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News & current affairs

March

Hugh Marks has already noted the 30 per cent greater efficiency of commercial television broadcaster Nine.

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.

February

Chief Executive Officer Lachlan Murdoch said on the company’s earnings call that Fox saw record political ad revenue during the first half of fiscal 2025.

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

Today Show presenter Alex Cullen has left Nine following an incident involving a $50,000 cash prize.

Alex Cullen to leave Nine after accepting $50,000 from billionaire

Alex Cullen, who presented on popular breakfast program Today, was stood down last weekend after accepting the money from Adrian Portelli for on-air comments.

Donald Trump and Joe Biden debating at CNN’s Atlanta studios.

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.

Former Foxtel executive Amanda Laing joins Nine to lead a new, converged division.

Amanda Laing joins Nine, Stan CEO departs in strategic overhaul

The company is simplifying its management and giving executives more responsibility for revenue growth. Several senior figures will depart as a result.

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December 2024

Newsmax chief executive Chris Ruddy, has turned the cable channel into a pure vehicle for Trumpism, attacking Fox News for including occasional dissenting voices.

Trump-loving cable network Newsmax to launch in Australia

ADH TV, launched by former broadcaster Alan Jones, will bring the right-wing news channel by expanding under the Newsmax Australia brand.

Airlie Walsh at a David Jones event in 2019. She was a well-known personality on the Nine Network.

Nine’s Airlie Walsh sues network amid workplace culture fallout

The well-known television personality had worked on the Today breakfast program and as a political reporter for more than a decade.

June 2024

Last week Nine Entertainment chief executive Mike Sneesby told parliament jobs will go if Meta’s deals do.

Nine Entertainment to cut 200 jobs as Meta content deal ends

CEO Mike Sneesby made the announcement as Nine battles a weaker advertising market and a content deal with Meta, which runs Instagram and Facebook, ends.

September 2023

Rupert Murdoch and son Lachlan.

Rupert Murdoch steps down from News Corp and Fox, Lachlan ascends

The 92-year-old global media baron insisted he was in “robust health” as he stepped down after a 70-year career, ending years of speculation over his succession.

July 2023

Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes.

Billionaire Kerry Stokes wants to buy a public road

Buying the laneway would connect three buildings owned by the media and mining magnate, including the headquarters of his private office.

June 2023

Lara Logan

The 60 Minutes star who became a voice of the far right

Lara Logan was one of the world’s best-known television journalists. She now promotes wild conspiracy theories. What happened?

The disruptions to business caused by the pandemic helped litigators dominate the latest lists compiled by ratings agency Best Lawyers.

Federal Court invites suppression orders under new access rules

One leading media lawyer said the new rules potentially compromised the public’s right to know what was happening in court.

May 2023

Seven West Media got fees for using the Supreme Court Gardens in Perth City waived by the council.

Seven’s ‘Stokesfest’ scored late fee waiver from City of Perth

The Kerry Stokes-controlled media company was given lucrative handouts to put on the mining conference.

Sportsbet chief executive Barni Evans.

Adolescent Sportsbet puts an adult in charge

Sportsbet tries to move past its blokish advertising era, with an internal reshuffle.

April 2023

Don Lemon’s departure from CNN comes as the network is overhauling its programming in a bid to improve ratings.

Ousted stars Tucker Carlson, Don Lemon steel for legal battle

The ex-Fox and CNN anchors have hired the same combative lawyer with a history of taking on major TV networks.

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Fox casualties: Glenn Beck, left, Tucker Carlson, center, and Bill O’Reilly.

Past firings at Fox carry lessons for cable network after Carlson

At Fox News, the platform is king, not the on-air personalities, and Tucker Carlson is likely to re-emerge in a diminished position.

Inside Kerry Stokes’ world of influence

The media magnate has enjoyed almost-unparalleled influence in Australia’s west for decades.

February 2023

The Federal Court declined to answer a series of questions about how the new rules would work in practice.

Federal Court rejects request for details on new restrictions

The Federal Court of Australia has refused to release any information about a meeting of judges which voted to drastically reduce access to documents without any consultation with the media.

January 2023

Jim Chalmers’ vision of capitalism has drawn scepticism from business.

Why Jim Chalmers has people so stirred up

What’s the problem with the Treasurer’s new economic model? Much of the business community and the media are sceptical of Labor’s answers.

December 2022

ABC journalist Sarah Ferguson presented Fox and the Big Lie, the program that frustrated executives at the American cable network.

Four Corners ‘materially misled’ audience with Fox News episodes: ACMA

‘Fox and the Big Lie’, Four Corners’ 2021 two-part investigation into Fox News, materially misled its audience, the media regulator has found.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/tv-news---current-affairs-63e