McKnight Tonight & Media McKnight

Tropfest is back — but was the livestream a disaster? Southern Cross Media sacks its CEO hours before financial results. Nine sells Darwin for pocket change. And the BAFTAs are overshadowed by an ugly on-stage outburst. In this explosive episode of Media McKnight, Rob McKnight breaks down: 🎥 Why the Tropfest 2026 livestream failed to deliver as a television spectacle 📉 Southern Cross Media dumping CEO Jeff Howard amid falling profits 📺 Nine’s worrying revenue slide and the $500k sale of Darwin 🤖 The growing AI content licensing trend 🎭 The BAFTA Awards controversy involving activist John Davidson 🔥 Why Australian television needs bold ideas — not more “diminishing returns” With 30+ years in TV and radio, Rob gives you the insider analysis the industry won’t. 🔴 WATCH MEDIA McKNIGHT New episodes weekly. 📺 McKnight Tonight streams Monday, Wednesday & Thursday at 9pm (AEDT). 🎙 Media McKnight every Tuesday. Subscribe and hit the bell so you don’t miss out. #MediaMcKnight #Tropfest #AustralianTV #NineNetwork #SouthernCrossMedia #BAFTA #tvindustry

A new season of Married at First Sight is delivering huge ratings for Nine — but with success comes renewed scrutiny. In this episode of Media McKnight, Rob McKnight examines the reality behind reality TV, drawing on a detailed conversation with former MAFS post-producer Alex Fennell. Also in this edition: - Nine pays to interview the Bondi hero - but will they get value for money? - Why podcasts need to evolve with new trends - The Nightly under fire over sexist headline - A reporter and camo have a bust-up caught on tape - We look at the Future of Television as the medium turns 100 - AM radio under the spotlight in a new podcast - Stop the whining - a weather presenter misses out on a gig and it makes news #MediaMcKnight #MAFS #MarriedAtFirstSight #AustralianTV #RealityTV #TVRatings #VillainEdit #NineNetwork #AusMedia

Nine Entertainment’s radio sale was meant to be routine — but the coverage itself revealed just how little priority radio had inside the company. In this episode of Media McKnight, Rob McKnight breaks down: • A live TV mic fail on Nine Gold Coast — and why how you recover matters more than the mistake • Nine’s radio stations sold to billionaire publican Arthur Laundy — and why this might actually be good news • Sloppy Nine News graphics versus Seven getting it right • Nova’s on-air shake-ups and Joel Creasy stepping out solo • The BBC under fire over colour-blind casting in historical dramas • Doctor Who casting backlash and the suspension-of-disbelief problem • Nelson Aspen reveals he was sacked by Sunrise — not a mutual exit • And this week’s edition of “things I just don’t care about” — featuring the Australian Open and tennis players complaining about privacy 🎥 Media McKnight video episodes go live Tuesdays at 9pm AEDT 📰 The column publishes Wednesdays at tvblackbox.com.au 👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell to support independent media analysis.

Sky News production errors, fresh claims about Julia Morris on I’m A Celebrity, and backlash over the ABC’s Australia Day special. In Media McKnight Episode 25, Rob McKnight breaks down the media stories shaping the week. In this episode: • Sky News and on-air production mistakes – including a Chris Kenny segment that raised eyebrows • Why media quality control is slipping across TV newsrooms • I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here pre-recorded in 2026 as a cost-cutting move • Claims from on-set sources about Julia Morris’ behaviour, and what’s been reported previously • ABC’s Always Was Tonight and the controversy around Tony Armstrong and Australia Day programming Media McKnight streams every Tuesday, with McKnight Tonight live Monday, Wednesday & Thursday at 9pm AEDT. Subscribe for media analysis, behind-the-scenes insight, and straight-talk commentary. #MediaMcKnight #AustralianMedia #SkyNews #ChrisKenny #ImACelebrity #JuliaMorris #RobertIrwin #ABC #AustraliaDay #TonyArmstrong #TVIndustry #MediaAnalysis #BroadcastTV #AustralianTelevision

You can watch the video version at YouTube.com/@McKnightTonightIt looks like Agro - and creator Jamie Dunn - are returning to television. In this episode of Media McKnight, Rob McKnight speaks exclusively with Jamie Dunn – the creator of Agro – about: • Talks with Channel 7 for a one-off Agro special • What the show would look like • Why it would only be a single episode eventx • The brutal state of radio today • Kyle & Jackie O’s national ambitions • Why breakfast radio is struggling PLUS – Rob also breaks down how major newspapers pressured the PM into calling a Royal Commission into the Bondi attack and why journalists like Sarah Ferguson are being unfairly targeted for doing their job.

A punchline in Mortality appears to closely mirror a joke first delivered by Karl Pilkington on The Ricky Gervais Show podcast in 2006. In this episode of Media McKnight, Rob McKnight breaks down the original podcast exchange alongside the Netflix performance, examining whether this was inspiration, recycling, or outright joke theft. The controversy is especially ironic given Gervais publicly accused James Corden of joke theft in 2022 — raising serious questions about comedy ethics, writing credits, and attribution. Also in this edition of Media McKnight: • PR spin and alleged misinformation surrounding Big Brother Australia • Behind-the-scenes media battles following the Bondi Beach shootings • Embarrassing on-air blunders at Seven and Nine • Why Australian media still struggles with crediting original reporting • And the stories that don’t deserve the airtime Media McKnight airs every Tuesday McKnight Tonight streams Monday, Wednesday & Thursday at 9pm AEDT Subscribe 👉 youtube.com/@UCsmKH_7Id_cO8NYwNOeIN9g #rickygervais #rickygervaisshow #karlpilkington #stephenmerchant #comedy #ethics #jokes #mcknighttonight #mediamcknight #robmcknight

This week on Media McKnight, Rob McKnight breaks down one of the biggest behind-the-scenes shake-ups in Australian radio — the fallout from Ash Bradnam’s axing from NOVA Brisbane after 21 years, the confirmed departure of Nikki Osborne, and the return of Susie O’Neil to breakfast. Rob also takes aim at the misleading “quit live on air” headlines and explains what actually happened behind the scenes — and why clickbait reporting is eroding trust in media coverage. Plus, a deep dive into one of the most significant global media battles in years: Netflix’s blockbuster acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount’s hostile takeover move, and what all of this could mean for Network 10, local investment, and the future of AFL and NRL broadcast rights in Australia. Could a failed Paramount bid actually put Channel 10 back in the sports rights race? Also in this episode: – The escalating feud between 50 Cent and Sean “Diddy” Combs, and the explosive Netflix docuseries that’s reignited it – The end of the ACRAs and why the new replacement radio and podcast awards are pricing out independents – A brutally honest new segment: “Things I Don’t Give a Sh*t About” – And a trip into the McKnight Tonight archives with rare 2011 footage from the 9NEWS and A Current Affair teams If you care about Australian media, radio, television, streaming, sports rights, and industry power plays, this episode is essential viewing. Watch, subscribe and support independent media: 👉 youtube.com/@McKnightTonight New episodes of Media McKnight drop every Tuesday, with McKnight Tonight streaming Monday, Wednesday & Thursday at 9pm AEDT.

Welcome back to Media McKnight — your go-to show for no-spin insight on the Aussie media scene. Tonight Rob McKnight dives deep into: • The shock axing of Ash Bradnam after 21 years in Brisbane breakfast radio. • A domino of moves at NOVA and 4BC that will shake up the market. • The ratings war between The Seven Network and Nine Network — who really won 2025? • Why tech giants might be on the hook for up to $600 M a year to Aussie publishers. Stream LIVE this Tuesday at 9 pm AEDT on youtube.com/@McKnightTonight Don’t forget to subscribe, hit the bell and comment your thoughts 👇 #MediaMcKnight #AustralianMedia #RadioRatings #TVBlackbox

In this special video edition of Media McKnight, Rob McKnight breaks down Radio Ratings Survey 7 for 2025 across Australia’s major markets.Sydney and Melbourne continue to prove that talk radio still dominates, while NOVA finds strong momentum in key regional battlegrounds.This episode covers:Sydney: 2GB’s continued reign, SmoothFM’s FM dominance and the breakfast battle between Ben Fordham and Kyle & Jackie O.Melbourne: 3AW’s unstoppable run, GOLD’s FM strength and strong performances from Christian O’Connell and FOX.Brisbane: Triple M narrowly leads, 4BH’s surprise surge and what changes at B105 and 4BC mean moving forward.Adelaide: Triple M’s continued dominance and the coming MIX to KIIS rebrand.Perth: NOVA’s clear market leadership and shifting breakfast dynamics.Rob also unpacks what these figures really mean for strategy, programming, and the year ahead in Australian radio.Media McKnight streams every Tuesday, alongside McKnight Tonight – live Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays at 9pm AEDT.Subscribe for sharp media analysis, industry insight and no-spin commentary.youtube.com/@mcknighttonightLeave your thoughts in the comments — who’s winning the radio war where you live?