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McKnight Tonight & Media McKnight
MEDIA McKNIGHT | Episode 41
Season 1, Ep. 41
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Live TV Chaos, Channel 10's Regional Retreat, Karl & Eddie's New Show, Fair Dealing Explained + Logies Salute & Slap - Live TV chaos — Sky News UK and CBS News meltdowns dissected - Channel 10 dropped in three regional markets — WIN Network exits - Karl Stefanovic and Eddie McGuire launch The Long Weekend video podcast - Meta book piracy lawsuit — fair dealing law explained for Australian media - Salute & Slap — BAFTAs vs the Logies, and why the industry needs to back itself Rob McKnight, television and radio producer and presenter with over 30 years' experience, breaks down the biggest stories in Australian and international media from his garage on the Gold Coast. This week, live TV chaos strikes on two continents — Sky News UK gets tangled in its own wiring during a major political moment, while CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil is stranded in Taiwan due to a visa issue as Trump meets Xi in Beijing, and a medical emergency unfolds live on air. Rob unpacks what went wrong and what the control room should have done. WIN Network has confirmed it will drop Channel 10 services in the Riverland, Mount Gambier and Griffith markets from June 30, following a similar exit from Mildura in 2024. Rob says this is just the beginning — and the numbers tell a grim story for Network 10's parent, Paramount. Karl Stefanovic and Eddie McGuire are teaming up for a new Friday night video podcast called The Long Weekend, broadcasting across the Gold Radio Network and streaming on iHeart, 9Now and Stan. Rob explains why this is a smart play, and why Jam TV deserves more credit than it gets. Five major publishers have alleged Mark Zuckerberg personally ordered Meta to pirate millions of books to train its AI system, Llama. Rob takes a deep dive into fair dealing under Australian law — what it covers, what it doesn't, and why Nine's use of a Daily Mail photo during the Bondi Beach shootings is actually legal, even if it feels wrong. Sam Pang won't be hosting the Logies this year. Rob salutes Australian production teams after watching the BAFTAs, and delivers a pointed slap to anyone at the Logies who uses the stage to talk the television industry down. 📺 McKnight Tonight streams Monday, Wednesday & Thursday at 8pm AEST. 📰 Media McKnight drops every Tuesday. Subscribe for more media analysis, interviews and opinion. #MediaMcKnight #AustralianMedia #ChannelTen #KarlStefanovic #EddieMcGuire #Logies #FairDealing #CBSNews #SkyNews #VideoPocast
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59. Australian Survivor launch date - 10's BIG gamble
17:27||Season 1, Ep. 59ABC's Easter Cover-Up EXPOSED: The Texts They Didn't Want Found | Channel 10's Survivor Gamble | Why footage from parliament could soon be banned from social media | A lucklustre 70th birthday for TV Rob McKnight breaks down the biggest media stories of the week on Media McKnight. This week: Channel 10 gambles on a new timeslot for Australian Survivor 2027 as it goes head-to-head with the Australian Open and Married At First Sight. Plus, Media McKnight's exclusive FOI documents finally expose the ABC's Easter cover-up, including a text exchange between former News Director Justin Stevens and Head of Regional, Rural and Metro News Donna Field that proves the network changed its bulletin plans — and then lied about it. There's also outrage in Senate Estimates after the Defence department demanded censorship of committee footage, and a look at whether officials actually have a point about protecting witnesses on social media. And television turns 70 this week — so why doesn't the industry care? 🎯 Topics this week: Channel 10's Australian Survivor 2027 timeslot gamble EXCLUSIVE: ABC's Easter news cover-up — the texts that prove it Defence vs Senate Estimates: the fight over committee footage Television turns 70 — and no one's celebrating – Australian Survivor 2027 timeslot news – ABC Easter FOI cover-up exclusive – Defence footage censorship demand – TV turns 70 📰 Media McKnight drops every Tuesday. Subscribe for more media analysis, interviews and opinion. #MediaMcKnight #AustralianSurvivor #Channel10 #ABC #FOI #SenateEstimates #Defence #AustralianTV #TVTurns70 #MediaNews
57. RADIO RATINGS SURVEY 5 with Spencer Howson
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54. "Corporate Terrorists" - KYLE lets rip on the MFW | MEDIA McKNIGHT
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Kyle Sandilands says he's still in denial over Jackie O PLUS $2m payday for new streaming service
58:07|Kyle Sandilands joins Rob McKnight for a wide-ranging chat ahead of the launch of his new streaming service, KSLive, this Monday.Kyle reveals the new venture has already pulled in nearly $2 million in subscriptions before a single episode has aired — including a strange spike of signups out of the EU large enough that European tax authorities contacted his accountants to check the business was legitimate.Rob puts it to Kyle directly: is he in denial about the collapse of his on-air partnership with Jackie O? Kyle admits he "just refused to believe it" even after seeing the paperwork, and opens up on what he says was a fifty-fifty relationship, the lawyers, the Zoom calls, and why he still says he'd "die for Jackie" despite it all.Nearly $2 million in the bank before KSLive has even launchedEU tax authorities contact his accountants over a surge in overseas subscriptionsAdmits he "refused to believe it" when told Jackie wanted to leave the showSays he'd still "die for Jackie" despite the falloutOn staff taking down photos of him and Jackie — and why he put them back up📺 McKnight Tonight streams Monday, Wednesday & Thursday at 8pm AEST. 📺 Media McKnight streams weekly with the latest media industry analysis. Subscribe, hit the bell, like and comment — join the conversation live!#KyleSandilands #JackieO #McKnightTonight #KSLive #AustralianRadio
53. SEVEN AXES THE VOICE | NETFLIX ACCUSED OF 'TOXIC' TREATMENT
12:13||Season 1, Ep. 53Netflix Accused of 'TOXIC' Treatment of Aussie Crew | The Voice AXED On Seven | Today Extra's Woke Problem Netflix is facing serious allegations from Australian crew on its new reality series Wonka's The Golden Ticket, shot at Warner Bros Movie World — plus The Voice looks set to be axed on Seven to help fund I'm A Celebrity, Today Extra's panel picks draw scrutiny, and OzTAM's new Streamscape data reveals how Aussies are really watching video. - Netflix's Wonka's Golden Ticket — crew treatment allegations - The Voice axed on Seven to fund I'm A Celebrity - Today Extra's left-leaning panel problem - OzTAM Streamscape Q2 2026 data breakdown 📺 Media McKnight drops every Tuesday. #MediaMcKnight #Netflix #TheVoice #TodayExtra #PaulineHanson #AustralianTV #OzTAM #TVRatings #KyleSandilands #ChannelSeven
52. KYLE'S REVENGE? Has Sandilands Thrown Jackie O Under The Bus In Court | MEDIA McKNIGHT
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51. Pauline Hanson: "I'll Put Ads on the ABC" | MEDIA McKNIGHT
17:11||Season 1, Ep. 51Pauline Hanson: "I'll Put Ads on the ABC" | 9News' World Cup Blunder | YouTube's Aussie TV Archive Copyright War Pauline Hanson tells Media McKnight she'll allow ads on the ABC if One Nation wins government — turning it into a subscription service. Plus: 9News Brisbane's awkward World Cup graphics mix-up, a bitter copyright fight breaking out between Australian TV archivists on YouTube, why McKnight Tonight called the Ninja Warrior move before anyone else, 4BC's brutal ratings-driven shake-up, and why Nine has quietly killed off SHARK! for good. – 9News' World Cup graphics blunder – Pauline Hanson: ads on the ABC? – ABC's YouTube livestream ad controversy – YouTube copyright war: Australian TV archivists – I'm A Celebrity lands at Seven, Ninja Warrior to 10 – 4BC axes breakfast team after shock ratings – Nine not bringing back SHARK! #MediaMcKnight #PaulineHanson #ABC #9News #YouTube #AustralianTV #ImACelebrity #NinjaWarrior #4BC #RadioRatings #SHARK 📰 Media McKnight drops every Tuesday. Subscribe for more media analysis, interviews and opinion.
50. IS THE $5.3 BILLION NRL DEAL ILLEGAL? | MEDIA McKNIGHT
20:36||Season 1, Ep. 50It's our 50th edition of Media McKnight — and we're tackling the question that's split the industry: does the $5.3 billion NRL broadcast deal actually breach Australia's anti-siphoning laws? Last week I argued it does. This week, lawyer Michael Wells from Blackbay Lawyers joins me to go line-by-line through the Broadcasting Services Act, Section 146W, the anti-hoarding rules, and ACMA's official response to our questions — to find out who's right. 00:45 - Recap: last week's anti-siphoning claim 01:42 - Michael Wells from Blackbay Lawyers joins the show 02:15 - The anti-siphoning list: NRL matches explained 03:10 - Breaking down Section 146W of the Broadcasting Services Act 05:30 - Does Foxtel have the right to broadcast exclusively? 07:00 - ACMA's official statement to Media McKnight 08:20 - The anti-hoarding rules: should games go to ABC/SBS? 📺 Media McKnight drops every Tuesday. #MediaMcKnight #NRL #AntiSiphoning #NRLDeal #Foxtel #BroadcastingLaw #ACMA #AustralianMedia #SportsBroadcasting #FreeToAir
"6 Breakfast Shows In 6 Years" — Ex-4BC Producer Slams Shakeup
19:31|Brisbane's 4BC has announced a major programming shake-up after another bad ratings survey — Dean Miller and Sofie Formica are out of Breakfast, Michael McLaren is being networked in from 2GB, and the weekend line-up is being axed entirely in favour of Sydney content. Former 4BC radio producer Brett Debritz joins Rob McKnight to unpack the changes, and doesn't hold back — revealing 4BC has now churned through six breakfast hosts in six years, and questioning whether station management has learned anything from its ratings research at all. - Dean Miller & Sofie Formica replaced by Jason Matthews in Breakfast - Gary Hardgrave moves from Drive to Mornings - Michael McLaren networked in from 2GB for Afternoons - Carla Bignasca's local Afternoons show and weekend programming axed - Station Manager Siobhain Ryan confirms local job losses are coming Brett Debritz gives his verdict on where it's gone wrong — and what 4BC needs to do to win Brisbane back. 🔔 Subscribe, hit the bell, like and comment — join the conversation live! 📺 McKnight Tonight streams Monday, Wednesday & Thursday at 8pm AEST. 🎙️ Catch Media McKnight for weekly media industry analysis. #McKnightTonight #4BC #RadioNews #BrisbaneMedia #MediaMcKnight