Business of Media
Paramount CEO: “General entertainment clearly makes sense for us” as Disney backs away
Asked whether Disney’s move away from “undifferentiated” general entertainment programming has any impact on Paramount Global, CEO Bob Bakish said the platform already stands out in the field because of its offerings, which include Paramount films, CBS programming, Nickelodeon shows and franchises, reports The Hollywood Reporter’s Caitlin Huston.
“Differentiation matters and the general entertainment space may not make sense for everyone. But general entertainment clearly makes sense for us,” Bakish told LightShed Partners analyst Rich Greenfield on the company earnings call Thursday.
The question came after Disney CEO Bob Iger said his company was going to be “fairly aggressive at better curation when it comes to general entertainment” on the company’s Feb. 8 earnings call, as Disney looks to hit $3 billion in future content cost savings.
“Because when you think about it, general entertainment is generally undifferentiated as opposed to our core franchises and our brands, which, because of their differentiation and their quality, have delivered higher returns for us over the years,” Iger told investors.
Those comments also sparked questions about whether Disney would seek to sell Hulu, an option that Iger implied Disney was considering, after saying on CNBC on Feb. 9 that “everything is on the table.” Paramount Global was also asked by Greenfield if it would consider buying Hulu during the call Thursday, but executives did not answer the question.
Snapchat now has 750 million monthly active users
Snap Chief Executive Evan Spiegel said Thursday the company’s photo messaging app Snapchat now has 750 million monthly active users, while speaking during an investor presentation, reports Reuters.
Opinion: Australian Financial Review defamation loss a case study for law and journalism schools
On February 7 The Australian Financial Review lost a defamation case. Some saw it as an attack on journalism, reports The Australian’s Chris Merritt.
This seems to be how it was viewed by Michael Stutchbury, the newspaper’s editor-in-chief. He said the loss “highlights how Australia’s defamation laws pose a significant threat to public interest journalism. The AFR stands by its journalists.”
If Stutchbury is right, much more is at stake in this case than the $545,000 the Financial Review has been ordered to pay to the man it defamed: Papua New Guinea politician William Duma.
Stutchbury is one of the nation’s most experienced editors. In another life, I worked with him and for him for decades. He is a great newspaperman and might well have a point about the nature of defamation law.
But with the greatest respect, he is utterly wrong to use that to obscure the journalistic failures that caused his newspaper’s defeat in the Duma case.
Half of Americans believe national news organisations intend to mislead: poll
Half of Americans in a recent survey indicated they believe national news organisations intend to mislead, misinform or persuade the public to adopt a particular point of view through their reporting, reports AP’s David Bauder.
The survey, released on Wednesday by Gallup and the Knight Foundation, goes beyond others that have shown a low level of trust in the media to the startling point where many believe there is an intent to deceive.
Asked whether they agreed with the statement that national news organisations do not intend to mislead, 50 per cent said they disagreed. Only 25 per cent agreed, the study found.
Similarly, 52 per cent disagreed with a statement that disseminators of national news “care about the best interests of their readers, viewers and listeners,” the study found. It said 23 per cent of respondents believed the journalists were acting in the public’s best interests.
Nine forms staff Pride group
Nine has established a Nine Pride group for LGBTQIA+ staff and allies just in time for Sydney WorldPride and Mardi Gras, reports TV Tonight.
Staff are encouraged to attend internal events to be held across the country throughout the year.
In a note to staff, James Chessell, Managing Director, of Nine Publishing said, “The purpose of these events is simple – to create an opportunity for LGBTQIA+ team members and allies to connect, form new friendships and work together on making Nine a more inclusive place to work.”
He added, “Happy World Pride and Happy Mardi Gras!”
Erin Molan’s claim about Nine boss: ‘It was appalling’
Erin Molan has made a disturbing claim about her time at the Nine Network, alleging that one of the bosses openly rated her physical appearance, reports News Corp’s Bronte Coy.
The shocking story was shared during a fiery chat with controversial Married At First Sight contestant Harrison Boon on 2DAY FM’s Hughesy, Ed & Erin.
After grilling the 32-year-old Sydney tradie about his behaviour on the show, Molan was given the opportunity to “rate” his attractiveness out of 10, when she dropped the bombshell claim.
“Can I just say Harrison, when I was at Channel Nine for ten years, one of the bosses there told somebody that they rated me an eight (out of 10), because I was ‘hot, but not too hot that I’d intimidate other women to the point where they wouldn’t want to watch me’,” she said on-air.
“I thought it was appalling, I was really annoyed.”
Television
He’s been abused, but that won’t stop ABC’s Nate Byrne heading to Mardi Gras
It’s been three years since ABC News Breakfast meteorologist Nate Byrne rode his first Mardi Gras float down Sydney’s Oxford Street as part of the broadcaster’s inaugural participation in the parade. Following that event, he was the target of online abuse from a viewer who vowed to never again watch his weather forecasts, reports Nine Publishing’s Bridget McManus.
“People decide they need to share their hate with me for some reason,” says Byrne. “My team at News Breakfast jumped on it the following day, showing their support.”
This year the 45th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras will be supersized by the international LGBTQIA+ festival WorldPride. Byrne is thrilled to represent the national broadcaster again, this time anchoring the live coverage of the parade alongside Behind the News’ Jack Evans and ABCQueer’s Mon Schafter.
The vibe is expected to be huge after the WorldPride opening concert, Live and Proud, the previous evening, broadcast on the ABC live from the Domain from 7.30pm, and featuring performances by Kylie Minogue, Charli XCX and Jessica Mauboy.
“It’s the first time we’re back on the street, post-pandemic restrictions, so everyone can come along,” says Byrne. “I reckon this is going to be an incredible Mardi Gras.”
“Sometimes it lands well, and other times, the cast are like, ‘Really? Is that it?’”
“That’s the way the cookie crumbles,” “This tribe is going up in flames.” Survivor host Joanthan LaPaglia is scripted episode footnotes that are sometimes poetic, and sometimes a bit of a bad Dad joke, but always with a reaction from the tribe, reports TV Tonight.
So how does he feel about them?
“I don’t dread them because for the most part, I think they’re quite fun,” he tells TV Tonight.
“I mean we’ve certainly created something for ourselves because we started it from day one and it’s become a thing now, right? Like, the players are on the edge of their stools waiting for it. And the audience is the same. Sometimes it lands well, and other times, the cast are like, ‘Really? Is that it?’