Business of Media
Children’s TV, AAP, Regional Media, and the News Bargaining Code amongst budget winners
Children’s Television, regional news, news media and the bargaining code with digital players were winners from last night’s Federal Budget 2021, reports TV Tonight.
The Morrison Government pledged commitments for the media sector and acknowledged challenges the pandemic has created for the arts sector.
Amongst the measures announced last night were:
$15 million to the AAP Newswire in support of public interest journalism in regional Australia;
$4.2 million to implement the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code;
$85.4 million for eight national collecting institutions; and
$11.9 million over four years to boost quality children’s television content
Budget 2021: ‘Freeze’ ends but ABC, SBS face cuts
The broadcasting budgets of the ABC and SBS could be cut by up to 6 per cent in real terms over the next four years, despite the assumption that the federal government’s controversial “indexation freeze” on the ABC’s operational budget will be scrapped in 2022, reports News Corp’s James Madden.
According to the budget papers, funding for public broadcasting — which includes both the ABC and SBS — is set for a modest 0.8 per cent dip from 2020-21 to 2021-22, and a forecast 6 per cent trim from 2021-22 to 2024-25.
However, the numbers beyond 2021-22 are indicative only, as the ABC is funded on a triennial basis, with the current agreement due to expire on June 30, 2022. The next triennial funding arrangement has not yet been announced.
Nine yet to speak to its witness against Roberts-Smith
A key witness for Nine in its defamation defence against Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith says he has never spoken to the media giant and had no idea they were relying on his evidence, reports News Corp’s Josh Hanrahan and Matthew Benns.
Person 4 is a former SAS soldier who Nine alleged in a June 2018 newspaper article was present when Roberts-Smith ordered members of his squad to kill a shepherd named Ali Jan.
Nine alleged the order came in September 2012 after Roberts-Smith kicked Ali Jan off a cliff. He was then allegedly shot.
News Brands
With the US election over, Fox News is pitching its softer side
Fox News executives presented advertisers with what they said would be lighter fare after a tumultuous year of pandemic and presidential politics, reports Bloomberg‘s Christopher Palmeri.
The Fox cable network emphasised some of its feel-good programming in a presentation to advertisers on Tuesday (US time), pointing to a series called America Together, featuring inspiring stories of local communities accomplishing common goals, and the Patriot Awards, honouring local heroes.
Television
Matt Kean calls for inquiry into 1979 Luna Park Ghost Train fire
Calls for a Special Commission of Inquiry into the deadly ghost train fire at Luna Park in 1979 have grown louder with NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean saying fresh evidence warrants a powerful probe into the incident, reports News Corp’s James O’Doherty.
Kean called for the inquiry into the blaze that killed six children and a man at the Sydney amusement park 42 years ago in a private members’ statement in parliament on Tuesday night.
It’s understood Kean has spoken to Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Attorney-General Mark Speakman about establishing the probe.
The call was sparked by fresh revelations contained in an ABC documentary in March. The documentary alleged the initial police investigation was flawed, and ignored key witnesses and evidence.
ABC may outsource Outside Broadcasts, calls for tenders.
The ABC is considering outsourcing the delivery of its Outside Broadcasts, which could impact on crew roles, reports TV Tonight.
ABC OBs include coverage of election, news specials, National Press Club, ANZAC Day, Australia Day, New Year’s Eve, Melbourne Comedy Festival and Adelaide Golf.
The public broadcaster is currently calling for tenders, but is not planning to reduce coverage for audiences.
TV chef Shannon Bennett ‘disappointed’ with Netflix show Byron Baes
Celebrity chef Shannon Bennett has opened up about why Byron Bay locals are against Netflix’s controversial new show Byron Baes, reports News Corp’s Mibengé Nsenduluka.
The former MasterChef guest judge told Confidential that he fears the show will misrepresent his adopted hometown.
“I think any show in Byron Bay or in any town should be about the truth and unfortunately I’m disappointed because this show is trying to fool people,” he said.
“They’re (pretending) that the people on the show are real, and that it depicts the town but it doesn’t.”
Sport
Nine amps up sports streaming war with Super Rugby numbers
Nine is in discussions with “a number of sporting bodies” for partnerships as the media company touts the success of the Super Rugby’s season across free-to-air television and subscription streaming platform Stan Sport as a success, reports AFR‘s Miranda Ward.
According to numbers supplied by Nine (the owner of this masthead), around 1.3 million people watched the Super Rugby final between the Queensland Reds and ACT Brumbies live across Stan Sport, Channel 9, 9GEM and 9Now on Sunday.
Based on broadcast audience numbers, this was up 232 per cent compared to when the final aired on Foxtel in 2020.