Business of Media
News Corp scotches Murdoch-Seven chatter
News Corp Australia executive chairman Michael Miller has emphatically rejected rumours the media company is looking to get into bed with Kerry Stokes’ Seven West Media or sell off its stake in Foxtel, reports AFR‘s Miranda Ward.
Billionaire co-chairman Lachlan Murdoch’s presence in Australia has sent the local media industry rumour mill into overdrive.
Murdoch was supposedly spotted outside Seven West Media’s Martin Place offices last week, re-igniting speculation about a tie-up between the two companies at a time when questions are being asked about News Corp’s commitment to its 65 per cent owned pay TV platform Foxtel.
Speaking after News Corp announced its third quarter results on Friday, Miller said News Corp has had no discussions with Seven West at all.
“I’ve been on record in the past about that statement, so I’m not going to give the rumours any momentum and there have been no meetings by myself or directors with Seven,” he said.
News Corp formalises Google and Facebook deals, announces hiring spree
The executive chairman of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp Australia has confirmed the company has formalised payments from tech giants Google and Facebook as he announced plans to hire a further 100 editorial staff, reports SMH‘s Zoe Samios.
Michael Miller declined to comment on any future strategic plans for the local owner of The Australian, The Daily Telegraph and The Herald Sun or whether the company would use money from the $US1 billion ($1.3 billion) in debt raised by the global parent company last month for local acquisitions. He said any assets acquired locally would be determined by what audiences were willing to pay for.
AAP to receive multimillion-dollar federal government funding boost
Newswire AAP, which almost closed last year over concerns it was losing too much money, is expected to receive almost $20 million in funding from the federal government’s budget, reports SMH‘s Zoe Samios.
Industry sources familiar with the funding, who spoke anonymously because the budget has not been announced, said the federal government is planning to hand out $15 million over two years to the newswire. The funds are expected to be an addition to a $5 million grant awarded to AAP last year.
AAP’s leadership team including chair Jonty Low, chief executive Emma Cowdroy and former News Corp boss Peter Tonagh has lobbied the government for more funding for months.
Facebook commits $15m to regional Australian newsrooms
Facebook will invest $15 million in regional Australian newsrooms as separate discussions for payment for journalism on the platform continues with Guardian Australia and Country Press Australia, reports AFR“s Miranda Ward.
The Silicon Valley giant is in discussions to partner with The Walkley Foundation to distribute the investment in the form of grants which aim to support smaller regional, rural and diverse newsrooms as they develop new products and strategies to expand reach and revenue.
News Corp invests in regional news one year after move to digital only
One year after News Corp closed down 36 regional newspapers, axed jobs and shifted a number of newspapers to digital-only, the media company is re-investing in its local news strategy, reports AFR‘s Miranda Ward.
The move is a challenge to rival regional publisher Australian Community Media (ACM), which publishes The Canberra Times and the Newcastle Herald, which News Corp sought to enter a deal to sell its regional publications to one year ago before negotiations fell apart.
News Corp is re-committing to print in regional Queensland, reinstating the Sunshine Coast Daily and Mackay’s Daily Mercury as weekly print editions from August in a trial to test audience and advertisers appetite as it also looks to create 20 new journalist positions for regional communities.
Catalano eyes future of Canberra Times office as ACM goes on sales spree
The Canberra Times′ office in Fyshwick is being reviewed by its owners Antony Catalano and Alex Waislitz as their company Australian Community Media (ACM) pushes ahead with a nationwide property sale spree, reports SMH‘s Zoe Samios.
The pair’s Ballarat print site sold last week for $6 million, adding to the $20 million worth of sales made in the last two years. Industry sources, who spoke anonymously because the plans aren’t finalised, said Catalano and Waislitz are considering whether to appoint a sales agent or redevelop the Fyshwick office, which has been home to The Canberra Times for almost 60 years.
REA Group benefits from property market ‘in full flight’
REA Group chief executive Owen Wilson says Australia’s property market “is in full flight” but believes some steam is starting to come out of the market, reports AFR‘s Miranda Ward.
The property listings portal reported revenue of $225.6 million for the third quarter, up 8 per cent on the year prior, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) was up from $112.5 million to $123.3 million.
“We described the market as in full flight, conditions are incredibly healthy, we are seeing strong growth across almost every region in the country, underpinned by low interest rates and very strong consumer confidence. It’s never been a better time to sell, but it’s also never been a better time to buy,” said Wilson.
Union cries foul on ABC funding but federal government bites back
The media union’s claims that the ABC’s “dwindling resources” have been put under further siege have been labelled “demonstrably false” by the federal government, reports News Corp’s Sophie Elsworth.
Speaking at an ABC Friends Victoria rally at Hawthorn — a location chosen because it was in Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s electorate of Kooyong — the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance’s vice president Karen Percy said the triennium review of the public broadcaster’s government funding put “extra pressure” on the ABC to perform approaching the end of the term, which is due to expire in June next year.
JNI opens its new digs
The high flyers of Australian journalism gathered in the inner-city suburb of Sydney’s Chippendale on Wednesday to toast the opening of the Judith Neilson Institute’s headquarters, hailed by the philanthropic outfit as a “lively hub for all things journalism and storytelling”, reports Guardian Australia‘s Amanda Meade.
The stunning architect-designed surroundings were somewhat unfamiliar to most journalists, who are used to working in more modest surroundings. Guests vied for the attention of the dignitaries: the communications minister, Paul Fletcher; Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull; and Bob Carr – not to mention Neilson herself, whose fortune funded the building (on top of the $100m she gave to start the institute). Journalists present included Chris Masters, Geraldine Doogue, Peter Hartcher, Hugh Riminton, Sally Neighbour, Monica Attard, Russell Skelton, Simon Crerar and Nic Hopkins.
Ross Clarke-Jones will take Australian Survivor’s production company to court after mediation fails
Champion big wave surfer Ross Clarke-Jones is pushing ahead with his legal action against the production company behind the hit TV series Australian Survivor after mediation failed, reports News Corp’s Fiona Byrne.
Clarke-Jones, 54, is suing Endemol Shine Australia, which produces Australian Survivor for Channel 10, claiming damages, loss of past and future earnings, and medical expenses after he severely injured his ankle during a rope challenge on the 2019 season of show.
News Brands
Fears of Taliban retribution raised in Ben Roberts-Smith defamation case
Fears of brutal Taliban retribution against Afghan witnesses in the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation case have been raised in court as parties battle over whether certain documents should, if they exist, stay secret, reports News Corp’s Lane Sainty.
After the possibility of “barbaric punishment or death” was mooted by a lawyer for the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force, Roberts-Smith’s barrister Arthur Moses SC retorted that his client might be the one in danger.
Roberts-Smith is “the father of two children, has been accused of war crimes against the Taliban and he wears those allegations like a loaded gun every day”, Moses said.
Trusted friend and confidante to appear in witness box against Ben Roberts-Smith
A former confidante of Victoria Cross winner Ben Roberts-Smith has turned on him and is expected to give evidence against the Afghanistan war veteran at a highly anticipated defamation trial beginning next month, reports News Corp’s Josh Hanrahan and Matthew Benns.
Documents filed with the Federal Court show that security guard and former freelance 60 Minutes “fixer’’ John McLeod will be asked about posting an allegedly intimidatory letter on behalf of Roberts-Smith to an SAS soldier who served with him in Afghanistan.
The Daily Telegraph also understands that McLeod was one of a group of people present in 2018 when Roberts-Smith was secretly recorded at a meeting venting about his colleagues at Channel 7 and praising network chairman Kerry Stokes for backing his legal case.
ABC determined to publish, says Christian Porter
A producer at the ABC’s flagship Four Corners program allegedly said late last year that “one way or the other” the broadcaster or journalist Louise Milligan would make public the rape allegation against Christian Porter, reports News Corp’s Nicola Berkovic.
Milligan also allegedly questioned her sources with inappropriate comments, including that “a woman has died because of this” and “if men like you don’t speak out, violence against women will continue” while she researched her story about the former attorney-general.
Porter has made the claims — denied by the ABC and Milligan — in his reply to the broadcaster’s defence of his defamation claims, and is arguing both were motivated by malice.
Radio
Neil Mitchell renegotiates 3AW contract with radio bosses
Neil Mitchell is well aware there is a queue of hopefuls waiting for him to move on as host of the 3AW morning shift, but he has got bad news for them — he is not going anywhere, reports News Corp’s Fiona Byrne.
The talkback powerhouse is in negotiations with his radio chiefs about a new deal, with his current six month contract extension ending on June 30.
Television
Singer Billy Otto slams Netflix over $200-a-day offer to appear on reality show Byron Baes
Byron Bay singer Billy Otto has criticised Netflix’s casting procedures for controversial reality show Byron Baes after he was offered $200 per day to join the series, writes News Corp’s Mibengé Nsenduluka.
The rock musician, who hails from Newcastle, told Confidential that Netflix has approached “anyone and everyone” to be a part of Byron Baes and have not been fully transparent about the upcoming project.
Otto, 33, was approached by Eureka Productions, which is producing the show for Netflix, earlier this year about what he thought sounded more like an empowering documentary.
His initial excitement quickly turned to disappointment after seeing a “dehumanising” press release on April 8.
All-ages casting blamed for Big Brother 2021 ratings slide
It has been a solid ratings performer in the past, but the latest incarnation of Big Brother is struggling to make an impact for Seven this year — and grumbles around the network suggest casting could be the culprit, reports News Corp’s Amy Harris.
Specifically, the lack of “eye candy” compared with previous seasons, with producers opting to embrace an “all ages” mantra this year as opposed to the “young, hot singles” formula of seasons past.
It appears viewers are nonplussed, with BB averaging just 500,000 per episode and placing far behind timeslot champ Lego Masters (Nine), which is nudging an average of 700,000 viewers.
“When something underperforms like this, obviously fingers get pointed and there is a lot of chatter that the casting just wasn’t right,” said one network source.
“I think there is some thought that that show could have benefited more from a cast that reflects something like Married At First Sight.”
Casting underway for Celebrity Gogglebox
Casting is now underway for Celebrity Gogglebox, reports TV Tonight.
Foxtel’s executive director of television Brian Walsh has told the TV Reload podcast, “I’m happy to share with you that we will be doing a celebrity edition of Gogglebox in an upcoming season.
When asked if Anthony Callea and Tim Campbell might be considered he replied, “Yes, Anthony and Tim are absolutely on our whiteboard for Celebrity Gogglebox.”