Business of Media
Twitter grapples with an Elon Musk problem
Bright and early on Monday, Elon Musk sent the government a surprising new document. In it, the world’s wealthiest man laid out his possible intentions toward Twitter, in which he has amassed a 9.2 percent stake, underlining how drastically his position had changed from a week ago, report The New York Times’ Mike Isaac and Kate Conger.
Musk could, if he chose, buy more shares of Twitter and increase his ownership of the company, according to the document, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. He could freely express his views about Twitter on social media or other channels, the document noted. And he reserved the right to “change his plans at any time, as he deems appropriate.”
It was a promise — or perhaps it was a threat. Either way, the filing encapsulated the treacherous situation that Twitter now finds itself in.
News Brands
Michael Miller spruiks News Corp’s election goodies
Last we heard, News Corp Australia boss Michael Miller was living his best life at the Australian Grand Prix alongside Foxtel chief executive Patrick Delany and fabled Murdoch whisperer Siobhan McKenna. But with the election campaign underway, it’s all work and no play at Australia’s media outlets as they look for ways to engage an increasingly cynical, politics-fatigued nation in the contest, report SMH’s Matthew Knott and Stephen Brook.
In a memo sent to News Corp staffers last week, Miller outlined some of the snazzy innovations readers can expect over the next six weeks. News.com.au readers will be able to receive text messages from Gold Walkley winner Samantha Maiden in which the site’s political editor dashes off campaign analysis and answers readers’ questions.
Enemy of all things woke Joe Hildebrand will host live-streamed discussions with candidates in 30 competitive seats and “360 round tables” with policy experts.
Another innovation is the yet-to-be-launched SuperVoter platform, reflecting what Miller calls the “gamification of everything” in recent times.
Time’s up for Time Out as London print edition of magazine to be axed
Time Out will stop publishing its London print edition after 54 years, becoming the latest in a long line of media outlets to abandon their physical presence and go online only, reports The Guardian’s Jim Waterson.
Generations of Londoners used to rely on the listings and entertainment magazine to plan nights out, circling events in the magazine and reading reviews of what was on in the capital – but the final print copies will now be printed at the end of June.
Time Out was originally a paid-for magazine but switched to being a free publication in 2012, after the internet undermined its traditional business model by making it easy to find event listings online.
Agencies
Dentsu promotes Luke Speers to APAC chief people officer
Dentsu international has promoted Luke Speers to APAC chief people officer.
Speers new role comes after six years at dentsu ANZ, starting as the head of talent ANZ, before moving up to human resources director ANZ.
He then moved up in the company to the role of chief people officer ANZ role in 2019 and in 2021 that went on to also include the SEA region.
Before joining dentsu, Speers was spent time as a consultant at MitchelLake Consulting, Telstra, followed by roles at iSelect.
This comes after Dentsu welcomed one of Melbourne’s most respected ECDs, Sarah McGregor to the creative agency.
Radio
ABC continues its slide as listeners desert Szeps in latest radio ratings
ABC Sydney has posted rating dips across every session in the second radio survey of the year, reports SMH’s Thomas Mitchell.
In the all-important breakfast slot, James Valentine saw his Sydney audience share drop from 11.6 per cent last survey to 10.7 per cent this survey, according to new data from measurement provider GfK.
This dip was part of a city-wide downward trend for the national broadcaster which saw Mornings with Cassie McCullagh drop 2.1 percentage points to a 7 per cent audience share, while Afternoons took a 2.5 percentage point dip, for an audience share of 5.4 per cent.
Television
Neighbours star launches new career in politics
Neighbours star Madeleine West has launched her new political career with an appearance on another of the country’s biggest TV shows, reports News Corp’s Duncan Murray.
West joined Tuesday’s The Project to explain her earlier announcement she would take a run at state politics and what prompted such a radical change.
With the current federal election campaign, West made it clear her bid was as an independent in the 2023 NSW state election for her local seat of Ballina.
“I’m running for state, so let’s not confuse the issue; it is not about the federal campaign, but I believe that politics is for the people and it’s about being the voice of the people,” she said.
Jordan Finlayson: Beauty and the Geek star’s bid for freedom delayed
A former reality star who was arrested twice within a week has had her bid for freedom delayed after her lawyer caught Covid, a court has heart, reports News Corp’s Lauren Ferri.
Former Beauty and the Geek contestant and ex-NRL cheerleader Jordan Ray Finlayson, 31, did not appear at Central Local Court on Tuesday for a bail application.
Her bid for bail was delayed after she allegedly stole a credit card, just months after vowing to turn her life around.
The 31-year-old was initially charged following an alleged incident at a home at Botany on February 17.
Judge Guy Sebastian’s admission about The Voice
Guy Sebastian suggests critics of The Voice should give up their expectations the show will create pop’s Next Big Thing, reports News Corp’s Kathy McCabe.
The T.R.U.T.H. chart-topper, who has enjoyed two decades of success since winning the inaugural Australia Idol in 2003, believes both the talent quest’s shorter season, compared to its predecessors, and the frustrations in matching the winner with a potential hit song are at the heart of its failure to fashion a pop star from its contestants.
“I think there’s no chance for anyone unless they are prepared to be thrown to the wolves, it’s a really challenging industry and it’s changed a lot in the last 20 years,” Sebastian says.
Adam & Symon spill on Gogglebox secrets
There’s no producer, no camera crew, no sound techs in the house when Adam Densten & Symon Lovett are ready to shoot their weekly Gogglebox segments, reports TV Tonight.
Instead, Adam simply flicks a switch in his home and the remote cameras and lighting rig fires up. A USB of weekly shows is connected to their TV set to watch. As DIY television, it’s as ‘hands-off’ as can be.
“All my Instagram photos taken in the lounge room look beautiful because the lighting is amazing,” Adam laughs.
“But I make sure the cameras aren’t on all the time, while I’m in the lounge room!”
Sports Media
Roaming Brian hits the dust
Brian Taylor has hinted his famous “Roaming Brian” segment may have gone to the TV graveyard, reports News Corp’s Fiona Byrne.
It was a gloomy prediction that Taylor offered Triple M Footy on Friday when asked if the knockabout segment was coming back to the Channel 7 Friday Night AFL broadcast.
“Not as yet,” he said, adding in a low mumble, “Nah, dunno whether that will be back.”
Asked “Why no ‘Roaming’, Brian?” by Luke Darcy he replied: “I think things last a little while, I know shows on Fox go on for a long time, but things on the main network just come and go.”