Hollywood Hugh, live from Bulgaria

“We wanted progress and improvement on job security and they blew us away on both counts,” one staff member said In the Background. “And they offered us a shitty salary.”

playground fight

The broadcaster is also due to appear in court after mediation failed in a Federal Court case that MEAA initially brought using Tom Scott. Play School Staffer as a test case for ABC’s use of fixed-term contracts. ABC has since converted 150 staff members, including Scott, to permanent contracts. Some staff read this as an admission of mistakes and possibly legal violations.

Marx appeared to be saying the same thing from Bulgaria in the meeting. “There are new rules regarding the use of fixed-term contracts. We acknowledge that we have made some mistakes in the implementation of this new legislation.”

There is also a suggestion that ABC wants to impose probation clauses on short-term contracts so they can end them whenever they want.

Although protected offensive action was not guaranteed, bargaining negotiations became a new kind of minefield for Marx, especially since he had established himself at the center so early. ABC staff note that last time former medical doctor David Anderson kept his powder dry until the end of the negotiation process before stepping in, taking control and reaching a direct agreement to be seen as a savior of sorts.

But Hugh’s approach reflects his style of being at the center of things, and it’s largely worked up to this point. In August, he wowed a roomful of media writers by explaining his strategy and asking questions without taking notes. It’s also notable that Mayor Kim Williams has been virtually invisible since Marks’ ascension, but as she drives by ABC’s own building Media Monitoring.

With a strike in the wind, an investigation has now been launched ‘Four Corners’ The ABC boss has a lot on his plate over an unauthorized podcast by Mahmood Fazal with an underworld figure. The honeymoon is over for Marx.

Riyadh, come down!

It’s always nice to see familiar faces from across the global media fraternity coming together, like the Sofia Forum; this time in the world’s emerging entertainment center, ahem, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Speaking at the Joy Forum in the country, Foxtel’s new boss Shay Segev, global CEO of DAZN, participated in a state-sponsored panel; hardly surprising, given the company’s partial ownership by Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund (PIF).

A few familiar faces joined the stage; among them is former Nine CEO Mike Sneesby, who now runs PIF-owned broadcaster MBC Group. The panel was hosted by Piers Morgan and it was nice to see them all in matching blue suits. In the Background wonders which former Nine boss won the panel wars.

Monetized partners

As well as a new broadcast deal, the NRL may soon have a new naming rights partner. Word still filtered In the Background It is stated that Telstra may not be willing to renew the naming rights agreement when it expires in 2027.

Westpac, who stole the Commonwealth Bank’s big Cricket Australia deal, is one of many players positioning himself as the NRL’s new best player – and it could cost him quite a bit. Telstra’s current deal is worth $90 million over five years. Watch this space.

strange bedfellows

Pressure mounted on Sky News’ senior executives after Australia’s most trusted (former) federal politician, George Christensen, launched a petition to bring back the short-lived one. Freya is on fire The program reached 6596 signatures.

For Christensen, who is now a councilor in northern Queensland, recording a number equivalent to the bulk of Sky’s Sunday night broadcast audience is quite an achievement.

Despite being barely a month old, it looks as if it has been blatantly ignored by Sky boss Paul Whittaker and co.

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Lachlan gets emotional

Rumors persist about Nine’s role in the impending merger between Seven and Southern Cross Media. Will Granny come up with a better deal? Or will the bankers at Jefferies make a play for Lachlan Murdoch’s Nova when they shut down their talkback stations? There are said to be four or five potential suitors for Nine Radio in the city, with most of them already publicly announced. No one has come close to Nine’s $50 million bid price, but according to some suggestions it has yet to receive an offer above $35 million.

If Nine were desperate to move to Southern Cross or Nova, there probably wouldn’t be much discussion over $15 million if those offers were real.

But this may all be moot as we hear Lachie is firmly committed to Nova (for sentimental reasons) and isn’t keen on a sale. Ultimately, Nova is Lachlan’s personal success story and the company that proves he can do it alone.