Business of Media
‘Something went wrong’: Trump’s new ‘Truth Social’ tops App Store and breaks itself
Donald Trump’s Twitter rival “Truth Social” has gone straight to the top of the App Store, beating TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook, reports News Corp’s Justin Vallejo.
But the former president’s social media competitor immediately ran into tech issues, with users getting error messages: “Something went wrong. Please try again.”
A few hours later, the app was back up with a warning that the popularity had up saying it was too popular: “Due to massive demand, we have placed you on our waitlist.”
“We love you, and you’re not just another number to us,” messages said, as the waitlist counter approached the 200,000 mark.
Neil Balnaves dies in Tahiti boating accident
Australian entertainment giant and philanthropist Neil Balnaves — whose companies brought Blue Heelers, Big Brother and Bananas in Pyjamas to TV screens — has died in a boat accident in Tahiti, reports News Corp’s Janet Fife-Yeomans.
Tragically, it was a near-fatal boat accident in 2002 that changed his life and led to him giving away a $40 million fortune after he famously said: “How many more houses do I need? Do I want the jet plane? Do I want another yacht?
“Not really. There comes a time when those things stop meaning so much.”
It is understood the Mosman millionaire and family man was holidaying on board the Oneworld mega-motor yacht off the Polynesian island. He and other members of his group were on a tender when it flipped in choppy waves and threw them in the water.
Balnaves, 77, could not be revived.
News Brands
Tempers flare between Nine and ABC at Winter Olympics
A spat over a missing tripod very nearly blew up into an international incident on the Olympic slopes of Zhangjiakou after the ABC accused a Nine cameraman of “accidentally” swiping its equipment, reports News Corp’s Jacquelin Magnay.
The brouhaha began in the first week of Olympic competition when the ABC TV crew misplaced its tripod after a press conference at the so-called “icy knoll” — a central position for media to do interviews and record their crosses, outside of the official broadcast area.
Australian medallists Tess Coady and Jakara Anthony were there after winning their medals, giving all of the Australian media — not just broadcast rights holders Seven — a chance to get some words and footage of the athletes.
But the moment soured for the ABC when some of its camera gear went missing after the press call.
Former SMH columnist Elizabeth Farrelly prepares her next political push
Two months after what she sensationally dubbed the “ruthless king hit” that ended her 30-year stint as a columnist at The Sydney Morning Herald after she briefly joined the Labor Party, Elizabeth Farrelly has seemingly decided to permanently leave the media, reports News Corp’s Nick Tabakoff.
And it seems the media’s loss may be politics’ gain.
Undeterred by a valiant but ultimately unsuccessful tilt at the inner-western Sydney seat of Strathfield in a by-election a week or so back, where she has so far won around 9 per cent of the vote, Farrelly tells Diary she is closely contemplating a second tilt at politics – this time in the NSW upper house.
Outdoor
Circles.Life launches Australia’s first 3D billboard
Circles.Life has unveiled Australia’s first 3D billboard on top of the Emporium shopping centre in Melbourne city.
The company is one of Australia’s fastest-growing telcos, known for its innovative approaches.
Influencers and regular customers have been transformed into bespoke 3D avatars, Circles.Life is giving the platform to a limited number of Australians to amplify their personal messages.
The launch of the billboard will take place on-site, and feature the likes of AJ Clementine, an online creator and LGBTQ+ advocate, gaming influencer Joel Bergs, and the creative, maximalist duo of Josh and Matt design.
The 3D billboard can be used to spread awareness, provide messages of hope, and motivation for those passing by.
Clementine is a well-known TikTok creator, best known for sharing her journey as a transgender woman on social media.
Television
Colin Fassnidge makes his TV return after My Kitchen Rules break
Celebrity chef Colin Fassnidge is making his return to Aussie TV two years after he was last seen on My Kitchen Rules, reports News Corp’s Jonathon Moran.
And he’s taking a leaf out of outspoken Brit Gordon Ramsay’s book by hosting the Australian version of Kitchen Nightmares.
While Ramsay has a reputation for being a hothead, Fassnidge has vowed to be “firm but fair”.
The series will premiere on Seven later this year and will be shot in eateries across Australia.
Which Reality shows suck up the most of your time?
MasterChef Australia and The Block are the most demanding Reality TV shows on air requiring 50 nights or more from their audience, reports TV Tonight.
Both screened for 13 weeks in 2021 with MasterChef tipping the scales at a whopping 61 episodes (plus 2 Masterclasses). That’s great for the sales department, but not so great for time-poor viewers.
Some shows also make great demands in terms of the hours every night, with the most recent I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here some screening episodes at close to 2 hours.
So do viewers have the stamina?
In some cases yes. Both The Block and MasterChef are two of TV’s longest running Reality juggernauts, at 17 and 13 seasons, respectively.
But if you’re looking for some of the least demanding of your time then The Voice: Generations (3 episodes) & Australian Ninja Warrior (9) have you covered. Foxtel Reality shows are also usually around 10 episodes each