Entertainment
Olivia Newton-John dies: Tributes pour in for Aussie star
The shock news of Olivia Newton-John’s death has reverberated around the world. The much-loved Aussie actor passed away at her California ranch after a long battle with breast cancer, aged 73, report News Corp’s Kathy McCabe and Maria Bervanakis.
Her daughter Chloe Lattanzi was lost for words, sharing only a series of photos of her mum. Heartbroken fans are leaving floral tributes for Newton-John on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The star’s leading man in Grease, John Travolta, was among the first to leave a tribute.
“My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. Your impact was incredible. I love you so much,” he wrote on Instagram.
“We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!”
Business of Media
US news website Axios agrees $525m sale to Cox Enterprises
For $525m, Axios – publisher of punchy, notated news briefs – is set to be acquired by Cox Enterprises, a legacy publisher that owns a series of US regional newspapers, reports The Guardian’s Edward Helmore.
The cash deal, announced Monday, is expected to close in the next few weeks and marks a significant moment in the growth of the news outlet, which was founded in 2016 by the same journalists who launched Politico in 2007.
Axios said on its website that as part of the deal Cox will invest $25m in the company that would help it expand into 20 regional US markets and broaden its coverage.
Amazon names Brianna Oh head of doc features
As non-fiction continues to become a priority for streaming services, Amazon Studios has named longtime Amazon vet Brianna Oh head of documentary features, reports The Hollywood Reporter’s Mia Galuppo.
The newly created role will focus on building out the tech company’s non-fiction feature slate, which already includes docs like the Val Kilmer film Val and P!nk: All I Know So Far. The announcement was made internally last week by Amazon’s head of movies Julie Rapaport.
Oh, who has been with Amazon for over a decade, has credits that range from narrative titles like Emergency and recent release Don’t Make Me Go, as well as docs such as Amy Poehler’s Lucy and Desi and the upcoming Mars rover title Good Night Oppy.
BuzzFeed Studios taps former MTV exec Paul Ricci to lead unscripted programming
BuzzFeed Studios has hired Paul Ricci, formerly the head of alternative programming and development for MTV and VH1, to lead unscripted TV, reports The Hollywood Reporter’s J. Clara Chan.
Reporting up to BuzzFeed Studios head Richard Alan Reid, Ricci will oversee unscripted projects across BuzzFeed Inc.’s brands, which include BuzzFeed, Complex, Tasty and HuffPost. Scripted projects will continue to be led by Charlotte Simms, BuzzFeed’s director of development for scripted TV.
Ricci comes to BuzzFeed after spending more than a decade at Paramount Global, then called Viacom, as a producer and executive at MTV and VH1 overseeing alternative series like Rob Dyrdek’s Ridiculousness and Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg’s Martha and Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party. Prior to that role, Ricci led development and programming for MTV2, launching shows like Nick Cannon Presents: Wild ’n Out, Guy Code and Girl Code.
Agencies
WPP reports strong first half of 2022 and posts $11 billion in revenue
WPP has reported strong first half of 2022 with broad-based growth, sustained demand from clients and the growth guidance upgraded again.
The London-based holding company posted $AUD11.790 billion (£6.755 billion) in revenue, up 10.2%, and like-for-like revenue up 8.7% from 2021.
The first half of the year saw the company win $USD3.4 billion of net new business billings, compared to the same period last year that saw $USD2.9 billion won. New businesses in H1 include Audi, Audible, Danone, Mars and Nationwide.
WPP’s report also noted that there are newly developed and expanding partnerships with global technology companies.
“During the period we announced a partnership with Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite and Unreal Engine, to help WPP agencies develop digital experiences in the metaverse. We also unveiled a first-of-its-kind partnership with Instacart, the leading online grocery platform in North America, giving WPP early product insights, access to custom features and a co-developed certification programme,” according to the report.
Radio
2GB host Ray Hadley walks out while live on his morning radio show
Broadcaster Ray Hadley made an abrupt exit midway through his radio program on Monday after telling listeners he had endured a “fiasco for 30 minutes” that included technical issues, forcing his employer to replace him at short notice, reports News Corp’s Sophie Elsworth.
Bizarrely, the radio host told listeners on multiple occasions he was headed back to Sydney where he would present his show for the remainder of the week, but this decision was later refuted by his employer, Nine Entertainment, who said he was staying in Queensland.
Presenting his weekly show from Brisbane’s Ekka, the state’s annual agricultural show, for the week, the 2GB mornings host appeared frustrated on air as his program failed to run smoothly.
He repeatedly apologised to listeners throughout the first hour of his three-hour program.
Television
Warner Bros. producer responds to calls for Schapelle Corby to be the next Bachelorette
Schapelle Corby is officially back on the market. The convicted drug smuggler-turned-reality TV contestant posted about her newly-single status on Sunday, prompting immediate calls for her to be the next Bachelorette, naturally, reports News Corp’s Bella Fowler.
Corby, 45, posted a photo of her presumably hand-in-hand with her scribbled-out ex-boyfriend Ben Panangian, with the call to action: “Looking for a New Four Leaf Clover. * ATTENTION *. Help a girl out – Get Tagging”.
Responding to the revelation and subsequent Bachelorette buzz, Warner Bros. executive producer Ed hinted it’s not off the table.
Speaking to Nova’s Fitzy and Wippa during a surprise call, Ed confirmed there had been no decision made on the next Bachelorette yet, prompting Fitzy to make his pitch.
“Schapelle Corby has broken up with Ben over in Bali and looking for love. Now there have been a lot of people suggesting wouldn’t it be great if Channel 10 could find Schapelle Corby Love?” he suggested.
“I agree … I think a lot of people would tune in,” Ed responded.
Revealing they “hadn’t considered” Corby for the spot, Ed said: “We’ll absolutely put that to Channel 10.”