Mrs Mangel Portrait Pulls $19,500 for Dementia Australia
The iconic Mrs Mangel portrait from the Australian soap "Neighbours" sold for AU$19,500 (approximately US$12,900) after a week‑long online auction that attracted 104 bids. A buyer from the United Kingdom secured the piece, with participants spanning the US, Singapore, Italy, Denmark and other nations. The artwork was donated by actress Annie Jones in memory of her mother, and the proceeds will support Dementia Australia’s programs for people living with dementia and their carers. The auction highlights the enduring global fanbase of the long‑running series.
The Pitt's Biggest Season 2 Plotline Is Something That Happens A Lot, Says A Real ER Doctor
Season 2 of the medical drama “The Pitt” spotlights a recurring real‑world issue: electronic medical record (EMR) outages. ER physician J. Mack Slaughter explains that hospitals regularly lose EMR access for anywhere from 20 minutes to three hours, often for maintenance or cyber‑security...
Herald Sun Launches Sam Landsberger Sports Journalism Fellowship
The Herald Sun, Melbourne Press Club and the Western Bulldogs have launched the Sam Landsberger Sport Journalism Fellowship to honour the late award‑winning reporter. The six‑month program offers a four‑month stint with the Herald Sun’s sports team and two months...
F1 Sponsors Forgotten Within Weeks Despite Millions Burned, Study Finds
Brands are spending millions on Formula 1 sponsorship, yet most fade from memory within weeks, according to Honeycomb Strategy’s “Pit Stop to Podium” study of 19 sponsors at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix. The research measured unprompted awareness immediately after the...
‘No Future’: Abbie Chatfield Ruled Out as Permanent at KIIS
Australian Radio Network (ARN) has ruled out podcaster Abbie Chatfield as a permanent host for KIIS FM’s breakfast slot, confirming she will remain a temporary presenter. The decision follows the cancellation of the Kyle and Jackie O show and a...
Eva Longoria and ‘House of the Spirits’ Showrunners on the Magic and the Realism That Brought Isabel Allende’s Beloved...
Eva Longoria teamed with Chilean creators Francisca Alegría and Fernanda Urrejola to bring Isabel Allende’s novel *The House of the Spirits* to Amazon Prime Video as an eight‑episode limited series. The adaptation, filmed across Chile’s diverse landscapes, premiered on April 29 after a high‑profile...
7plus Tops April BVOD Rankings as Audience Climbs 50%
Seven’s free streaming service 7plus led Australia’s commercial BVOD market in April, securing a 43.4% share of viewing. The platform’s audience swelled 50.5% year‑over‑year, delivering more than 3.6 billion minutes of content, with live streaming—particularly AFL matches—showing the strongest growth. Strong...
Sky Sports to Air W7F Tournament
Sky Sports has secured exclusive UK broadcast rights for the women’s World Sevens Football (W7F) tournament, scheduled for May 28‑30 at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium. The third edition, and the first hosted in England, will feature eight Women’s Super League clubs—including...
Australia Wants Tech Giants to Fund Journalism – but Is It Too Little, Too Late?
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is advancing the News Bargaining Incentive (NBI), which would force Meta, Google, TikTok and other large platforms to negotiate commercial deals with Australian media or face a 2.25% levy on their local revenue. The scheme...
David Kendall, ‘Boy Meets World’ And ‘Growing Pains’ Producer, Dies At 68
David Kendall, a veteran writer, producer and director behind iconic sitcoms such as Boy Meets World, Growing Pains and Melissa & Joey, died at 68. He served as executive producer on Boy Meets World from season 2 through its finale and wrote 32 episodes of Growing Pains while shaping...
26 Years Ago Today “Party of Five” Aired Its Finale Episode: Reflecting on a Groundbreaking Drama
Today marks the 26th anniversary of the Party of Five series finale, which aired on May 3, 2000 and attracted over 10 million viewers. The FOX drama, which ran for six seasons, earned a 1996 Golden Globe and tackled heavy topics...
Jimmy Kimmel Reignites Trump’s War on Disney
President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania have again urged Disney to fire Jimmy Kimmel, reviving a feud that began last year. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, announced a review of the broadcast licenses for Disney‑owned ABC...
Nova 100 Recognises CLINT STANAWAY in Melbourne Breakfast Update
Nova 100 officially renamed its flagship Melbourne Breakfast program to "Jase, Lauren & Clint," elevating co‑host and newsreader Clint Stanaway from an afterthought to a headline name. The rebrand launched on air this morning after sustained listener requests and aims...
Google’s March Core Update Shifted Visibility Away From Aggregators via @Sejournal, @MattGSouthern
Google’s March 2026 core update shifted search visibility away from aggregator and user‑generated content platforms toward first‑party brand sites, government domains, and original content creators. An Amsive analysis of over 2,000 domains using SISTRIX data showed YouTube losing the most visibility...
SNL UK Airs a Skit About Mario and Princess Peach Living Together in Brooklyn
Saturday Night Live’s new UK edition aired a sketch featuring Mario and Princess Peach sharing a Brooklyn apartment. Host Aimee Lou Wood portrayed Princess Peach, while the sketch juxtaposed Mushroom Kingdom motifs with New York‑city stereotypes. The comedy leverages familiar...
The Beast in Me's Claire Danes Lands Next Lead Role in Netflix Series That's a "Modern Romantic Epic"
Claire Danes will star and executive‑produce Netflix's upcoming series "Lovesick," a modern romantic epic adapted from the Israeli hit "The Best Worst Thing." The drama follows Annika, a breast‑cancer surgeon whose own diagnosis upends her life and intertwines with a...
2026 BAFTA TV Awards to Stream on HBO Max Australia
The 2026 BAFTA Television Awards will be streamed live on HBO Max Australia, debuting at 4:03 am AEST on Monday, 11 May. The ceremony, filmed at London’s Royal Festival Hall, is hosted by comedian Greg Davies. Warner Bros. Discovery secured five nominations, including The...
HAVE YOU BEEN PAYING ATTENTION? Kicks Off New Season Tonight
Australian Network 10 has launched the 14th season of the comedy‑quiz show Have You Been Paying Attention? on May 4, 2026. Long‑time quizmaster Tom Gleisner returns alongside regulars Sam Pang and Ed Kavalee, with guest comedians Kitty Flanagan, Pete Helliar and Anne Edmonds...
Oh God, What Happened To The New Animal Farm, And Why?
Angel Studios, a production company led by a family of Latter‑Day Saints, released a new film adaptation of George Orwell’s *Animal Farm*. The version injects overt Christian and right‑leaning values, diverging sharply from the novel’s original anti‑totalitarian satire. Critics on...
YouTube Tests New Music Generation and Moderation Tools
YouTube is testing a new Studio feature that lets creators generate four royalty‑free instrumental tracks to replace copyrighted audio, aiming to cut content‑ID claims. The same rollout includes a bulk comment‑moderation tool that filters replies by conversational context rather than...
Instagram Tests Option to Swap Out Text in Someone Else’s Reels
Instagram is quietly testing a new "Swap" feature that lets users replace the on‑screen text of someone else’s Reel with their own copy. The tool, briefly described in a Help Center article that was later removed, appears designed to make...
39 Seasons on, Home & Away Just Pulled Off a Most Impressive Feat.
Australian soap Home & Away delivered an unexpected ratings coup in its 39th season, topping all entertainment programs on Seven for four consecutive nights. Monday’s episode attracted 1.011 million live viewers, a 5 percent increase over the same week in 2025, while...
‘Euphoria’ Season 4 On HBO May No Longer Be Impossible
While season 3 of HBO's *Euphoria* was long billed as the series finale, recent viewership data suggests a fourth season could still be viable. The season 3 premiere attracted 44% more viewers than season 2 despite mixed critical reviews, defying the typical 50%...
CEOs Welcome Extension of Commercial Broadcasting Tax Freeze
The Albanese government will extend the suspension of the Commercial Broadcasting Tax (CBT) for another two years, pushing the deadline to 8 June 2028. Free TV Australia estimates the measure will save the sector roughly $111.3 million Australian dollars (about $73 million USD). Industry...
Week 18 in TV Ratings
Week 18 of Australian TV ratings showed Seven dominating the week, driven by the long‑running drama Home & Away which broke the one‑million‑viewer mark and helped Seven win four entertainment nights. Seven News topped the news slot on Monday with 1.57 million viewers, while...
Airdate: The Revenge Club
The Revenge Club, a six‑part UK comedic thriller, debuts on Britbox on May 7 after a December run on Paramount+. The series stars Martin Compston, Douglas Henshall, Aimee Fifon Edwards, Meera Syal, Sharon Rooney and Chaneil Kular. It follows six strangers...
Eurovision 2026: Switzerland
Swiss singer Veronica Fusaro will represent Switzerland in Eurovision 2026’s second semi‑final with the song “Alice.” The 28‑year‑old, known for fusing pop, soul and rock, has built a reputation for powerful stage presence and lyrical depth. Fusaro’s résumé includes over...
Netflix’s ‘Adolescence’ Follow-Up Show Has A 92% Rotten Tomatoes Score
Netflix is launching a four‑episode series, Lord of the Flies, as a thematic follow‑up to its hit Adolescence. Created and written by Jack Thorne, who co‑created Adolescence, the adaptation of the classic novel arrives with a certified fresh 92% score...
‘We Pride Ourselves on Human Curation’: Vocana Is an Indie Music Service Determined to Challenge Spotify’s Payment System — I...
Vocana, an indie‑only music streaming service, launched public beta three months ago, offering 40 million tracks from 2 million artists and a user‑centric royalty model that bypasses Spotify’s pro‑rata payouts. The platform relies on human‑curated “Hubs” and community sharing instead of algorithmic...
‘When I Compare It to Spotify Lossless, Apple Music Is the Clear Winner’: I Signed up to Apple Music Again,...
Rowan Davies revisits Apple Music to evaluate its Dolby Atmos spatial‑audio offering, comparing it to Spotify’s lossless tier. He curates five albums—Björk’s *Homogenic*, Geese’s *3D Country*, Chappell Roan’s *The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess*, Jeff Buckley’s *Grace*, and Kali Uchis’s *Orquídeas*—that...
Media Bodies Express Concern as India Slips in World Press Freedom Index
India dropped to 157th out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, a six‑place decline from the previous year. The slide sparked a panel at the Indian Women’s Press Corps on World Press Freedom Day, where leaders...
"I Loved Every Minute of Playing Patsy": Joanna Lumley Would Return to Iconic Absolutely Fabulous Role
Joanna Lumley, celebrating her 80th birthday, told OK! she would "jump at the chance" to reprise Patsy Stone from Absolutely Fabulous if new scripts arrive. She recently reunited with co‑star Jennifer Saunders in the Amandaland Christmas special, where she playfully...
Dating Show 'Ring By Spring Break' To Focus on Christian Singles
Streaming giant Hulu has ordered a new reality dating series titled Ring by Spring Break, which will follow Christian college students as they search for love during a week‑long spring break in Cabo San Lucas. The show is produced by...
Friendster Returns After a Decade with a New Look
Friendster has re‑emerged after a decade as an iOS‑only app that only lets users add contacts by physically tapping phones together. The revival emphasizes real‑life connections, a strict no‑ads, no‑algorithms, no‑spam policy, and heightened privacy. Founder Mike Carson frames the...
RJ Nichole Ledesma, Chronicler of Unsettled Ground on Negros Island, Was Killed Last Month. He Was 30.
RJ Nichole Ledesma, a 30‑year‑old journalist covering renewable‑energy projects and land displacement on Negros Island, was killed on April 19 during a Philippine Army anti‑rebellion operation. His reporting for the community outlet Paghimutad‑Negros highlighted how solar farms, hydropower and other projects...
CORE Boys Swatted Live on Stream During Day 1 at New Content House
CORE, a creator collective of former FaZe Clan members, debuted its $20 million content house in late April. On May 2, the group’s first full‑day live stream was abruptly interrupted when police arrived after a false swatting report claiming hostages in the...
35 Years Ago Today: Television Landmark TV Show ‘Dallas’ Ended After Epic Run
On May 3, 1991 CBS aired the two‑hour finale "Conundrum," ending the 14‑season run of prime‑time soap Dallas. The series, which debuted in 1978, became a cultural touchstone with its oil‑rich Ewing family, iconic cliffhangers and the legendary J.R. Ewing antihero. Though...
Jay-Z Predicted Streaming and the State of the Music Industry Way Back in 2010
In a 2010 Interview Magazine conversation, Jay‑Z warned that the traditional record business was on the brink of collapse as digital sharing eroded physical sales. He cited Napster’s disruption and argued that while fans’ appetite for music would stay strong,...
El Jannah Appoints Alt/Shift/ as Social Agency
Independent agency alt/shift/ has been appointed to run El Jannah’s organic social media across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. The partnership will deliver always‑on content, recurring series and real‑time social moments that showcase the brand’s Lebanese hospitality and charcoal‑chicken craft. El Jannah...
The Audacity Recap: Bribe To Be
The Audacity’s fifth episode, “The Lamplighters,” aired on AMC+ before its Sunday broadcast and earned a three‑star rating from critic Scott Tobias. The episode intensifies the protagonists’ existential dread, showing them grappling with humiliation, dopamine‑addiction retreats, and moral dilemmas about...
SNL Opens with Another Pete Hegseth Press Conference
Saturday Night Live returned from a brief hiatus with a politically charged cold open that staged a joint press conference between a caricatured Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, played by Colin Jost, and FBI Director Kash Patel, portrayed by Aziz Ansari....
Way, Way Too Early Predictions For The Emmys
Vulture’s early Emmy outlook spotlights a shifting television landscape, with streaming giants leading the nomination race and traditional broadcasters losing ground. The analysis highlights a notable rise in diverse talent across comedy and drama categories, while reality‑TV slots appear to...
2026 NBA Playoffs Deliver Highest Viewership in Over Three Decades
The NBA’s 2026 playoffs have delivered the highest viewership in 33 years, averaging 3.91 million viewers per telecast across ABC, ESPN, NBC/Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video. The regular season attracted 170 million unique U.S. viewers, an 86 percent rise from the previous year,...
5 Big Ideas Shaping Journalism’s Next Chapter
The International Journalism Festival in Perugia gathered over 2,000 journalists and highlighted five emerging ideas reshaping the industry. Live‑journalism formats like Diario Vivo and Correctiv’s theater productions are reviving audience trust through unrecorded, on‑stage storytelling. Non‑profit newsrooms such as ProPublica,...
Roku and TCL Hit with Class Action Lawsuit Over Alleged Defective Roku TV Software Updates That Brick Smart Televisions
A federal class action has been filed against Roku Inc. and TCL North America alleging that automatic software updates have bricked thousands of Roku‑powered smart televisions. The complaint targets Roku Select and Plus series as well as TCL 3‑Series through...
Ronald Smothers, Times Reporter Who Covered Protest and Politics, Dies at 79
Ronald Smothers, a pioneering African‑American journalist who spent nearly four decades at The New York Times, died at 79 after a stroke. He began his career covering the 1967 Newark riots and the turbulent aftermath of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, later...
What To Watch Sunday: Canceled Watson Ends, Marshals Confront Ghosts Of The Past, And More
TVLine’s Sunday lineup highlights CBS’s abrupt cancellation of the crime‑procedural "Watson" and a dramatic return of "Marshals" after a prison‑bus crash. Prime‑time slots also feature the mystery series "FROM" on MGM+, the penultimate episode of PBS’s "The Count of Monte...
National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 372 | Print Ain’t Dead
Episode 372 of the National Parks Traveler podcast, titled “Print Ain’t Dead,” examines the turbulence facing the print media sector. It highlights how legacy titles are disappearing, shrinking, or moving online, while the rise of artificial intelligence fuels reader skepticism...
Something Nefarious Is Happening in Your Living Room Every Time You Watch TV
Tech giants are turning smart TVs into extensions of smartphones, adding apps like Google Photos, YouTube summaries, and Instagram Reels to living‑room screens. This shift lets manufacturers and advertisers harvest detailed viewing data from the 77% of U.S. households with...
Britain's Got Talent Confirms Next Two Finalists After 'Mind-Blowing' Show with Golden Buzzer Act
Britain’s Got Talent announced its next two finalists after Saturday’s live semi‑finals on May 2. Austrian magician Fabian Fox earned a public‑vote spot, impressing judges with a mind‑reading routine that even KSI praised. Dance troupe Sadeck Berrabah and LMA received a Golden Buzzer...