Latest news with #NineEntertainment
The Guardian
a day ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Court throws out pro-Israel group's bid to refer journalists and editors for contempt over Antoinette Lattouf case
An application by a pro-Israel group to refer editors, reporters and lawyers from Nine Entertainment for contempt proceedings has been dismissed by the federal court. The editor of the Age, Patrick Elligett, and the Sydney Morning Herald, Bevan Shields, and two Age reporters, Michael Bachelard and Calum Jaspan, were among the eight individuals named in the application that alleged the newspapers had breached a suppression order made by the judge in the Antoinette Lattouf unlawful termination case. Justice Darryl Rangiah said on Friday the interlocutory application filed on 26 February seeking an order to make an application for punishment of the newspapers be dismissed. He ordered the pro-Israel group pay half of the legal costs of the newspapers. Rangiah granted a suppression order during the unlawful termination case in February to protect the identities and contact details of pro-Israel individuals who had contacted the ABC with complaints about Lattouf's employment. Lattouf was taken off air three days into a five-day casual contract in December 2023 after she posted on social media about the Israel-Gaza war. Last month, the federal court found the ABC breached the Fair Work Act when it terminated Lattouf for reasons including that she held a political opinion opposing the Israeli military campaign in Gaza. Sue Chrysanthou SC, acting for the pro-Israel group, told the court during the hearing the newspapers had ignored her legal letters and she sought a referral under federal court rule 42.16 'to consider whether proceedings should be instituted for the punishment of contempt'. Nine's lawyer Tom Blackburn SC told the hearing that the primary article in dispute was not in breach of the suppression order because it was published months before Lattouf took legal action, and therefore had no connection to the case. More details soon …
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Why boxing chumps move the needle more than champs
Tim Tszyu and Jai Opetaia, potentially both world champions by the end of the weekend, are Australia's best boxers. Both have had to lean on Paul Gallen at various stages of their career for relevance locally. When Tszyu and Gallen fought on the same night, the stories about the former footballer generated more clicks. For the purists, it's an indictment of the fight game, that a footballer can attract more attention than genuine pugilists competing against the world's best. However, that's the harsh reality in a celebrity-obsessed age, where punters would rather fork out $70 to watch two footbrawlers than a genuine championship bout. Gallen's controversial split-decision win against Sonny Bill Williams at Qudos Bank Arena on Wednesday night lasted just 16 minutes, but lined their pockets with paydays of up to $1 million each. In their pomp as professional footballers on the field, it would take an entire season to earn as much. The event was shown exclusively on Stan which, like this masthead, is owned by Nine Entertainment. The pay-per-view sales remain a heavily guarded secret, but the early indications suggest it was a success. 'This was a massive moment,' said Stan's director of sport Ben Kimber. 'Two giants of Australian sport, a decade of talk, and it all exploded on Stan Pay-Per-View.' Sport thrives on controversy and Williams and Gallen brought bucketloads into their grudge match. Nobody sells quite like the Cronulla captain, who has leant into his role as the pantomime villain in much the way Anthony Mundine did before him. People love a circus and are prepared to pay for admission. Which is why the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul 'fight' became the most streamed event in sporting history, attracting 108 million viewers on Netflix.
The Age
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
Why boxing chumps move the needle more than champs
Tim Tszyu and Jai Opetaia, potentially both world champions by the end of the weekend, are Australia's best boxers. Both have had to lean on Paul Gallen at various stages of their career for relevance locally. When Tszyu and Gallen fought on the same night, the stories about the former footballer generated more clicks. For the purists, it's an indictment of the fight game, that a footballer can attract more attention than genuine pugilists competing against the world's best. However, that's the harsh reality in a celebrity-obsessed age, where punters would rather fork out $70 to watch two footbrawlers than a genuine championship bout. Gallen's controversial split-decision win against Sonny Bill Williams at Qudos Bank Arena on Wednesday night lasted just 16 minutes, but lined their pockets with paydays of up to $1 million each. In their pomp as professional footballers on the field, it would take an entire season to earn as much. The event was shown exclusively on Stan which, like this masthead, is owned by Nine Entertainment. The pay-per-view sales remain a heavily guarded secret, but the early indications suggest it was a success. 'This was a massive moment,' said Stan's director of sport Ben Kimber. 'Two giants of Australian sport, a decade of talk, and it all exploded on Stan Pay-Per-View.' Sport thrives on controversy and Wiliams and Gallen brought bucketloads into their grudge match. Nobody sells quite like the Cronulla captain, who has leant into his role as the pantomime villain in much the way Anthony Mundine did before him. People love a circus and are prepared to pay for admission. Which is why the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul 'fight' became the most streamed event in sporting history, attracting 108 million viewers on Netflix.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
As Optus Sport closes, subscription refunds are on their way
Optus Sport customers who paid an annual fee for the service will receive a refund when it shuts down next month – but only by cheque in some cases. Optus announced on 30 June its sport streaming service would close on 1 August, after it transferred the rights to broadcast the Premier League, FA Cup and other competitions to Nine Entertainment and Stan. In an email to customers on Monday – seen by Guardian Australia – Optus said eligible customers would need to provide their postal and email address by 29 August to get a refund on the unused portion of their $199 annual subscription. 'We can only issue your refund via a cheque,' the email said. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email A spokesperson for Optus said a 'subset group' of customers had been told their refund would be issued via cheque. 'This is not the standard practise and is occurring where electronic banking is unavailable due to our billing and subscription management system constraints or where the credit card has been cancelled, expired or failed,' they said. In 2023 the government announced that cheques would be phased out in a 'gradual, coordinated and inclusive' transition to purely digital payment services, after a 90% decline in the use of cheques over 10 years. One former Optus customer commented on X: 'Cheque refund @OptusSport ... what sort of medieval transaction is this. Havnt been to a ye old bank for years.' In a February 2024 submission to the government's consultation process on the transition away from cheques, Optus noted there were 'limited circumstances' where cheques were still used. 'Cheques remain beneficial where a large volume of payments is required to be made, particularly where such payments are unable to be provided via the original payment method (for example, for former customers or where details are no longer current) … 'In addition, cheques remain a secure way of providing payments without needing to contact customers / former customers and requesting updated financial details. This is important in an environment where Government and organisations are taking steps to reduce and disrupt scam activity.' In November 2024 the government confirmed that cheques could no longer be issued after 28 June 2028, and would not be accepted after 30 September 2029. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion A spokesperson for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said consumer law did not specify what method should be used for refunds. 'However, businesses that use cheques to provide customers with refunds should be planning for how they will transition to other payment methods in line with the government's transition plan for the phasing out of cheques,' the spokesperson said. 'Businesses should also consider ways to ensure that their customers are actually able to receive any refunds, particularly consumers in remote areas with less access to banking facilities.' The digital policy director at the Consumer Policy Research Centre, Chandni Gupta, said digital products had a clear path between product and payment – if money came in one way, it should be returned the same way. 'Placing the onus on individuals to go through extra steps to claim a refund that is rightly theirs creates an unnecessary barrier for someone who has already lost time and money,' Gupta said. 'It's unfair for customers to have to jump through hoops to access their refund, but sadly it's not illegal.' The director of legal practice at the Consumer Action Law Centre, Stephen Nowicki, said he generally did not see a problem with refunding money via cheque, and it might even be preferable to reduce the potential for scams. 'But if somebody prefers to get an online refund then I would hope Optus Sport gives them that option,' Nowicki said.
Daily Telegraph
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Telegraph
Ex-Today Show host Alex Cullen lists Summer Hill Federation home for rent
Starting over … Alex Cullen is moving on in Melbourne. Crestfallen former Today Show sports presenter Alex Cullen has listed his Summer Hill home for rental follow his relocation to Melbourne. Cullen will shortly turn up as the sports jock on Christian O'Connell's Gold 104.3 breakfast radio show which recently lost its top FM ranking. Cullen's charming 1912 Queen Anne Federation home, Kironga has only been on the market for a week, but has already seen its asking rent trimmed from $1800 a week to $1700. The four-bedroom, two bathroom home features original charm from its living and entertaining spaces to it's a rear yard with lemon and avocado trees. Cullen, and his Nine Entertainment journalist wife Bonnie, paid $1.9m in 2020 when the house on 556sq m was marketed as a 'highly rewarding refurbishment project.' MORE: 'Won't be back': Portelli's shock Block admission Billionaire Adrian Portelli found himself at the centre of more controversy when he gifted $50,000 to Alex Cullen. Picture: NewsWire/David Crosling Portelli's post announcing Cullen's prize. Picture: Instagram MORE: How Lambo Guy Adrian Portelli swept Block auctions 'This family friendly home is nestled in a highly sought after pocket,' the Harris Tripp leasing agent Kristian Lovicu advises in the marketing. The property management department has been struggling with a nearby luxury five bedroom, two bathroom Rosemount Ave bungalow still on the market after 75 days, according to Cotality, at $1750 a week. It sold last year at $5.4m. PropTrack data shows just 10 four bedroom lettings in the past year with a 33 days median time on market. Cullen was let go by Nine in January for briefly accepting a $50,000 gift from Block billionaire, and Melbourne raffle ticket seller, Adrian 'Lambo Guy' Portelli. MORE: Secret Block meeting proves finale was 'rigged' Gold 104.3's Christian O'Connell with new recruit Alex Cullen. MORE: Experts slam Portelli: Block is a dud investment The $50,000 was publicly offered by Portelli for the first television journalist to call him McLaren Guy not Lambo Guy. O'Connell announced Cullen's hiring on air joking that 'Channel 9 might go 'listen, we can't have that', but commercial breakfast radio, we are very much up for payola. Come on in. Don't worry Alex, you've found a home here, my friend.' ' I called him out of the blue a few weeks ago and we hit it off like old mates,' O'Connell said. Melbourne-bound reporter Alex Cullen is seeking $1700-a-week tenants for his former Summer Hill home. The 1912 Queen Anne Federation home has only been on the market for a week. 'He came over for a rigorous interview with me, that to onlookers may have looked like a long lunch with flowing red wine, but we bonded over being dads and a shared love of storytelling and how sport could be delivered on my show.' Cullen advised his recent appointment was 'such an exciting next chapter for me,'. 'I actually started my career in radio, so to be coming back to it and joining a show that's so loved and so full of heart is a real thrill. 'I can't wait to be on air with Christian, Pats and Rio, and to get to know Melbourne – my family and I are thrilled to be making it our new home.'
