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McKnight Tonight & Media McKnight
S01E39 - Why FaceBook shouldn't have to pay for news
News bargaining incentive: social media vs AI | Screen Forever: Bluey IP, Stan, Channel 10 | Sarah Abo's maternity leave play | Channel 9 job cuts | All My Friends Are Back in Brisbane | Tony Jones: 40 years at Nine Rob McKnight brings his three decades of broadcasting experience to this week's Media McKnight, with a pointed take on the federal government's draft news bargaining incentive legislation — and why politicians are confusing social media promotion with AI theft. Plus, fresh insights from the Screen Forever conference on the Gold Coast, and the latest from inside the networks. The federal government has released draft legislation for the next stage of the news bargaining incentive, aimed at making big tech pay for journalism. But Rob draws a clear line the legislation doesn't: social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram aren't stealing journalism — they're driving traffic back to news sites for free. It's AI platforms like Google that are actually scraping and serving up content without sending users anywhere, and that's where the focus should be. Rob attended the Screen Forever conference on the Gold Coast, where ABC managing director Hugh Marks addressed the Bluey merchandising rights miss, Nine's Adrian Swift talked up new Stan IP including an OnlyFans series, and Ten/Paramount's Sarah Thornton made clear the network won't be taking big swings on untested formats. Rob also delivers a blunt verdict on the new Shark Island series. Sarah Abo has made a smart public move — declaring her intention to return to the Today show just three months after the birth of her baby boy, making it very difficult for Nine to push her out amid reports of a potential host refresh. Meanwhile, Nine has confirmed 20 redundancies in the first stage of its Future News overhaul, with automation coming to the Today show control room. Rob reviews indie film All My Friends Are Back in Brisbane — made for just $13,000 and starring newcomer Nell Lee and Home and Away's Dan Ewing — and offers his recommendation ahead of screenings in Brisbane (May 29–31), Sydney (June 18) and Melbourne (July 9). And a big congratulations to Nine Melbourne sports presenter Tony Jones, celebrating 40 years at the network — with an on-air moment as awkward and endearing as you'd expect. Federal government's draft news bargaining incentive legislation — and why Rob thinks it's got it wrong on social media Screen Forever Gold Coast: ABC, Nine/Stan, Ten/Paramount on IP, risk and the state of Australian TV Sarah Abo's maternity leave play — and why Nine can't easily move her on Channel 9 announces 20 redundancies in Future News overhaul; automation coming to Today Indie film All My Friends Are Back in Brisbane — Rob's review and upcoming screenings Tony Jones celebrates 40 years at Channel Nine 📰 Media McKnight drops every Tuesday. Subscribe for more media analysis, interviews and opinion. 📺 McKnight Tonight streams Monday, Wednesday & Thursday at 8pm AEST. #MediaMcKnight #AustralianMedia #NewsBargainingIncentive #ScreenForever #ChannelNine #SarahAbo #TodayShow #ABCaustralia #RobMcKnight #AustralianTelevision
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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
38:42||Season 1, Ep. 57Metro radio ratings Survey 5 has landed, and Spencer Howson joins Rob McKnight to break down every capital city. KIIS Sydney breakfast keeps sliding since Kyle and Jackie O's exit, gold's Christian O'Connell is quietly holding both Sydney and Melbourne, 4BC's Jason Matthews posts a strong number, and 6PR delivers Perth's standout result for Tapped Radio. Plus: Tapped's traffic team gets axed in favour of the Australian Traffic Network, and a hint that change could be coming to ABC Brisbane breakfast.00:00 – Survey 5 preview 00:42 – Sydney station shares 04:35 – Sydney breakfast numbers 06:41 – Melbourne station shares 07:59 – Melbourne breakfast numbers 10:31 – Tapped Media axes traffic team, outsources to ATN 14:14 – Brisbane station shares 15:25 – Brisbane breakfast — KIIS 973's slide continues 19:13 – Why did 4BC really dump Sophie & Dean? 23:45 – Adelaide station shares 24:17 – Adelaide breakfast numbers 25:50 – Perth station shares 26:53 – Perth breakfast — 6PR's big story 32:36 – Final thoughts: ABC Brisbane on notice, Tony Martin's sacking revisited 38:19 – Wrap#RadioRatings #AustralianRadio #GfKSurvey5 #KIISFM #2GB #3AW #6PR #MediaMcKnight📰 Media McKnight drops every Tuesday. Subscribe for more media analysis, interviews and opinion.
54. "Corporate Terrorists" - KYLE lets rip on the MFW | MEDIA McKNIGHT
22:27||Season 1, Ep. 54Seven's Bullying Tactics EXPOSED | ABC Caught Lying Over Secret Easter News Plan | Kyle Day 2 Verdict | Media McKnight Ep 54 Kyle Sandilands' day 2 was a big improvement — but the Mad Witches drama, an FOI inquiry that catches the ABC out in a lie about their secret Easter news plan, Amanda Rose's bombshell exit from Sunrise, and a growing Seven Network underpayment class action. Plus: where has all the local content gone on Australian TV? – Kyle Sandilands' Day 2 turnaround, Mayo's producing instincts, and the truth behind his Idol exit and the Mad Witches – Where did Australian TV go? A week of the TV guide shows how little local content survives primetime – Amanda Rose vs Sunrise: the exclusivity ultimatum, Seven's denial, and the Adero Law class action over underpayment claims – ABC's Easter news FOI saga: extension after extension, and the email trail exposing the spin 📰 Media McKnight drops every Tuesday. Subscribe for more media analysis, interviews and opinion. #MediaMcKnight #KyleSandilands #AustralianTV #Sunrise #Channel7 #ABC #FOI #AmandaRose #MediaNews
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
31:00||Season 1, Ep. 52KYLE'S REVENGE? Has Kyle Sandilands thrown Jackie O under the bus in her Federal Court case against ARN — and did he do it on purpose? Employment lawyer Michael Byrnes from SWAAB joins me to break down Justice Stewart's ruling, the suspicious timeline of Kyle and Bruno Buchet's affidavits, and whether Kyle and Jackie's secret texts could blow up her case entirely. Plus — News24 (the rebranded Sky News) has a shocker on the day of the Victorian Labor Leader spill, missing Ben Carroll's Victorian Labor leadership win live on air while running an advertorial, then suffering a six-minute-48-second audio meltdown. We compare it side-by-side with the ABC's coverage. And 9News Melbourne claims the ratings crown for 2026 with win number 21 — but is the traditional weekly win metric still relevant when ratings run all year round? - News24's election night disaster - 9News Melbourne's ratings crown - Kyle's Revenge? Michael Byrnes on the Jackie O affidavits 📺 Media McKnight drops every Tuesday. Subscribe for more media analysis, interviews and opinion. #KyleSandilands #JackieO #MediaMcKnight #News24 #9News #ARN
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