This Month
Seven Network’s Spotlight goes all in with Bruce Lehrmann
It’s hard to find a good hairdresser today. So it was match made in heaven when one of the broadcaster’s exclusive interviewees, Anthony Koletti, met another.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
Lachlan Murdoch cancels Christmas bash
The Murdochs aren’t having a Christmas party at their Bellevue Hill estate this year; Nine cuts jobs; ABC political editor’s questionable job ad placement.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
Would Kerry Stokes pay to avoid Bruce McWilliam’s embarrassing emails?
Kerry Stokes’ ACE and Seven can pay Nine’s legal costs or let 8650 emails from Bruce McWilliam be released; Eyes turn to News Corp’s new Google deal.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
November
New Federal Court rules block access to Westpac human rights case
Michael Lee quashed Network Ten’s application for the Bruce Lehrmann trial to be pulled off a livestream in aid of open justice. Others aren’t so lucky.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
News Corp Australia boss Michael Miller quashes rumours his time is up
Whether Michael Miller is leaving is all anyone is talking about; 10m shares in Southern Cross change hands; Streamers outraged at government’s quota plans.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
Guy Sebastian, David Beckham join Chemist Warehouse’s $600m-a-year party
Chemist Warehouse hosted 2000 people for an upfront event that was bigger than any media company’s; Fractures in the Schwartz Media ranks over Gaza coverage.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
Tabcorp maths: cut jersey logos, add three new teams
Tabcorp chooses to sign three new deals with sports teams as wagering advertising regulations loom; Radio industry muscles up; Foxtel’s content costs jump.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones and Mark Di Stefano
October
A media analyst’s clash with SCA’s board: ‘You guys cost $1.156m’
Retired analyst Roger Colman’s blistering questions at Southern Cross Austereo’s AGM; could Kerry and Ryan Stokes be (temporarily) booted off Seven’s board?
- Sam Buckingham-Jones and Mark Di Stefano
TechDay ends links with PR firm after ‘exasperating’ requests
What happened between TechDay and PR firm Archetype?; The Daily Telegraph’s new TV play; SBS’s ad revenue bucks the market.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones and Mark Di Stefano
News Corp, James Hardie spinner takes Eat, Pray, Love retirement
After a quadruple heart bypass in July, former News Limited spin doctor Greg Baxter retired from CBA in exactly the right way.
- Mark Di Stefano and Sam Buckingham-Jones
Kerry Stokes spurns doing a Rupert, rides again
Billionaire Kerry Stokes renominates as director of Seven West Media; behind the ABC’s decision to block ChatGPT’s web crawler; The Market Herald’s rebrand.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones and Mark Di Stefano
Amazon’s behind the scenes back-down in bid for TV ad millions
Amazon tells us its plan to take 30pc cut from Fire TV advertising is global, tells networks otherwise; Foxtel’s Patrick Delany concedes “lack of content”.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones and Mark Di Stefano
September
Newsrooms prepare to name Queensland rape case’s ‘high-profile man’
From October 3, a change to Queensland sexual offender laws could prompt a tsunami of reporting about a case that has remained below the radar.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones and Mark Di Stefano
China-owned TikTok’s Aussie hiring spree seeks ‘tax optimisation’ pro
After pitching to hire people sacked by Meta and Twitter late last year, TikTok wants someone from a major accounting firm to help with “tax optimisation”.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones and Mark Di Stefano
Jim Chalmers’ conflict of interest for the media bargaining code fray
Meta is pulling out of news and media companies expect a fight next year for a new set of deals. The treasurer won’t be there for it.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones and Mark Di Stefano
Media giants line up to pitch to advertisers at this year’s Upfronts
Media companies ready their upfront presentation to increase their share of billions in advertising; No mushrooms on Jimmy and Jane Barnes’ menu.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones and Mark Di Stefano
August
PwC’s once formidable expert marketing wing cut adrift
Bookies up in arms at rival’s BetStop link; Were ABC recruiters already replacing Ita before she stepped down?
- Sam Buckingham-Jones and Mark Di Stefano
Mumbrella in disarray as it feels the heat from South by Southwest
Mumbrella’s pain continues with another big departure and an increasingly competitive event market; Seven happy to platform activists when it’s exclusive.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones and Mark Di Stefano
Meg O’Neill’s secret weapon against the ABC is an ex-ABC journalist
A former ABC veteran is penning the Woodside CEO’s speeches as the company wages war on the broadcaster; Mumbrella loses its third editor in a year.
- Mark Di Stefano and Sam Buckingham-Jones
July
ARN buys skywriting to impress Kyle and Jackie O
How far will ARN Media go to impress – and keep – Kyle & Jackie O at Kiis FM? And the ABC’s next lightning rod.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones and Mark Di Stefano
