Mumbrellacast

Welcome to this week's Mumbrellacast, recorded one syllable at a time and then painstakingly stitched together. Australian publishers and creators may have to actively block AI companies from scraping, stealing, and modifying their content, under two rather ill-conceived government proposals regarding AI and copyright. Do we really value data centres over copyright protection? With these ideas currently up for debate, we will find out public and political sentiment around this soon enough. The Albanese government is also mulling up selling off some of the broadcast spectrum currently used in free-to-air TV, with an eye on raising billions from the telcos, who'd quite like some of those airwaves for their future 6G mobile networks. Karl Stefanovic is planning to buy out his podcast business partner Keshnee Kemp, after close to six weeks of radio silence. A third-party has been appointed by the court to evaluate how much Kemp's 45% is worth. The problem is, how does one put a dollar figure on a company that is more about potential than actual results? We speculate wildly. And finally, we went to four upfronts in three days, and discuss the various pros and cons of Nine, Youtube, Amazon, and Snap's presentations to the market. Enjoy! Get the latest episodes here. Podcast edit by Abe’s Audio. And for more about how News Australia is thinking about the future of mobile news in Australia, click here.

Today's Mumbrellacast has a slightly different format to usual. It features a conversation between Tim Burrowes and Josh Simons, the CEO of Vinyl Group. It's fair to say the two have had differences of opinion and have both written about them publicly. Simons suggested the pair try to find some common ground and this discussion unfolded in Mumbrella's office on Wednesday. This conversation was uploaded simultaneously to the podcast feeds for both Vinyl Group's Media Week and the Mumbrellacast. As you'll hear, a lot of ground is covered. Podcast edit by Abe’s Audio. For more about how News Australia is thinking about the future of mobile news in Australia, click here.

This week on the Mumbrellacast, the MFW point their brooms at Dave Hughes, and we struggle to find a legitimate reason for the protesting - at least, not one that has anything to do with Hughesy. M&C Saatchi's local management takeover, announced just six weeks ago, has collapsed, and it seems that the entire Australian business may be done. This is a rapidly evolving story - read the latest on Mumbrella here. Elsewhere, News Corp held five upfronts in the last two weeks, and one of the main messages was that sports fandom doesn’t end with the siren, with post-game analysis, podcasts, online discussions, panel shows, and more being part of the overall sports media landscape. And will Albanese's proposed Digital Duty of Care laws end up with the local platform bosses all sharing a prison-cell? We'll admit it's unlikely, but thanks to the fine wording in the draft legislation, it's now at least possible. Eek! Get the latest episodes here. Podcast edit by Abe’s Audio. For more about how News Australia is thinking about the future of mobile news in Australia, click here.

Irene Hulme and Tim Burrowes cover the news and the first questions that come to mind. Specifically, was this the plan all along, and now that Seven is firmly in control, what are the implications for the radio side of the business?

The sunshine returned to Sydney just in time for the start of upfronts season, with SBS, Foxtel, and News Corp all proudly displaying their various wares to media buyers during the week. The biggest news from SBS was confirmation that it had secured the FIFA World Cup for 2030, and locked down the Tour de France until that year as well. We also discuss its partnership with Ooh Media, and speculate wildly about former SBS boss/current Ooh Media boss James Taylor's involvement in the deal. Foxtel, meanwhile announced a few major name changes, a host of new in-stadium advertising opportunities, and declared its interest in sports above all else. We also discuss the latest run of dramas at M&C Saatchi, including the sport and entertainment head Jack Playfair resigning six months into the role, and the agency having to re-pitch for one of its big accounts. And because you demanded it politely, the Heated Quiz returns, to cap off the episode in chaotic style. See you at the upfronts! We'll be the ones staking out the canapé trays. Podcast edit by Abe’s Audio. For more about how News Australia is thinking about the future of mobile news in Australia, click here.