Business of Media
Elon Musk’s X takes eSafety Commissioner to court after snubbing fine
Social media giant X has launched legal action after refusing to pay a $610,500 fine imposed by the eSafety Commissioner, who accused it of failing to tackle child exploitation on the platform, reports The Australian’s Cameron England.
The US giant, formerly known as Twitter, has filed an application for a judicial review in the Federal Court, with the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, as the respondent.
The case was filed on November 10, which reportedly was the last day X had to respond to the infringement notice from the Commissioner.
Putu Winchester-Stanton: Former Home and Away star avoids jail for dealing cocaine
Cheers erupted in a Sydney courtroom as a former Home and Away star avoided jail time for dealing cocaine and laundering more than $100,000 of drug money throughout the Byron Bay area, reports News Corp’s Adelaide Lang.
Putu Sugiarta Winchester-Stanton appeared in the NSW District Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to supplying 286g of cocaine in the coastal region.
The court heard the 46-year-old was involved in supplying the illicit drug in the regional area of Mullumbimby in April 2021.
Jimmy Kimmel said to be returning as Oscars host
Academy Awards organizers have decided to stick with a tried and true host: Jimmy Kimmel, reports The New York Times’ Brooks Barnes.
Kimmel, the late-night comedian who has hosted the event three times, will return to the Oscars stage on March 10 to steer the 96th ceremony, according to two people briefed on the plan, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose it. Molly McNearney, the co-head writer and an executive producer of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC, will serve as an executive producer for the 96th Oscars telecast.
“I always dreamed of hosting the Oscars exactly four times,” Kimmel said in a statement.
US wraps up antitrust case against Google in historic trial
The U.S. government went back to basics in arguments against Alphabet’s Google on Thursday, wrapping up the evidentiary phase of a court battle in which it has accused the online search leader of breaking antitrust law with its tactics, reports Reuters.
In the trial, which started on Sept. 12 and is widely expected to end on Thursday, the Justice Department is seeking to prove that Google is a monopolist and illegally abused its power to favor its bottom line.
ByteDance testing content paywall on TikTok’s sister app Douyin -source
TikTok owner ByteDance is testing a paywall feature for content creators on its short video platform Douyin in China, a person familiar with the matter said, as the company seeks new ways to profit from its hugely popular app, reports Reuters’ Josh Ye.
The Chinese internet giant has recently started to allow some content creators with more than 100,000 followers to put part of their videos behind a paywall on Douyin, TikTok’s sister app in China, the person said, declining to be named as the feature was still undergoing testing.
Warner Music Group sees revenue, income climb after streamers hike prices
Warner Music Group, home to the likes of Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa and Cardi B, saw fourth-quarter revenue and net income rise after music streaming services brought in long-anticipated subscription price hikes, reports The Hollywood Reporter’s Etan Vlessing.
The major music label saw total revenue for the three months upto Sept. 30 rise 6 percent to $1.58 billion, beating an analyst estimate by $20 million, while net income was up 3 percent to $154 million. The per-share earnings was 29 cents, which beat an analyst estimate by 4 cents.
WMG overall revenue was up year-on-year to $6.03 billion, the first time the major label’s yearly revenue eclipsed $6 billion.
News Brands
Telegraph TV to lead News Corp’s beefed-up video offering
News Corp Australia has tapped 2GB radio star Ben Fordham’s executive producer, James Willis, to lead a flagship video project called Telegraph TV at its largest metro masthead, The Daily Telegraph, reports Nine Publishing’s Calum Jaspan.
Video content has been identified as the next big driver of subscribers by News Corp, and the project is aimed at beefing up The Daily Telegraph’s video content output, with longer videos, piece-to-cameras and direct-to-email video news updates.
The video platform plans were confirmed by four people with knowledge of Telegraph TV, who spoke to this masthead anonymously because the project is confidential and still in development.
Rupert Murdoch says ‘best yet to come’ for News Corp
News Corp chairman emeritus Rupert Murdoch has said “the best is yet to come” for the global media empire, and he plans to continue an active role after his eldest son, Lachlan, took over as its sole chair, reports The Australian’s Perry Williams.
At News Corp’s annual meeting, held overnight on Thursday Australian time, Murdoch noted the importance of the social purpose of journalism.
“As you know, I am moving to the role of Chairman Emeritus, and Lachlan will become the sole Chair of News Corp. Lachlan is a principled leader, and a believer in the social purpose of journalism. I hope to continue an active role in the company,” Murdoch said.
Television
An uneasy and awkward start to the penultimate chapter of The Crown
“Momentum is with us, opinion has changed, the battle is practically won,” Prince Charles (Dominic West) ponders, as he surveys the shifting political fortunes of his future wife, Camilla Parker-Bowles (Olivia Williams), in the penultimate chapter of The Crown, reports Nine Publishing’s Michael Idato.
This particular piece of the larger mosaic – the four hours that make up season six, part one – of The Crown lands solidly. But the story threads are almost too well known: the complex optics of Camilla’s 50th birthday (and the Queen’s non-attendance), the simmering romance between Diana (Elizabeth Debicki) and Dodi Al-Fayed (Khalid Abdalla) and the final eight weeks of Diana’s life.
Studio 10: “10 years is a good run and I’m lucky to have been part of it”
Veteran entertainment star Denise Drysdale, may have gotten the bad news about Studio 10 ending next month, but with six decades in the business she is pragmatic about the cyclical nature of television, and still grateful for the work, reports TV Tonight.
“10 years is a good run for a show and I’m lucky to have been part of it,” she tells TV Tonight.
“And after Covid, to be asked back, even with monetary (challenges). That’s why I’m so lucky.”
Netflix cancels five shows including Glamorous, Shadow and Bone
Netflix has swung the axe on several of its titles, announcing the cancellation of two live-action streaming series as well as three adult-oriented animated shows, reports News Corp’s Nick Bond.
Popular fantasy series Shadow and Bone will not return for a third season, after its second debuted on the streamer earlier this year.
And another show that debuted recently, the beauty influencer comedy Glamorous (starring Sex and the City’s Kim Cattrall), will not see a second season. Animated comedies Agent Elvis, Farzar and Captain Fall have also been axed after one season.
Auditions: Alone Australia
Auditions have opened for Alone Australia, which looks to be a third season for the SBS series, reports TV Tonight.
“Are you a survivor, capable and confident that you can subsist alone in the wild relying solely on your skills, instincts and mental resilience?” a casting notice asks.
“Do you have the skills, experience, stamina and strength to take part in the ultimate survival challenge?
Applicants must be aged 18 or over.