This Month
Of course The Late Show’s death was about Trump, but also money
Stephen Colbert’s late-night comedy show has been cancelled after he poked fun at Paramount’s legal deal with Trump. But the art form was already in decline.
Severance dominates Emmy nods as Apple challenges HBO and Netflix
The Netflix drama earned a swag of nominations but nothing came close to dystopian workplace series “Severance” from Apple, which achieved acclaim and audience buzz.
The Bear is back on track in tasty new season
After the slow tempo of last season drew criticism, showrunner Christopher Storer tweaked the recipe and found the right balance again.
June
You thought Squid Game couldn’t get more violent. You were wrong
The third and final season of the Korean drama is not for the squeamish, but it remains a thrilling and utterly original critique of capitalist excess.
Warner Bros Discovery ‘fumbling through disruption’ as cable TV struggles
This week’s effective break-up of the US media group after just three years has left staff exasperated as the swashbuckling pay television era disintegrates.
April
Cops come knocking after NIDA graduates pull no punches as impresarios
Rather than wait for the phone to ring, four young Sydney actors and their teacher formed their own production company to make theatre on their terms.
Dutton rules out superannuation changes, flags big education overhaul
The opposition leader echoed Tony Abbott’s 2013 pledge of not slashing health or education, but indicated the schools would face a major overhaul.
March
Memo to Hugh Marks: DOGE-like efficiency’s the fix for ABC’s news bias
The new managing director forcing the newsroom to operate as productively as commercial rivals would lead to more stories, more views and more angles.
Disney retreats from the culture wars, one trigger warning at a time
Donald Trump’s crackdown on diversity has seen the Mouse House tone down its pre-program messages. But content advisories have their defenders elsewhere.
February
‘I made smart decisions, I didn’t want to be poor’: Rachel Griffiths
The actor did her time in Hollywood and now calls her own shots, including producing a new series that looks at brothel life in a uniquely lighthearted way.
How Isla Fisher flies from LA to London (and back)
From early roles in Home and Away and the Wedding Crashers, this actor is now a global star. She shares her ultimate local and holiday-abroad spots.
Fox sales, profit surge; company plans new streaming service
Shares in the media company soared to their highest in nearly six years as its quarterly results were bolstered by higher US political ad spending.
January
CNN sacks 200 employees as news broadcaster faces ‘profound’ shift
The cable network let go of 6 per cent of its workforce as it focuses on streaming and digital audiences amid declining ratings.
James Packer dines with Trump, Elon Musk
New social media photos show the Australian billionaire seated with Elon Musk and the new president at dinner in Mar-a-Lago.
Foxtel’s $3.4b sale a bet on a billionaire, not a deal of the decade
There’s much more to the pay TV and streaming provider’s ownership change than the headline price. Now Saudi Arabia is involved.
December 2024
Blake Lively turns the shame around
The actress is suing a Hollywood studio alleging sexual harassment and a smear campaign. It may prolong the pain but the only way to end impunity is to speak up.
Lin-Manuel Miranda on Mufasa and the secret to a Disney hit
The Hamilton creator, who crafted the soundtrack for the new prequel to The Lion King, reflects on writing songs that have universal appeal.
The best TV shows of 2024
The New York Times picks English Teacher, My Brilliant Friend, Shogun, Babylon Berlin and Somebody Somewhere among the series that stood out this year.
Paramount’s Network Ten snaps up three regional broadcast licences
The seller, Southern Cross Media, has been trying to offload them for several years. It said it was in talks to sell others in Tasmania, Darwin and Broken Hill.
Former Nine boss Hugh Marks to lead ABC
The executive who pulled off the broadcaster’s merger with Fairfax and helped lobby for big tech to pay for Australian content starts his new job in March.