Waleed Aly, the former host of The Project, will present ABC Radio Mornings across most Australian states this summer from December 22 to January 9. This announcement by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) comes as a significant shift for Aly, who has stepped back from his commitments at Network Ten.
The summer role alleviates the pressure on ABC Local’s team, hinting at a broader strategy to enhance Aly’s presence within the organization. Initially, Aly was poised to join the team of the highly regarded podcast and Radio National show, Global Roaming, which features co-hosts Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald. This partnership was expected to solidify Aly’s role within ABC, where he already hosts The Minefield.
However, reports indicate that plans for Aly’s involvement with Global Roaming have now fallen through, potentially due to salary negotiations. In a statement, Aly clarified, “It was definitely not a situation where we had a basic agreement and then couldn’t agree on money. It’s nothing like that.”
Senate Grilling of ABC Executives
In a related development, ABC’s senior executives faced scrutiny during a recent Senate estimates hearing in Canberra. Hugh Marks, managing director, and Justin Stevens, head of news, were questioned about the ABC’s historical handling of an asbestos crisis at several Victorian sites, which has been linked to three fatalities.
The session escalated into a debate over perceived biases in ABC’s coverage of the Liberal Party. Liberal backbencher Sarah Henderson and her colleague Jacinta Nampijinpa Price challenged Marks and Stevens about specific comments made by ABC journalists. Price inquired about conservative representation among ABC presenters, to which Marks responded, “I don’t know that that’s the right question for us to ask because, again, what any of our people think therefore should be irrelevant.”
Stevens defended the impartiality of ABC journalist Patricia Karvelas, stating, “Anyone who watches Afternoon Briefing, reads her writing, knows that she is incredibly objective and impartial.”
Mike Sneesby Takes on New Role in the Middle East
Meanwhile, former Nine Entertainment chief Mike Sneesby has transitioned to the role of chief executive at MBC Group, the largest broadcaster in Saudi Arabia, which has recently become majority state-owned. Sneesby has been actively involved in promoting collaborative initiatives between Australia and Saudi Arabia.
Recently, MBC Loud FM, MBC’s English-language radio station, posted a video showcasing Sneesby and his team giving a tour of their offices to Miles Armitage, the Australian ambassador to Saudi Arabia. This visit included representatives from the University of Wollongong’s Global Enterprises division, highlighting the university’s efforts to expand its educational reach.
The University of Wollongong has become the first foreign institution to receive a Saudi investment license under the country’s Vision 2030 program. Plans for co-educational English courses are set to commence next year, although the opening of a new campus in Riyadh has faced regulatory delays.
Foxtel Announces Streaming Service Changes
On another front, British broadcaster Foxtel has announced the retirement of its less popular streaming platforms, Flash and Lifestyle. Both services will be integrated into Binge, a move aimed at consolidating their offerings.
Despite being launched only 18 months ago, Lifestyle struggled to gain traction, while Flash, primarily a news streaming service, never established a strong foothold. Foxtel will also transition Binge and Kayo to the DAZN technology platform in February.
The retirement of these platforms means that subscribers may see an increase in their monthly fees, with costs rising by $5, $10, or $15, depending on their previous discount tiers.
These developments underscore the rapidly changing landscape of media in Australia and the strategic decisions being made to adapt to viewer preferences and market demands.
