Controller of BBC Radio 2 Lesley Douglas has resigned from the broadcaster over a prank played by British radio presenters Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross on former Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs.
Ross was a guest on Brand’s pre-recorded October 18 show where the pair left a series of inappropriate… Continue Reading >>
International Media, Radio October 31st 2008 — 11:25 am
The competition regulator has approved the Seven Network’s purchase of 22.4% of West Australian Newspapers and has raised no objections with Seven purchasing 100% of the West Australian company.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has advised Seven it does not propose intervention in Seven’s acquisition of shares in WAN… Continue Reading >>
Print, Television October 31st 2008 — 11:09 am
Channel Seven boss David Leckie has unexpectedly quit the Free TV Australia board after a Seven-led advertising push against subscription television was voted down by fellow board members earlier this week.
Seven had twice put forward a motion to place full page ads in newspapers on Wednesday and Thursday to… Continue Reading >>
Industry, Television October 31st 2008 — 11:02 am
Just days after announcing his resignation from hosting ABC’s Enough Rope, Andrew Denton has already moved on to his next venture.
A new six-episode satirical drama based around a fictional advertising agency has been conceived, created and written by ad agency Three Drunk Monkeys and is set to go into… Continue Reading >>
Advertising, Television, Television Programmes October 30th 2008 — 9:03 pm
Austar today said it was confident of 20 per cent earnings growth, as it reported deeper market penetration amid tough economic times.
The regional pay-TV group said it had recorded a 14 per cent increase in third-quarter profits.
A statement by Austar United Communications said earnings before interest, tax, depreciation… Continue Reading >>
Subscription Television October 28th 2008 — 3:10 pm
A 24 hour sports channel to be launched next year on free-to-air television will revolutionise the Australian broadcasting landscape.
The Ten Network is set to next month lay down the gauntlet to Fox Sports and its free-to-air rivals when it unveils that its high-definition channel will televise Australian and international… Continue Reading >>
Digital Television, Television October 28th 2008 — 3:08 pm
Consolidated Media today said that billionaire James Packer had stepped down from the board of its PBL Media unit, ending the Packer family’s long association with the media assets.
A statement from CMH, which owns 25 per cent of PBL Media, said that chairman John Alexander would also stand down… Continue Reading >>
Television October 28th 2008 — 3:05 pm
The Chaser are returning to ABC to provide their own take on the upcoming US election. However, the group’s return will not be on television, but rather to radio Triple J.
Chris Taylor and Craig Reucassel will front the half-hour program, The Race Race, which begins on Monday 27 October… Continue Reading >>
Radio October 25th 2008 — 4:13 pm
Perth community radio station 6NR, operated by Curtin University of Technology, is in trouble again with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) over breaches related to the broadcasting of advertising and sponsorship content.
ACMA found that 6NR had failed to include sponsorship tags on pre-recorded announcements for a financial… Continue Reading >>
Radio October 25th 2008 — 1:03 am
ABC’s popular Monday night interview program, Enough Rope With Andrew Denton, will finish up when the current series ends in December.
Andrew Denton has decided that after six seasons of Enough Rope, it is time to move on:
“It’s a good time to finish. Not everybody gets to finish in… Continue Reading >>
Celebrities / Personalities, Television Programmes October 24th 2008 — 11:50 pm
Former Nine Network reporter Christine Spiteri has settled with her former employer for a ’six figure sum’, according to News Limited. Legal representatives from both sides met today to have the private settlement formally approved.
The former Los Angeles correspondent sought damages of more than $500,000 under the Trade Practices… Continue Reading >>
Celebrities / Personalities, Industry, Talking Points, Television October 24th 2008 — 5:06 pm
Fairfax Radio Network’s Sydney radio station 2UE has announced plans to change its name and on-air call sign.
In a shock move the Sydney station will officially be re-named 2U-Wii on Monday October 27.
During the 2U-Wii promotion the station is planning to give away over $20,000 worth of Wii… Continue Reading >>
Uncategorised October 24th 2008 — 9:54 am
November 24 has been chosen as the launch date for Freeview, reports The AFR.
On that date FTA television network bosses will gather in Canberra along with politicians to unveil details of the service that will combine all the available FTA digital signals on to one platform.
The AFR says… Continue Reading >>
Digital Television October 23rd 2008 — 9:05 am
Former prime minister Malcolm Fraser has joined a number of public figures in supporting a statement that says SBS is not only “becoming less special, but it is also losing sight of the original idea of the service”.
Others to endorse the statement include author Raimond Gaita, playwright Stephen Sewell,… Continue Reading >>
Industry, New Media, Press Releases, Radio, Talking Points, Television October 21st 2008 — 2:18 pm
A North Queensland Senator, Ian McDonald, says that parts of Townsville will be left without free-to-air television reception when digital switchover occurs there in 2011.
The senator believes it makes no sense – instead suggesting that the move was politically motivated:
“I have the feeling that the Labor Party is… Continue Reading >>
Digital Television, Industry, Talking Points, Television October 21st 2008 — 2:08 pm