Business of Media
‘Legendary’: Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch pay tribute to Ken Cowley
Rupert Murdoch has praised the role of his former right-hand man, the late Ken Cowley, in making News Corp a media giant in Australia. Cowley’s family announced his death earlier on Monday, reports Nine Publishing’s Colin Kruger.
“It is with deep regret that I’ve learned of Ken Cowley’s passing,” Murdoch said in a prepared statement on Monday afternoon.
“Ken was one of Australia’s most outstanding executives. His leadership was integral to News Corp’s growth from a small publisher to Australia’s finest media company. In Ken’s long association with News over many decades, I admired his loyalty, integrity and business leadership,” said Murdoch, who remains News Corp’s executive chairman.
Cowley’s death was reported by 2GB presenter Chris Smith on Ben Fordham’s show on Monday morning. Smith is a close friend of the Cowley family.
Former TV producer acquitted of rape
A Sydney jury has acquitted a former Today producer of raping a drunk woman in his home after a night out drinking and snorting cocaine, reports Nine News’ Luke Costin.
Thomas Joseph Nicol, 33, had pleaded not guilty to raping a woman he knew at his Bondi home in January 2021.
The woman said she’d awoken during the night to Nicol kneeling over her before he raped her and she froze.
But Nicol said the pair engaged in consensual sexual touching after they went to his home to find her lost phone.
After about two hours of deliberation, the Sydney District Court jury on Monday returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty.
Nicol’s family embraced him as he left the dock.
Rishi Sunak and the media: New PM’s relationship with the press and media policy positions
Rishi Sunak will shortly become UK prime minister, reports Press Gazette’s Bron Maher.
His appointment may bring another change to government media policy and the third Culture Secretary in as many months after Nadine Dorries and Michelle Donelan.
Press Gazette rounds up what we’ve learned over the past few months about Sunak and his relationship with the media.
Agencies
Alt/shift/ adds Catch and Bakers Delight to its client roster
Alt/shift/ has announced it has been appointed to manage catch.com.au’s public relations account following a competitive pitch process.
Appointed in both a retained and project capacity, the creative communications agency will work closely with the Catch team across its new brand direction, kicking off PR activity to amplify Catch’s major sponsorship with The Block 2022.
Catch’s marketing director, Peita Golden, said: “Both PR and content plays a significant role in encouraging Australians to start their shopping journey with Catch. alt/shift/ was a natural partner for us and we’re thrilled with the impact they’re having already.”
Expanding the national agency’s retail offering, the appointment of Catch comes less than one year after alt/shift/ welcomed Officeworks as a retained client across corporate and consumer initiatives.
Active International, JOY and WOM Network partner up to launch Real Life Media
Active International, JOY Investment Partners and WOM Network have joined forces to create Real Life Media, an innovative new advertising solution.
The partnership between the marketing services companies uses real people and real testimonials to create product reviews and recommendations, delivered in video format via television and social media under the Real Life Media brand.
Designed as an end-to-end bundled media offering, leveraging the technology and expertise of the three partner organisations, Real Life Media will deliver exceptional value to clients.
The partnership of JOY, Active and WOM means Real Life Media will offer a highly cost-effective and complete turn-key solution that is simple to use and is highly measurable in real-time.
Radio
Jackie O walking off radio show with Kyle Sandilands proves her power
Jackie O leaving the airwaves on Friday was a loud reminder that she’s one of the most important voices in radio. Her storm out was a flex, reports News Corp’s Mary Madigan.
On Friday, KIIS FM hosts Kyle Sandilands, and Jackie O abandoned their radio show over an in-house saga.
The pair were interviewing 2GB legend Alan Jones when they were dumped from the air mid-conversation. After some back and forth with their team, both Sandilands and Jackie O called it quits for the day.
It’s not unusual for Sandilands to throw in the towel over a dispute. Earlier this year, he stormed off the show after defending NSW’s former Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Usually, when he leaves, Jackie O is left to pick up the pieces and keep the show going. Kind of like when Dad storms out of Christmas Day, and Mum still has to get the lunch on the table.
This time though, Jackie O headed for the exits alongside Sandilands, and her absence left a gaping hole. It can be easy to forget how powerful and important Jackie O is because she plays a different role than her co-host, she’s a quiet achiever while Sandilands is the class clown.
Television
MAFS’ Domenica Calarco taking new legal action against co-stars
MAFS’ Domenica Calarco is in talks with lawyers to order cease and desist letters and explore defamation lawsuits against three of her former castmates, reports News Corp’s Mikaela Wilkes.
The announcement of Calarco’s spin-off series, titled Dom’s Debrief, last week has reignited the seemingly never-ending drama surrounding the 2022 MAFS series.
“I don’t take the defaming language against me lightly at all,” Calarco told Confidential.
“It’s not about the language of ‘jealous’, but when it gets to the level of calling me ‘violent’ and ‘abusive’, it just needs to stop. Some of the language used against me (last week) was really defamatory against my character.
“People need to know that online hate is not ok and they are going to get held accountable for their words and their actions.”
Sports Media
Nine edges closer to new deal with Tennis Australia
Tennis Australia is in advanced talks about extending its contract with incumbent broadcaster Nine Entertainment Co, a deal that would cement the television network’s position as the preeminent partner of the sport, reports Nine Publishing’s Zoe Samios.
Multiple media sources, who spoke anonymously because negotiations are confidential, said Nine had offered about $85 million per annum for the sport several weeks ago, but could end up agreeing to an amount north of that figure to secure the rights for another term. Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley was trying to negotiate to receive an average of about $100 million per year in cash and contra, an increase of about $40 million on the existing arrangement.
Nine said it did not comment on commercial negotiations. TA was approached for comment.
If the deal is extended, it would add another five years to the agreement between TA and Nine, which commenced in 2019. Nine bought the 2020 to 2024 tennis broadcast and digital rights for $300 million in 2018 before securing a deal for the 2019 rights for $48.5 million.