Business of Media
Beaten down Netflix has a new top 20 shareholder
Hedge fund magnate Bill Ackman has acquired more than 3.1 million shares in Netflix, offering a vote of confidence in the streaming giant after the stock collapsed in recent days, reports AFR’s Lucas Shaw and Jessica Park.
Ackman’s firm, Pershing Square Capital Management, is now among Netflix’s top 20 shareholders, the investor said in a tweet on Wednesday. Netflix climbed as much as 6.2 per cent in after-market trading following Ackman’s announcement.
Netflix shares had tumbled almost 50 per cent from its November high. The decline accelerated last week after the company said growth was slowing, and it was unsure why. The company added 18 million customers last year, the least since 2015, and forecast its slowest start to a year in nearly a decade.
Entertainment
Winners announced for 11th AACTA International Awards
The winners of the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) announced the winners for the 11th AACTA International Awards, honouring the world’s best achievements in screen excellence.
Australian actress Nicole Kidman won best lead actress in film for her portrayal of Lucille Ball in Being the Ricardos.
Benedict Cumberbatch took out best lead actor in film for his role in The Power of the Dog, which was written, produced, and directed by AACTA Award-winner Jane Campion.
Young Australian actor Kodi Smit-McPhee also stars in the western psychological drama and bagged himself the best supporting actor in film award.
Meanwhile on TV screens, Kate Winslet won for best lead actress in a series in the HBO crime drama Mare of Easttown.
Australian actor Murray Bartlett won the award for best lead actor in a series in hit HBO comedy-drama The White Lotus.
Television
Karl Stefanovic defends Australia Day post after supporting ‘change the date’
Today Show host Karl Stefanovic has appeared to backflip on his Australia Day stance, after previously calling for an end to January 26 celebrations, reports News Corp’s Mibengé Nsenduluka.
On Thursday morning, the Channel 9 presenter told his co-host Allison Langdon that he had a “terrific” time celebrating Australia Day with his family in the Sutherland Shire despite once sharing an impassioned plea on the Today Show to move the public holiday to a different date out of respect for First Nation’s people.
“You looked like you had a pretty good time yesterday,” Langdon said.
Stefanovic replied, “I had a pretty good time actually … It was terrific. Had a bit of time on the little pontoon boat, dingy all tied up down at the shire near Sydney, and we had a great afternoon. Mum drove home which was fantastic. Took eight hours. Normally a half an hour drive.”
Stefanovic, 47, shared a photo of his family festivities on Instagram, which showed him gleefully clutching a beer and posing with his wife Jasmine and their one-year daughter Harper with the caption: “Australia Day in heaven in the Shire. Love this country [heart emoji].”
Stefanovic told Confidential that he still supports changing the date.
“I can support it but at the end of the day I also live in this wonderful country and I’m going to celebrate what Australia is to me,” he said.
Lucky in love Bachelor pair issue stark warning to reality TV couples
Jimmy Nicholson and Holly Kingston say they will be a Bachelor success story despite others falling short in the love stakes after their time on the reality show, reports News Corp’s Jonathon Moran.
Commenting after Bachelorette Brooke Blurton’s recent break-up with her choice on the show, Darvid Garayeli, Nicholson and Kingston say they are working towards a wedding and having children together.
“For both of us, we are not just telling people what they want to hear, which I think other people who have gone through this, you get sucked into it,” Nicholson told Confidential.
“If Brooke and Darvid didn’t work out, that sucks for them but I was conscious of the fact I wasn’t going to call Holly my life partner if I didn’t see her as that just to keep everyone happy. We have been really true the whole time and I think that is maybe where people get it wrong.”
Andrew O’Keefe is arrested in Sydney for allegedly assaulting a woman
Andrew O’Keefe has been arrested in the Sydney CBD for allegedly assaulting a woman.
The former TV host, 50, allegedly grabbed a 38-year-old woman by the throat at his Kent Street apartment on Tuesday afternoon.
He was arrested at 4.30am on Thursday morning after the police were made aware of the allegedly altercation.
The former White Ribbon ambassador has been taken to Day Street Police Station and is expected to be charged.
“A verbal argument ensued between the pair, before the man allegedly assaulted the woman – grabbing her by the throat, pushing her to the ground and punching her,” a police statement read, as reported by ABC.
“The man allegedly assaulted the woman a second time – punching and kicking her – before she left the unit.”
Andrew O’Keefe rages inside paddy wagon after arrest
Troubled former TV star Andrew O’Keefe is in custody charged with assaulting and choking a woman as leading anti-domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty said she was horrified by the allegations.
As he was being driven from Day St Police Station to police cells on Thursday he could be heard screaming from the back of the van: “F… you, I’m a victim of crime. I’m a victim of crime you f…wits”.
He also appeared to be throwing himself against the inside of the vehicle.
O’Keefe, 50, who was for years the male face of the White Ribbon anti-violence movement, is due to face Central Local Court today charged with choking and punching a woman, 38, at his city apartment on Tuesday.
Sport Media
Netflix doco to reveal what really happened in Kyrgios locker-room fight
Unseen footage of the locker-room fight involving Nick Kyrgios and the cranky trainer of Croatian doubles top seeds Nikola Mektić and Mate Pavić is expected to be revealed in a Netflix series later this year, reports SMH‘s Andrew Webster.
As reported earlier this month, the streaming giant is documenting the men’s and women’s tours as well as all four grand slams in a project similar to the popular Formula 1: Drive to Survive series.
While most believe the focus of the Australian Open episode will be on the Novak Djokovic saga, as well as other leading players, this column has been told producers have shifted much of the focus to Kyrgios and doubles partner Thanasi Kokkinakis because of their enthralling run.