle to thread, Delany said such commentary is focused on “the Foxtel of five years ago, a single product, a single brand and frankly, only one line of revenue. That’s not the case now.”
Call to ‘embed’ SBS with migrants as Covid messaging struggles to cut through
Critical information about lockdowns and vaccinations is not cutting through with non-English speaking communities in Covid hot spots, with Australia’s multicultural public broadcaster SBS under fire for not doing more to engage with ethnic groups during the pandemic, report News Corp’s James Madden and Sophie Elsworth.
The crisis has also renewed calls for SBS to move its national headquarters — currently situated in Artarmon, on Sydney’s affluent north shore — to a location that would be more relevant to the city’s multicultural heart.
The spread of the Delta strain has been most pronounced in western and southwestern Sydney, where as many as two-thirds of the adult population don’t speak English.
The SBS charter requires it contribute to “meeting the communications needs of Australia’s multicultural society, and as far as practicable, inform, educate and entertain Australians in their preferred languages”.
Sky News Australia challenges ‘inconsistent’ YouTube rules
Sky News Australia has written to online video-sharing platform YouTube to question its editorial policies concerning Covid-19, saying they are “internally inconsistent and incapable of compliance”, reports News Corp’s Sophie Elsworth.
In the letter, obtained by The Australian, the broadcaster’s chief executive Paul Whittaker demands that YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki provide a clearer explanation for the reasons behind the platform removing 21 Sky videos from its site and preventing Sky from uploading any content for seven days.
Whittaker also asks YouTube to explain comments made to other media outlets about their suspension – YouTube was quoted as saying Sky was suspended for “content that denies the existence of Covid-19”.
News Brands
Injured Media Watch host Paul Barry’s replacement named
Cycling is one of the only legal ways to escape lockdown land these days for “exercise”. But Paul Barry has now discovered that even that seemingly healthy activity can sometimes be a health hazard, reports News Corp’s Nick Tabakoff.
The Media Watch host went from dissecting the news to making his own headlines, after on Friday coming off second best in a close encounter with a car backing out of a driveway in Randwick in inner-city Sydney while he was riding into work at the ABC’s Ultimo headquarters.
The ABC’s trusty Sydney weekend newsreader Jeremy Fernandez has heeded the “all hands on deck” call from his bosses, and will take on his most challenging role yet in the Media Watch chair on Monday night. Media Watch executive producer Tim Latham also reveals he is canvassing options for a “longer term fill in” beyond this week’s show if it’s needed.
China Daily attacks News Corp reporter over Wuhan lab leak coverage
Chinese government propaganda newspaper China Daily has targeted an Australian journalist’s coverage of the contested origins of the COVID-19 pandemic in a slickly-produced video published on Twitter, reports The Sydney Morning Herald’s Lisa Visentin.
The Australian senior journalist Sharri Markson has played a key role in raising the profile of the so-called lab-leak theory, which centres on the assertion that the virus leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan, China.
China Daily, an English-language newspaper controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, this week published a video attacking Markson’s coverage, which it tweeted to its 4.2 million followers. The three minute, 42 second video shows China Daily reporters Xu-Pan Yiru and Meng Zhe attempting to discredit Markson’s reporting for News Corp outlets The Australian, The Daily Telegraph and Sky News Australia.
ABC’s political chatfest Q+A has challenges ahead says Stan Grant
ABC presenter Stan Grant says his latest role as a rotating host on political chatfest Q+A comes with its challenges, not least the public broadcaster’s commitment to retain the show in its “very tough” Thursday night timeslot, reports News Corp’s Sophie Elsworth.
The program was moved at the beginning of the year from its long-running spot on Mondays at 9.30pm to Thursday at 8.30pm, but under former host Hamish Macdonald it failed to gain traction – ratings went on a downward spiral and Macdonald made an abrupt exit last month.
Despite this, Grant, 57, said he remained confident about the public broadcasters’ decision to switch to a rotation of three hosts including himself, ABC Melbourne radio mornings’ host Virginia Trioli and Insiders’ host David Speers.
Radio
ABC, Nine push for FM radio licences in Western Australia
The ABC and Nine Entertainment Co have rejected claims they are setting a dangerous precedent by supporting a switch of three of its radio stations from AM to FM in Western Australia, urging the move should take place to ensure it can improve the quality of coverage for its listeners, reports The Sydney Morning Herald’s Zoe Samios.
Australia’s media watchdog is considering allowing several media companies that use the AM bandwidth to takeover unused FM radiofrequency spectrum. The proposal is being considered because there is available spectrum that can be used for FM radio services, but it has started a war of words between the radio industry’s most prominent broadcasters.
Television
Daryl Somers plans 50th anniversary Hey Hey show for TV rival network
Hey Hey It’s Saturday star Daryl Somers is planning a 50th anniversary celebration show for a rival TV network, reports News Corp’s Nui Te Koha.
Earlier this week, Somers put out a call on social media about “plans to celebrate” the iconic variety show, which aired on Channel Nine from October 1971 to November 1999.
Somers hosted and produced the show alongside co-stars including John Blackman, Molly Meldrum, Red Symons, Russell Gilbert, Lavinia Nixon and Jo Beth Taylor.
However, Nine says it’s not airing Hey Hey’s 50th celebration show, with TV sources saying it may find a home at Seven, where Somers hosts Dancing With The Stars.
The Voice continues to fail turning TV ratings into a presence on pop charts
Unlike rival formats Australian Idol and The X Factor, The Voice has spectacularly failed to convert television ratings into an enduring presence on the pop charts for its winners, reports News Corp’s Kathy McCabe.
It is believed only last year’s winner Chris Sebastian and his 2019 predecessor Diana Rouvas remain on the label they were signed to as part of the victor’s prize.
The winners from 2012 to 2018 – Eden, Harrison Craig, Anja Nissen, Ellie Drennan, Alfie Arcuri, Judah Kelly and Sam Perry – aren’t on Universal Music Australia’s roster on its website.
But most of them, like Eden who is recording a new EP for release in November, remain committed to a creative life in music as independent artists.
MasterChef judge’s memoir: ‘Gripping tale of drug abuse, violence and kitchen chaos’
He’s one of Australia’s most celebrated chefs, with a drug-fuelled backstory to rival that of Anthony Bourdain, a staunch commitment to Indigenous ingredients and a Scottish gift for storytelling. But is the Jock Zonfrillo tale too incredible to be true? asks Tim Elliott in Good Weekend.
Zonfrillo, whose real name is Barry, was born in Scotland but has been in Australia since 2000. He is charming, smart and good-looking, with tousled hair and a roguish grin. Cooking shows and glossy magazines can’t get enough of him. In May 2020, the American singer Katy Perry flirted with him during an episode of MasterChef, earning Zonfrillo nicknames like “the Hot Scot” and “Hot Jocklate”. He wears tailored suits and vests with pocket chains, and brings to the program a raffish swagger, a nonchalance that belies his formidable talent.
He is now among the most recognised chefs in Australia. Certainly, his work on MasterChef has made him an influential figure, with the capacity to make or break careers. Now he has released a memoir, Last Shot, a gripping tale of drug abuse, violence and kitchen chaos, much in the vein of Anthony Bourdain’s 2000 global bestseller Kitchen Confidential. “This is a story of hope,” his friend Jimmy Barnes writes in the introduction. “A remarkable tale of a remarkable man who took the hard, hard road and made it his own.”
Yet according to a number of people I speak to, many of the stories that Zonfrillo tells about himself in the book and elsewhere differ markedly from their own recollections of events. “Nothing Jock says is plausible,” says one former colleague.
Nine Entertainment puts The Block’s auctions under the hammer
Media giant Nine Entertainment says it will “abide by all regulations” on this season’s series of The Block to ensure there is no repeat of last year’s embarrassing fiasco, which saw a winning bidder of a $4.256m property default on the purchase just days after the program’s finale, reports News Corp’s James Madden.
Emese Fayk was labelled an “international conwoman” when she failed to deposit money in Nine’s account after outbidding others at the November auction.
The 29-year-old denied any wrongdoing, and maintains she was “unfairly” treated by the network when she tried to finalise the settlement of the house.
The sale did not proceed, and when it was quietly put back on the market earlier this year, it sold for $4m — more than a quarter of a million dollars less than the price it attracted at the televised auction.
Katie Hopkins denies breaking Sydney hotel quarantine rules
British celebrity Katie Hopkins has broken her silence following her deportation from Australia, claiming she never broke any hotel quarantine rules, reports News Corp’s Shireen Khalil.
The controversial media personality, 46, who was flown into Australia ahead of a rumoured appearance on Big Brother VIP, was sent packing on July 19 after her hotel antics — which involved boasting on social media about taunting Sydney hotel guards by answering the door naked without wearing a mask.
However, in a lengthy Instagram Live video on Saturday, the mum-of-three claimed she not only didn’t break any rules, but she was also subject to “a campaign of harassment” by officials.
Survey backs local quotas on Streaming platforms
A majority of Australians want to see local quotas placed on streaming platforms, according to a new survey, reports TV Tonight.
60% of Australians support requiring SVOD services to spend at least 20% of their revenue on Australian content.
The Australia Institute surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,006 Australians in March and 1,000 in May 2021 about their use of subscription-video-on demand (SVOD) services, concerns about their impacts on children and attitudes towards requiring SVODs to provide more Australian content.
Sports Media
Nine to face fight for NRL rights as V’landys seeks to capitalise on TV stability
The Australian Rugby League Commission is expected to allow all three television networks to bid on free-to-air rights for the National Rugby League following early stage talks with incumbent broadcast partner Nine Entertainment Co, reports SMH‘s Zoe Samios
Nine executives made a formal presentation to ARLC chairman Peter V’landys and NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo last week, proposing a renewal of their existing rights deal with the code and outlining their plans for the future.
According to industry sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the talks were confidential, V’landys did not accept or reject the proposal, but raised concerns about a lack of promotion for rugby league by the company. Nine is the owner of this masthead, and also controls radio, streaming and digital assets.
V’landys and Abdo’s expected decision to take the NRL rights to the market aims to capitalise on the renewed financial stability for Nine’s free-to-air rivals, Seven West Media and Network Ten, which were challenged during negotiations last year. The pair have also indicated they are considering splitting the free-to-air rights for the NRL and other tournaments – like State of Origin – between multiple networks, an option Nine strongly opposes.
Peter Sterling to quit Channel 9 after 27 years as NRL commentator
After 27 years on television, Peter Sterling will quit Channel 9 at the end of the season, reports News Corp’s Phil Rothfield.
It will be part of a huge commentary box shake-up after years of declining ratings at the network.
Sterling has told management and work colleagues of his decision to step down after the grand final to hand his microphone over to a younger colleague.
The 61-year-old Parramatta Eels legend retired from rugby league back in 1992 before joining Nine as a commentator and co-host of The Footy Show alongside his great mate Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin.
No love for Seven & Herald Sun’s Hamish McLachlan in The Sunday Telegraph
As commentators Mark Nicholas and Tony Squires know better than most, there is absolutely nowhere to hide when you’re hosting TV coverage of the Olympic Games, reports News Corp’s Annette Sharp.
“A career can turn on an Olympics,” one sage ex-television executive said last week.
“If you f… it up, your card will be marked and there’s a chance you’ll never be seen on commercial television again.”
Prime time anchor [and Herald Sun feature interviewer] Hamish McLachlan has already come in for his share of criticism on social media, prompting some viewers to lament the fact Seven veteran Bruce McAvaney has played a secondary role in coverage of Tokyo.
For mine, McLachlan is a wan, colourless and disengaged studio anchor — perhaps the worst we’ve seen since Squires.
The Sydney Morning Herald’s Thomas Mitchell was a little kinder to McLachlan, giving him a bronze medal:
Seven anchor Hamish McLachlan will leave with a bronze for his on-air banter. A solid effort, but room to improve should he make it to Paris. The lack of chemistry between McLachlan and co-host Abbey Gelmi was hard to ignore, and it often felt like they were meeting for the first time despite working together daily.
The Athletic makes first play in Australia with Optus deal
Closely watched subscription sports-journalism website The Athletic is making its first push into the Australian market, teaming up with Optus Sport to deliver its news and analysis of major football tournaments free to its subscribers, reports The Sydney Morning Herald’s Zoe Samios.
Optus Sport will feature a selection of football articles and videos from The Athletic for free on the editorial section of its app as part of an initial 12-month deal that could be extended for years to come. The Athletic, which operates in the US and UK, will not have a local editorial presence, but the move is a clear signal of its ambitions to grow a subscriber base in the Australian market.