Business of Media
Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine to be sold to media company backed by Blackstone
Reese Witherspoon’s media business, Hello Sunshine, is selling itself to a firm backed by private-equity giant Blackstone Group, the companies said, part of a plan to build an independent entertainment company for Hollywood’s streaming era, report The Wall Street Journal‘s Benjamin Mullin and Miriam Gottfried.
The as-yet-unnamed media venture Blackstone is backing will be run by former Walt Disney executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs. Hello Sunshine will be its first acquisition. Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine chief executive Sarah Harden will join the board of the new company and will continue to operate Hello Sunshine.
WhatsApp messages reveal Nine witness’s ‘inconsistency’
A barrister acting for Ben Roberts-Smith in the war veteran’s defamation trial has urged the Federal Court to admit into evidence WhatsApp messages that allegedly show a key witness for Nine newspapers, Afghan villager Mohammed Hanifa, gave an “inconsistent statement” while under cross-examination last week, reports News Corp’s Kieran Gair.
On Monday, Arthur Moses, SC, acting for Roberts-Smith, said WhatsApp messages obtained by the war veteran’s legal team suggested Hanifa, who claimed he witnessed a “big soldier” kick his step-uncle Ali Jan off a cliff, was told by an Afghan official that he could “receive compensation” for Ali Jan’s death.
Last week, Hanifa repeatedly denied giving false evidence during cross-examination about a September 2012 raid on Darwan, and the circumstances surrounding the alleged killing of Ali Jan, who he claims was kicked off a cliff by a big “blue-eyed” soldier and then shot dead by Australian troops behind a berry tree.
News Corp to acquire data and analytics provider OPIS for Dow Jones
News Corp has entered into an agreement to acquire the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) and related assets from S&P Global and IHS Markit.
The scaled, profitable, and consistently growing digital data, analytics and insights provider will become part of Dow Jones’ burgeoning Professional Information Business (PIB), which includes Dow Jones Risk & Compliance, Dow Jones Newswires and Factiva.
News Corp is acquiring OPIS for US$1.150 billion in a cash transaction, subject to customary adjustments, and also expects to receive an estimated tax benefit of $180 million as part of the transaction.
Founded in 1977, OPIS today is a global industry standard for benchmark and reference pricing and news and analytics for the oil, natural gas liquids and biofuels industries, and a growing provider of insights and analytics in renewables and carbon pricing. At its core, OPIS provides end-to-end pricing and analytics information to the energy industry from the refinery to the retailer.
“OPIS will be the cornerstone for a rising commodities, energy and renewables digital business that we are convinced will have a positive impact on Dow Jones and News Corp,” said Robert Thomson, chief executive of News Corp. “We certainly believe OPIS and Dow Jones will be more than the sum of their valuable parts. Dow Jones is ideally positioned to accelerate growth at OPIS, while OPIS will be a powerful pillar, alongside Risk & Compliance, in the fast-growing Dow Jones Professional Information Business.”
The Media Federation launches a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Council
The Media Federation of Australia (MFA) has launched a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Council, consisting of 13 media agency professionals from diverse backgrounds, with the aim of providing guidance to the industry across all facets of diversity and inclusion.
The MFA DE&I Advisory Council will promote the MFA’s ambition to build a diverse, equitable and inclusive industry through four key actions:
Ensuring DE&I remains an industry priority by facilitating a productive, respectful and safe conversation.
Reviewing, challenging and providing guidance on industry strategy, initiatives and plans in the DE&I space.
Advocating and raising awareness around achievable actions the industry can take to improve diversity, equity and inclusion – and sharing learnings at an industry level and within their agencies.
Acting as the representative voice for the diverse.
Among the Council’s first projects will be an education program – providing awareness training for all professional levels – and showcasing best practice DE&I initiatives, to be launched later in the year.
The 13 members of the Council are:
Joshua Green, Associate Strategy Director, Spark Foundry
Nisha Rajamani, Client Director, Carat
Aaron Carpenter, Digital Director, Dentsu
Tania David, Head of Marketing & Business Development, Finecast
Tanvi Singh, Strategy Director, Mindshare
Asier Carazo, Strategy Director, Atomic 212
Jessica Lane, Senior Search Manager, CHE Proximity
Olivia Beringer, Research Director (Google), PHD Media
Philippa Moig, Business Director, OMD Australia
Wayne Philbert, Client Partner, Initiative
Petrice Koutsis, Partnerships Executive, UM Australia
Bridget Wever, Account Director, Performics
Luisa Dalli, Senior Strategist, Havas Media
MFA board member Aimee Buchanan, incoming CEO of GroupM Australia, said: “The purpose of the MFA DE&I Advisory Council is to establish a positive guide that pushes the industry forward in the area of DE&I. The group itself is representative of a wide variety of diverse groups to ensure everyone is being heard. Our ambition for this Council is to create a voice that drives change and progress and I look forward to seeing the impact across our industry.”
Strategic insights consultancy Nature builds teams in Sydney and Melbourne
Strategic insights consultancy Nature has recruited new professional staff across its Melbourne and Sydney offices.
Nature managing partner Chris Crook said: “The growth we have seen over the past year or so has been driven by our great people and our great clients. People are our number one asset, so to be able to add these new, talented people has been fantastic.”
In Sydney, three new hires take the team to seven after two years of operation.
Vicky Illingworth has been hired as associate director to lead some large existing and recently won accounts. She joins from FiftyFive5 and brings experience across finance, NGOs, FMCG and pharmaceuticals.
Jonny Wall also joins from Fiftyfive5 as a senior consultant having previously worked at Ipsos and Added Value in the UK and Research Partnership in Singapore.
Luke Crellin has been hired as a consultant with brand tracking and creative evaluation experience from Kantar across a range of categories.
In Melbourne, Manda Le has joined as associate director from Asahi Lifestyle Beverages’ insights team and brings 15 years’ experience in the retail and FMCG sectors.
Also in Melbourne, Darren Charles has joined as senior analyst in the analytics team, after several years as a client manager in Kantar’s analytics practice. Charles brings deep expertise in data visualisation and machine learning and will work closely with senior partner Peter Stuchbery and senior associate director Scott Watson to enhance the Nature method of integrating insights into client organisations.
Alex Fulton has also joined Nature in Melbourne as senior consultant, from T-Garage.
After a year living abroad, Alex Coningham re-joins Nature to bolster Nature’s New Zealand presence alongside Ingrid Schluter in Wellington.
To deepen Nature’s operational capabilities, Nick Harwood has joined as project manager role in Melbourne following five years in research operations at Forethought. He will work closely with director Sharon Spargo to drive operational improvements across the business and provide support for our growing team of consultants.
Finally, Georgia Gale has moved from a part-time graduate role in the Melbourne office to a full-time consultant role.
Photo: Nature new hires: Top Row Vicky Illingworth, Jonny Wall, Luke Crellin. Middle Row Manda Le, Darren Charles, Alex Fulton. Bottom Row Alex Coningham, Nick Harwood, Georgia Gale
Communications watchdog’s role in question as Sky News Australia cops YouTube suspension
Media experts say YouTube’s decision to suspend Sky News Australia from its platform has exposed the need for Australia’s communications watchdog to review broadcast standards to ensure they remain relevant in the era of misinformation, reports SMH’s Lisa Visentin.
YouTube on Sunday handed the broadcaster a seven-day suspension for breaching its COVID-19 misinformation policies, prompting a debate about the role of the Australian Communications and Media Authority in addressing misinformation spread through traditional broadcast mediums.
ACMA said it had received 23 complaints about Sky’s coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic since the beginning of 2020, including seven relating to a July 12 segment on the Alan Jones program featuring Jones and federal MP Craig Kelly.
News Brands
Six videos by Sky News Australia hosts Alan Jones, Rowan Dean and Rita Panahi removed from YouTube
At least six videos from Sky News Australia hosts Alan Jones, Rowan Dean and Rita Panahi have been deleted for violating YouTube policies by advocating the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine or ivermectin as treatments for Covid-19, report Guardian Australia’s Amanda Meade and Josh Taylor.
YouTube and Sky News have both refused to reveal which Sky News content was removed when the search engine imposed a seven-day ban on the Murdoch-owned broadcaster.
However, Guardian Australia has uncovered six videos which Sky uploaded to YouTube during the pandemic but have since been deleted “for violating YouTube policies”.
ABC review into Luna Park documentary
The ABC has commissioned an external review into its widely criticised Luna Park ghost train fire documentary that implicated former NSW premier Neville Wran in a cover-up of the police investigation, accused him of socialising with Abe Saffron and influencing the tender process for the amusement park, reports News Corp’s Troy Bramston.
The ABC board initiated the review following complaints concerning the program by former ABC chairman and managing director David Hill, former NSW premiers Bob Carr and Barrie Unsworth, former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and others.
The ABC’s audience and consumer affairs division dismissed a formal complaint by Milton Cockburn, a former editor of The Sydney Morning Herald, and an adviser to Wran, in June. This response, by division head Kirstin McLiesh, is also being reviewed.
Television
Fremantle Australia secures screen rights to DCI Jack Hawksworth crime series
Production house Fremantle Australia has acquired the exclusive screen rights to the bestselling DCI Jack Hawksworth crime series by South Australia-based author Fiona McIntosh.
The series consists of the blockbuster novels Bye Bye Baby, Beautiful Death, Mirror Man and a fourth book in the series, set to be published in 2023 by the Penguin Random House Australia (PRH) imprint Michael Joseph.
Fiona McIntosh
The series has been popular for crime aficionados since the first book was published in 2007. The central character, DCI Jack Hawksworth, has taken readers globally into the murky world of cold-blooded killers often using unconventional methods to solve crimes where others have given up.
Warren Clarke, Fremantle’s head of scripted development, said: “Fiona’s created a richly compelling series of crime thrillers through her much-loved character of DCI Jack Hawksworth. We’re delighted to be collaborating with her in bringing these brilliant stories to the screen.”
Warren Clarke
Warren Clarke stepped into the role of head of development – scripted earlier this year. Clarke joined Fremantle from Matchbox Pictures. Whilst at Matchbox, Clarke helped develop projects including Foxtel’s award-winning political drama Secret City, Rebecca Gibney’s on-the-run series Wanted, and Nine’s Hyde and Seek. He went on to co-create ACTAA nominated and critically acclaimed ABC series The Heights on which he served as showrunner for two seasons. Clarke is also an AWGIE nominated screenwriter. He was the script producer for Oddlands, the ABC and Adelaide Festival collaboration with Back-to-Back Theatre, and wrote for the teen football series Mustangs FC.
Publisher Ali Watts said: “Through Fiona’s hugely popular series of crime novels, DCI Jack Hawksworth has found a very special place in readers’ hearts. We can’t wait to see his thrilling adventures adapted for the screen.”
McIntosh commented: “So excited, especially for his loyal readers, that we are going to see Jack portrayed on the small screen soon.”
The series will be distributed by Fremantle International.
See also: Fremantle announces expansion of development team
Former Trump advisor joins Australia’s Big Brother VIP
She’s had endless celebrity feuds including a public fallout with former US president Donald Trump and clashes with British commentator Piers Morgan and Real Housewives alum Bethenny Frankel, reports News Corp’s Mibengé Nsenduluka.
Now former Trump advisor Omarosa Manigault Newman is expected to clash with multiple housemates when she makes her debut on Channel Seven’s Big Brother VIP.
Rumoured to have been flown out from the US for a $450,000 pay packet, Newman is said to be a big fan of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle which will no doubt ruffle some feathers as Markle’s half-brother and rumoured housemate, Thomas Markle Jr., is estranged from the Suits star.
Newman, a former Republican, is also expected to butt heads with US reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner, who is running for election as California governor.
Farmer Will issues first detailed statement about Hayley’s pregnancy
Farmer Wants A Wife participant Will Dwyer has issued his first public statement directly addressing contestant Hayley Love’s pregnancy, saying he’s “sad” the issue has played out in public – while questioning whether the child “is in fact” his, reports News Corp’s Nick Bond.
Love went public last week with a statement to news.com.au, after weeks of rumours about a behind-the-scenes pregnancy scandal among the cast of Farmer Wants A Wife this season.
Love, who had been paired with farmer Matt Trewin for the show, alleged that she secretly started a relationship with Dwyer once filming finished. She claimed the pair had a short, tumultuous relationship, which ended after she revealed she had fallen pregnant.
“The perfect location for a series of The Block would be Ramsay Street”
“We had the concept of doing a cul de sac, about a decade ago. We just never thought we’d get to execute on it,” says Julian Cress to TV Tonight.
But after a fortuitous real estate purchase in Hampton, south east of Melbourne, The Block executive producer finally gets to implement his plan.
“It just felt like the perfect location for a series of The Block would be Ramsay Street. But we never really thought we’d find five houses in a cul de sac available for us to make the show until we found Bronte Court.
“We really think it’s the perfect setting for our show.”
Sports Media
Why some international TV audiences are tuning out Tokyo Olympic Games
Broadcasters in some countries will not be taking home any gold medals for how many people have watched the Tokyo Olympic Games so far, reports Reuters.
In several major markets around the world, the TV audience has fallen since 2016, as viewing becomes more fragmented and athletes compete in Japan when audiences are mostly asleep in the United States and Europe.
Ratings data from the opening ceremony and first few nights of events indicate that the Tokyo Games are currently the least watched Olympics in recent history across Europe and in the United States. However, TV viewership is up in Australia and Japan.
Comparisons with previous Olympic Games are imperfect given the different times zones, the COVID pandemic and fewer streaming options in past Games, but a downward trend is clear.
NBCUniversal is airing the Games across two broadcast networks, six cable networks, and multiple digital platforms including its Peacock streaming service. But that scope has led to confusion: It did not stream the opening ceremony on Peacock, for example. And while all of Peacock’s Olympics programming is available to stream for free, viewers need to pay for the $4.99 premium tier to watch men’s basketball live.
NHK 8K TV gives the Olympics a boost
The Japanese public is watching the Olympic Games at a resolution of up to 16 times that of HD telecasts in Australia, reports News Corp’s Chris Griffith.
It’s a bit of comfort for beleaguered Japanese spectators who can’t attend Olympic venues in person. They can enjoy satellite broadcasts of the games in 8K.
8K satellite TV isn‘t new in Japan. When The Australian visited NHK’s headquarters in Tokyo in 2019, well before the Olympics, the broadcaster said it had chosen to move beyond 4K to 8K when it researched its technological development in the 1990s.