This Month
This man created an $84m Netflix series you’ll never see
Filmmaker Carl Erik Rinsch gambled a chunk of his production budget on shares, then bought a fleet of Rolls-Royces. Now he says the streaming giant owes him.
- John Carreyrou
Netflix finally reveals what people are (and aren’t) watching
The streaming service’s move comes after long-held criticism from industry insiders, creators and the media of a lack of transparency about its viewership data.
- Herb Scribner and Taylor Lorenz
Spotify lays off 1500 staff after podcast spending spree
It’s a gloomy end to the year for employees at the music streaming giant, as 17 per cent of the company has been shown the door.
- Adam Satariano
Amazon snaps up rights to cricket World Cups until 2027
The deal means major tournaments including the T20 World Cups – previously aired by Foxtel, Nine and Seven West – will instead be consolidated at Prime Video.
- Zoe Samios
Gambling, pranks, lucrative contracts: Inside livestreaming site Kick
The Twitch competitor has doled out generous deals to content creators. It has also faced criticism for its lax moderation and embrace of online gambling.
- Kellen Browning
November
Can a ‘record-breaking’ $6.9m jackpot save the real-life Squid Game?
The reality version of the Netflix drama is flawed but compulsive viewing. Here’s why you probably won’t be able to look away.
- Atlantic Online
I helped make Succession, so I enjoyed this book about TV and greed
As the power in Hollywood has moved from film to the small screen, so has the much-mythologised alpha male auteur.
- Jesse Armstrong
Streamers spent less on Aussie shows last year despite Labor’s threats
Streaming services spent $11 million less on Aussie shows, as confidential documents reveal the Albanese government’s plans to force local content spend.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
October
Fastest-selling debut novelist in Australia gets Netflix series
Journalist turned bestselling author Trent Dalton says he owes a huge debt to his hometown of Brisbane for turning his and his family’s life around.
- Updated
- Mark Ludlow
September
The power of data: How popular was Succession? It’s secret. Here’s why
Never before has so much information been collected on your viewing habits, and yet less and less is known about what you are watching.
- Zoe Samios
Amazon Prime will slap ads in movies and shows - unless you pay extra
Australians will be forced to watch ads on Amazon Prime shows starting in 2024 and must pay an extra charge to avoid them.
- Michelle Chapman
Universal Music strikes deal to reshape streaming economics
The world’s largest record company and French streaming service Deezer have agreed an arrangement they expect will lift payouts to professional artists by 10 per cent.
- Anna Nicolaou
August
Man mistaken for tech expert to sue BBC over footage royalties
Guy Goma became an internet sensation after staff at the public broadcaster confused him with a technology expert due to be interviewed about the threat of online music to the industry.
- Michael Murphy and Alex Barton
- Opinion
- Tech Observed
Telcos struggle for public sympathy in big tech battle
The telco sector will open a can of worms if it goes after big tech for more payments, and it may struggle to win the argument.
- Paul Smith
Streaming platforms should pay us for infrastructure, telcos say
Telstra, Optus and TPG say the likes of Netflix, YouTube and Amazon’s cloud and AI services are driving network traffic to unsustainable levels.
- Paul Smith
Foxtel ‘flagrantly’ stole technology from us, small Sydney firm claims
Advanced Technology Group is taking the News Corp-controlled broadcaster to court for allegedly using its patented system to sell set-top boxes for years.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
Hollywood calls time on golden era of cheap streaming
Disney, Paramount, Warner Bros Discovery and others have raised their prices in response to pressure from Wall Street to end the profligacy of the streaming boom.
- Anna Nicolaou and Christopher Grimes
It’s the royal gay romcom we’ve all been waiting for
The feverishly awaited Amazon Prime screen adaptation of a viral novel hits our screens on Friday.
- Claire Allfree
July
These three Spotify editors are becoming music’s most influential players
Between them, Hannah Brewer, Jazmine Huggins and Amelia Jenner decide what will make up some of the most listened to playlists in the country.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
Netflix set for worst share price drop this year
The streaming giant’s crackdown on password sharing and a new advertising tier failed to deliver the sales growth that investors hoped for.
- Lucas Shaw
