Business of Media
Lachlan Murdoch sues publisher Crikey’s owners for defamation
Media boss Lachlan Murdoch has launched defamation proceedings in the Federal Court against the company which owns news website Crikey, reports the ABC’s Heath Parkes-Hupton.
Murdoch’s lawyers filed a statement of claim on Tuesday afternoon, against Private Media, over an article linking his family to the January 6 insurrection in the US.
The analysis article, written in June by political editor Bernard Keane, named “the Murdochs” as “unindicted co-conspirators” in the deadly attack on Washington’s Capitol carried out by former president Donald Trump‘s supporters.
It comes after Crikey’s editor and publisher publicly challenged Murdoch to sue the company this week.
It also published a series of legal letters sent to Crikey by the News Corp and Fox chairman’s lawyers.
Meta to pay $37.5M to settle Facebook location tracking suit
Meta has agreed to pay $37.5 million to resolve a class action accusing it of collecting, storing and selling location data on Facebook users who opted out of tracking services on their smartphones, reports The Hollywood Reporter’s Winston Cho.
The settlement covers roughly 70 million U.S. residents whose locations were identified through their IP addresses without permission, according to a motion for approval of the deal filed on Monday in California federal court. It follows a $90 million agreement in February to resolve a decade-old lawsuit over the company’s use of trackers to follow users after logging out of the platform.
In 2018 during the height of the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, Facebook was hit with dual class actions alleging it violated the privacy of users by covertly tracking them and monetizing their data by serving targeted advertisements. “Facebook’s disregard for Plaintiffs’ and the putative Class members’ privacy and its collection of their location data contrary to their privacy settings represents the latest chapter in its campaign of deception regarding collection and use of users’ personal information without their authorization for financial gain,” states the complaint.
AFR journalist Aaron Patrick charged with animal cruelty over run-in with two men
A high-profile Sydney journalist has been charged by police over allegedly kicking a dog during a run-in with two men in an inner-city street, reports News Corp’s Derrick Krusche.
Aaron Patrick, a senior correspondent with the Australian Financial Review, has told The Daily Telegraph he was in fear for his safety and was trying to protect himself during the November 2021 incident.
He is facing a single charge of committing an act of cruelty upon an animal.
Patrick is defending the charge and is listed to fight it during a hearing at Downing Centre Local Court on September 5.
Batgirl directors reveal they have no footage of film, still hope for release
The Batgirl directors revealed they don’t have any saved footage of the film, but still hope to release it one day, reports The New York Post’s Brooke Steinberg.
Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah told the SKRIPT YouTube channel in an interview that they don’t have any footage from Batgirl, claiming the studio blocked their access to the production servers after it was shelved.
“We have nothing! Adil called me and said, ‘Go ahead shoot some things on your cellphone.’ I went on the server and everything was blocked,” Fallah, 36, said.
“We were like, ‘F***ing sh*t!’,” El Arbi, 34, said. “‘All the scenes with Batman in them! Sh*t!’”
Agencies
New creative leads at Paper Moose: Jermaine Rowe and Nathan Moore appointed
Paper Moose has announced that Jermaine Rowe and Nathan Moore have been appointed as creative leads.
A powerhouse duo, Rowe and Moore worked alongside each other at The Works Sydney, and they bring almost 30 years of experience between them to creative agency Paper Moose.
Together they have worked with worldwide brands, such as LG, Lexus and Samsung. With experience in copywriting, Rowe has previously worked in London and Sydney, with roles at M&C Saatchi and We Are Unity, while Moore has 17 years of experience as an art director at Leo Burnett and BMF.
Dentsu Media and Creative appointed to Revo Fitness’ national media account
Dentsu Media and Creative has been appointed to the national media planning, buying, and creative account of Revo Fitness, following a competitive pitch.
Revo Fitness was founded 10 years ago with a mission to make quality, affordable fitness more accessible to everyone and is now helping Australians achieve their health and fitness goals nationally.
Flora Lolev, head of brand and marketing at Revo Fitness, said: “We look forward to working closely with dentsu to deliver our key purpose. Revo Fitness started out with a goal to make the gym accessible to everyone.
“We set out on our mission to make the gym simple. We say no to complicated lock-in contracts, and yes to one easy and straightforward membership,” she said.
Podcasts
Meghan Markle launches Spotify podcast series with Serena Williams interview
Nearly two years after signing an exclusive podcast deal with audio giant Spotify, the first series from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Archewell Audio is making its debut on the service, reports The Hollywood Reporter’s Alex Weprin.
Markle, The Duchess of Sussex, is also the host of the series, called Archetypes. The first interview features Markle in conversation with tennis legend Serena Williams, who announced her intent to step away from the sport earlier this month. Spotify says next week’s episode will feature a conversation with Mariah Carey.
Archewell inked its multiyear deal with Spotify in December 2020 and released a holiday special hosted by the couple later that month. There had been rumblings that the couple could part ways with Spotify at the height of its Joe Rogan controversy earlier this year, however the couple ultimately decided to stick with the platform after “encouraging” conversations with the platform’s executives.
Television
House of the Dragon most watched premiere in HBO, Binge history
House of the Dragon has drawn record audiences in Australia and around the world following its Monday premiere, reports News Corp’s Lexie Cartwright.
HBO reports the first episode of the Game of Thrones prequel attracted an audience of 9.986 million viewers across linear and streaming platforms in the US, making it the most-watched premiere in the premium cable company’s 51-year history.
It was the same success story closer to home, with local streaming services Binge and Foxtel* – both of which express streamed the first episode to Aussie audiences – reporting the debut became the number one premiere for the platforms.
Angie Kent to host Space Invaders for Nine
Season 3 of Space Invaders is currently in production for Nine, with former Bachelorette and Goggleboxer Angie Kent as host, reports TV Tonight.
She joins declutter guru Peter Walsh and renovater Cherie Barber in the series produced by WTFN.
Once again the team will once again help desperate families lighten their homes, with amazing renovations and transformations, decluttering tips and tricks.