History

Media Man

News

Markets, Cryptos, Biz and Culture

April 9, 2026

Sydney, Australia to Wall Street, New York

The Wolf Of North Sydney and ASX vs The Wolf Of Wall Street; Spy vs Spy; All That Glitters?

Media Man Biz Watercooler

Pop Culture themes

"Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" (Cannonball Adderley)
"Gold" (Spandau Ballet)
"The Wall Street Hustle" (10cc)
"Down Under" (Men at Work)
"Thursday's Child" (David Bowie)
"Friday I'm in Love" (The Cure)

Crypto Never Sleeps
The Art Of War
The Fog Of War

"Nothing Ever Ends" (WATCHMEN)

Markets

ASX 200 futures down 22 points/0.2%: 8967
AUD +1% to US70.46¢
Bitcoin $71,000.71 -0.49%
Wall St:
Dow +2.9%
S&P +2.5%
Nasdaq +2.8%
VIX -4.74 to 21.04
Gold +0.3% to $US4719.15 an ounce
Brent oil -11.5% to $US96.70 a barrel
Iron ore -1.2% to $US105.40 a ton
10-year yield: US 4.29% Australia 4.85%

Numbers Double Check

Australian Dollar: $0.7040 USD (up $0.0070 USD)
Iron Ore: $105.40 USD (down $1.15 USD)
Oil Price: $96.50 USD (down $13.84 USD)
Gold Price: $4,719.14 USD (up $12.76 USD)
Copper Price: $5.7530 USD (up $0.1580 USD)
Dow Jones: 47,909.92 (up 1,325.46 points)

News (Aust)

ASX jumps after ceasefire; Woodside dives

The Australian sharemarket rallied on Wednesday, after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire; the S&P/ASX 200 recorded its strongest session in a year, adding 2.6 per cent to close at 8,951.8 points. Bellevue Gold rose 18.9 per cent to $1.86, WiseTech Global was up 10.7 per cent at $43.35 and Virgin Australia advanced 11.7 per cent to end the session at $2.57. However, a sharp fall in the price of Brent crude oil weighed on the energy sector, with Karoon Energy down 13.1 per cent at $1.89 and Woodside Energy shedding 10.5 per cent to finish at $32.06. (RMS)

News (Aust)

'Dodgy lotteries' facing ban as Albanese moves to shut down new betting front

Communications Minister Anika Wells says the federal government will broaden its crackdown on the gambling industry by banning online keno and offshore lotteries. The move follows the government's announcement of new advertising restrictions for wagering firms; the reforms are not as extensive as the ones that were recommended in 2023 by a parliamentary committee that was headed by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy. However, that report did not consider the issue of online keno games and offshore lotteries. Wells says the crackdown on offshore lotteries will protect legitimate Australian lottery operators and newsagencies that sell lotto tickets; she adds that online keno is a "grubby industry" that has few redeeming features. (RMS)

News

Crypto News

The crypto market gained 4% with a sigh of relief

Market Overview

The crypto market capitalisation surged by 4% over the past 24 hours to $2.45 trillion, making a promising move above the 50-day moving average. Leading the gains were ZEC (+22%), ICP (+13%) and Avalanche (+9.5%); underperforming the market were TRX (-0.2%), BNB (+2.5%) and Monero (+2.8%). News of a two-week ceasefire brought a sigh of relief, sharply boosting demand for risky assets.

The sentiment index stood at 17 at the start of the day on Wednesday. However, significantly higher levels are to be expected unless the situation changes dramatically by the end of the day, as much of the market’s positivity emerged after today’s figures were released.

Bitcoin slipped above $72.7K on positive news from the Middle East, retreating slightly at the time of writing to $71.8K, up 4.8% over the past 24 hours. This consolidation above the 50-day MA and a move above the late-March highs are setting an optimistic tone. The immediate focus remains on the $75K area, near which lies the 61.8% resistance level of the latest downward impulse and two March pivot points.

News Background

According to CoinShares, global investments in crypto funds rose by $224 million last week following an outflow the week before. Investments in Bitcoin increased by $107 million, in XRP by $120 million, and in Solana by $35 million. Investments in Ethereum fell by $53 million.

The inflow into XRP was the most significant among all assets and the largest since mid-December 2025.

According to BitInfoChart, the number of daily active addresses on the Bitcoin network has fallen to its lowest level since autumn 2013. The decline in network activity has negatively impacted transaction fees and mining profitability.

Bitcoin’s hash rate, smoothed by a 30-day SMA, fell during the first quarter from 1,066 EH/s to 1,004 EH/s, according to Hashrate Index. The 5.8% drop was due to the decommissioning of outdated equipment.

Bitcoin is vulnerable to risks posed by quantum computers, but the main risk lies not in the technology itself but in the community’s inability to reach consensus, according to Grayscale. Deciding on a course of action carries the risk of protracted disagreements and could take years. (FxPro)

News

$A an unlikely powerhouse amid oil shock

The Australian dollar has fallen by less than three per cent against its US counterpart since the start of the Iran war; it has also fallen by only two per cent against a basket of currencies of Australia's major trading partners. The dollar peaked at a four-year high of $US0.7151 in mid-March, and is currently fetching arond $US0.69. It has benefited from Australia's status as a major exporter of gas and coal, amid the global ructions arising from the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The dollar has also been boosted by the carry trade, given that Australia is the only member of the G10 nations to have increased official interest rates since the war began. (RMS)

News

The crypto market is in no hurry to gain ground

Market Overview

The crypto market capitalisation has fallen by 0.6% over the past 24 hours to $2.35 trillion. The market continues to hover around its 50-day moving average, reflecting a fierce battle for the medium-term trend. Top coins are predominantly down following renewed caution in traditional financial markets. The day’s leaders are Zcash (+3.1%), Filecoin (+0.9%) and Basic Attention Token (+0.6%). Among the underperformers are Avalanche (-9.7%), Algorand (-8.6%) and Ethereum Classic (-5.5%).

Bitcoin briefly exceeded $70K on Monday but failed to hold the level, retreating to $68.6K by Tuesday morning. This represents further fluctuations within the corrective rebound pattern in which the leading cryptocurrency has been trading for the past two months. The latest price action serves as a stark reminder of the market’s current volatility and how difficult it is to shift sentiment.

Solana is trading below $80, remaining near its lows since the start of the month and at the lower boundary of its trading range since early February. The coin has not traded consistently below this level since late 2023, and its price is now below the 50- and 200-week moving averages, which further point to a long-term bear market.

News Background

The rise in negative comments about Bitcoin on social media has reached a five-week high. This may indicate the likelihood of a trend reversal, according to Santiment.

Only a sustained move above $75K in Bitcoin will signal a recovery in structural demand and the end of the downtrend. Otherwise, BTC risks plummeting to $10K, according to Mike McGlone, senior strategist at Bloomberg Intelligence.

Bitcoin and dollar-pegged stablecoins are in a ‘symbiosis’ that mutually reinforces each other amid the growing adoption of crypto assets. This contradicts the widespread view that BTC will undermine the dollar, the Bitcoin Policy Institute notes.

According to CoinDesk, the US financial firm Charles Schwab plans to launch trading in Bitcoin and Ethereum in the second quarter. Initially, clients will not be able to transfer cryptocurrency to external wallets.

Strategy purchased a further 4,871 BTC ($329.9 million) last week at an average price of $67,700 per coin, following a week-long pause. Strategy now holds 766,970 BTC, purchased for $58 billion at an average price of $75,600 per Bitcoin.

BitMine acquired a further 71,252 ETH for $152 million over the past week. The company’s reserves have reached 4.8 million ETH, which is almost 4% of the Ethereum supply. (FxPro)

News

News: Numbers Today

April 9 (Sydney, Australia)

Coffee $294.95 +7.95%

News

Shares

TKO Group Holdings Inc
$197.05
+4.09 +2.12%
Lead Up
$192.96
-4.06 -2.06%

Alphabet Inc Class A
$317.32
+11.86 +3.88%
Lead Up
$305.46
+5.47 +1.82%

Caterpillar Inc
$771.58
+47.14 +6.51%
Lead Up
$724.44
+3.20 +0.44%

Netflix Inc
$99.39
+0.57 +0.58%
Lead Up
$98.82
-0.11 -0.11%

Tesla Inc
$343.25
-3.40 -0.98%
Lead Up
$346.65
-6.17 -1.75%

Wynn Resorts Ltd
$105.24
+4.81 +4.79%
Lead Up
$100.43
-2.28 -2.22%

Light & Wonder Inc
$89.00
+4.25 +5.01%
Lead Up
$84.75
+0.75 +0.89%

Blackstone Inc
$117.67
+4.94 +4.38%
Lead Up
$112.73
+0.49 +0.44%

MGM Resorts International
$37.10
-0.79 -2.08%
Lead Up
$37.89
+0.29 +0.77%

Red Rock Resorts Inc
$57.07
+1.38 +2.48%
Lead Up
$55.69
-0.050 -0.090%

Amazon Dotcom Inc
$221.25
+7.483.50%
Lead Up
$213.77
+0.98 +0.46%

Playboy Inc
$1.58
Flat
Lead Up
$1.58
+0.020 +1.28%

Flutter Entertainment PLC
Lead Up
$109.51
+5.88 +5.67%
$103.63
-1.04 -0.99%

Bally's Corp
$11.32
+0.91 +8.74%
Lead Up
$10.41
+0.030 +0.29%

Formula One Group Series A
$81.47
+1.67 +2.09%
Lead Up
$79.80
+0.24 +0.30%

Red Light Holland Corp
$0.020
-0.00090 -4.31%

Porsche Automobile Holding SE Unsponsored Germany ADR
$3.72
+0.10 +2.76%

Volvo ADR
$35.45
+2.21 +6.65%

Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings PLC
GBX 40.72
+3.24 +8.64%

BHP Group Ltd
$76.96
+3.65 +4.98%

Mp Materials Corp
$54.44
+4.951 +0.00%

Arafura Rare Earths Ltd
$0.32
+0.020 +6.78%

Paramount Skydance Corp
$10.82
-0.080 -0.73%

Warner Bros Discovery Inc
$27.55
+0.18 +0.66%

Walt Disney Co
$99.18
+3.40 +3.55%

Reference:

Google Finance
https://google.com/finance/

News

Gaming (U.S)

The United States Igaming Revenue Report — February 2026

U.S National (igaming/results)

Complete Igaming - Total igaming revenue for February 2026 in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, West Virginia, Delaware, and Rhode Island added up to $885.5 million as compared to $711 million in 2025

Michigan generated $273.1 million compared to $209.1 million.
New Jersey $251.8 million compared to $207.8 million.
Pennsylvania $239.9 million versus $207.6 million. Connecticut $63.4 million compared to $51.9 million.
West Virginia $37.1 million compared to $24.9 million.
Delaware $14.4 million versus $6.6 million.
Rhode Island $5.8 million and $3.1 million in February 2025

News

Vegas News

Weakness’ persists in Las Vegas, now affecting locals properties, Jefferies analyst says

Group and convention business in Las Vegas is performing as expected, Jefferies Equity Research analyst David Katz wrote in an April 6 investor note. However, leisure-customer “weakness continues to persist,” finally spilling over into the locals market. Consequently, Katz was continuing to keep a “tempered” stance toward the Las Vegas Strip. “The more economically sensitive portion of gaming demand is likely to face continued near-term headwinds, as consumers contend with elevated airfares [fares],” he explained.

News

Business/Politics/ASX Market (Australia)

April 9

ASX jumps after ceasefire; Woodside dives

The Australian sharemarket rallied on Wednesday, after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire; the S&P/ASX 200 recorded its strongest session in a year, adding 2.6 per cent to close at 8,951.8 points. Bellevue Gold rose 18.9 per cent to $1.86, WiseTech Global was up 10.7 per cent at $43.35 and Virgin Australia advanced 11.7 per cent to end the session at $2.57. However, a sharp fall in the price of Brent crude oil weighed on the energy sector, with Karoon Energy down 13.1 per cent at $1.89 and Woodside Energy shedding 10.5 per cent to finish at $32.06.

News

Pop Culture themes

"Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" (Cannonball Adderley)
"Gold" (Spandau Ballet)
"The Wall Street Hustle" (10cc)
"Bulls on Parade" (Rage Against the Machine)
"White Rabbit" (Jefferson Airplane)

News

Mining (Australia)

Rio Tinto iron ore chief is on a $20b, two-decade mine opening treadmill

Rio Tinto aims to bring a major new iron ore mine into production each year until the end of this decade. However, Rio Tinto's head of iron ore Matt Holcz is facing a number of challenges in achieving this target, including the growing push to re-unionise the Pilbara and China's attempts to leverage its purchasing power to get a better deal when buying iron ore from Australia; BHP is the focus of the latter, although profit margins across the industry could be affected if China Mineral Resources Group prevails. Ray David from Airlie Funds Management says that ensuring sufficient diesel supplies, falling ore grades, the high cost of mine replacements and the impact of the Simandou project in Guinea are the four major concerns for Rio Tinto's iron ore division at present. (RMS)

News

Media (Aust)

Top media bosses unite to fight AI giants over copyright law changes

Australian media industry executives have urged the federal government against watering down the nation's copright laws to accommodate AI platforms. News Corp Australasia's executive chairman Michael Miller contends that the existing copright system is not broken, and says it is instead a 'blueprint' for negotiations with AI platforms. Nine Entertainment CEO Matt Stanton says AI is a transformative technology that local companies are embracing, but he warns that relaxing copright laws would "rip off" Australian creatives. Guardian Australia MD Rebecca Costello in turn says the government's priority should be to ensure that the existing righs-based system functions effectively for AI use. (RMS)

News

Oil faces falling volatility, but unlikely prices

The US is offering Iran negotiations.

Without dialogue, we must be prepared for an escalation. The oil market is nearing a mutually agreed conclusion, but the lack of mutual trust between the parties is significantly complicating the situation. The US has provided Iran with a list of 15 points, the completion of which would resolve the conflict in the Middle East. Previously, there were reports that Iran had presented its own conditions.

These have not been officially confirmed, but we have heard on numerous occasions of demands for non-aggression guarantees and reparations for damage already inflicted. At stake is the reopening of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 15 million barrels of crude oil and 5 million barrels of refined fuel previously passed.

According to JP Morgan estimates, the current shortfall is approximately 16 million barrels per day. This figure will decrease as barrels from the strategic reserves of IEA member countries are released into the market and as Gulf states explore alternative routes, such as the Red Sea. Nonetheless, the global economy faces the threat of a long-term deficit of 10 million barrels per day, which increases the risk of stagflation and recession. According to estimates by Oxford Economics, without a deal between Washington and Tehran, the Strait of Hormuz will only regain 50% of its pre-war capacity by May. Iran is gradually softening its stance, permitting tankers from countries not involved in the conflict to pass through while charging them a $2 million fee.

According to Israeli television reports, the US is seeking a one-month ceasefire to discuss a plan that includes dismantling Iran’s nuclear programme, ending support for terrorist groups, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Even in the most optimistic scenario, it will take months for Gulf countries to restore pre-war production levels. Coupled with difficulties in replenishing onshore stocks, this casts doubt on a quick fall in Brent prices.

Most likely, North Sea crude will remain above $65–70 per barrel by the end of 2026. The absence of constructive dialogue between the US and Iran could lead to further escalation, including other regional countries joining the US-Israeli coalition and possibly a ground operation by Washington. In such a scenario, Brent may rise to $160 a barrel. This is the price that some countries are already paying for oil from the Middle East that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. (FxPro)

News

The miners to own in diesel crisis

Bell Potter's survey of Australian-listed mining companies concluded that diesel fuel accounted for up to 15 per cent of their operating costs prior to the start of the Iran war. Stuart Howe from Bell Potter says the war and the surge in crude oil prices will result in higher costs for much of the mining sector, while production could be impacted by the availability of diesel. Bell Potter recommends that investors rotate into mining stocks that are less exposed to diesel prices. Analysts note that miners with large-scale open-cut operations are most at risk of a supply crisis due to their heavy reliance on diesel-powered truck fleets. (RMS)

News

Batteries, coal push out east coast LNG shortage to 2029

The Australian Energy Market Operator now expects any gas supply shortage in the south-eastern states to occur in 2029, compared with its previous forecast of 2028. AEMO says gas shortfalls in 2029 are now regarded as a risk only during "extreme peak day demand conditions". It has cited a number of factors for its revised forecast, including expectations of lower demand for gas for power generation, an extension of the Eraring coal-fired power station's operating life and the estimated 30 gigawatts of battery storage projects that are currently being developed. Energy Minister Chris Bowen says the improved outlook shows that the federal government's "balanced" energy plan is working. (RMS)

News

News Lead Up

Streaming News Watercooler

Netflix CEO allegedly won’t speak to Meghan Markle on phone without lawyer

Meghan Markle is caught in a fresh Netflix storm with rumors claiming CEO Ted Sarandos is refusing to take her calls without a lawyer. Netflix denies everything but whispers of canceled deals and rising tension have fans questioning the truth!

News

A.I News

Watchdog warns against 'dangerously' positive AI advice amid crypto trading spike

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has expressed concern about the growing tendency for young Australians to use artificial intelligence platforms like ChatGPT for financial advice. Its figures show young people are following 'dangerously' positive AI recommendations about investing in risky investments such as crypto, with their faith in what has been referred to as 'unverified, risk-averse digital advice' occurring as many Australians are struggling with major cost of living pressures; ASIC's figures also show that 23 per cent of Gen Z now hold crypto assets; up from just 9 per cent in 2023. (RMS)

News

Resources

Drill, baby, drill: Boom for mineral, petroleum explorers

Advisory firm BDO has calculated that ASX-listed mineral and petroleum explorers raised a record $5.63 billion in the final quarter of last year. It broke the previous record for fund raising of $3.75 billion that was set in the same period in 2021, with the $5.63 billion in fund raising leaving mineral and petroleum explorers with record cash reserves of $12 billion. It comes as the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that spending on mineral exploration hit a two-year high in the final quarter of 2025, while spending on petroleum exploration was at a decade high. (RMS)

News

A.I News

Global giants join Australia in fight to make AI companies pay for content

Both the US and the UK appear to be backing the stance of the federal government of wanting AI companies pay for their use of content that has been produced by artists, musicians and journalists. In a document released on Friday that was titled 'Respecting Intellectual Property Rights and Supporting Creators', the White House stated that US copyright laws - under which content theft for the training of AI models, or any other use, is illegal - will remain. For its part, the UK government stated last week that it no longer had a "preferred option" on copyright reform, which comes after it last year endorsed a proposal that would have allowed tech companies to use copyrighted work without permission unless rights holders 'opted out' of the process. Its change of stance follows a longrunning campaign – led by artists including Elton John and Thom Yorke from Radiohead – which warned that the unlicensed use of copyrighted material for training AI models was threatening the livelihoods of people working in the creative industries. (RMS)

News

Gold News

Gold is back in focus as markets react to geopolitics

The market is fixated on the threat of accelerating inflation driven by high energy prices. As a result, central banks are expected to adopt a tighter monetary policy, keeping rates at high levels or even raising them. This has a positive impact on fiat currencies and strips gold of its key feature as a store of value amid currency debasement. It is no surprise that the precious metal, which had got off to a strong start, has been losing out to Bitcoin and the US dollar since the start of the armed conflict in the Middle East. Although gold is generally regarded as a safe-haven asset, in the early stages of financial market turmoil, investors often choose to flee to liquidity. They favour fiat currencies and are far more willing to buy US dollar-nominated short-term treasuries.

Gold prices usually recover only if market shocks worsen, fears of recession or stagflation rise, and central banks start adding liquidity. Bank of America believes that the markets are still underestimating the scale of the potential consequences of geopolitical tension. They are fixated on the threat of accelerating inflation and are not considering a global economic downturn. Therefore, the longer the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran lasts, the better it is for the precious metal.

UBS Global Wealth Management notes that gold serves as a hedge against currency devaluation, rising budget deficits and recession. All of these could result from a geopolitical shock. The firm therefore maintains its bullish outlook on gold. In its view, the precious metal could rise to the $5,900-$6,200 range before the end of this year. However, gold must first weather the storm of numerous central bank meetings. The RBA has already raised its cash rate to 4.15%. Investors now expect ‘hawkish’ rhetoric from the rest. The ECB and the Bank of Japan are ready to tackle inflation, and the futures market expects them to tighten monetary policy. The Fed and the Bank of England are most likely to talk about prolonged pauses in their cycles.

Thus, gold appears to be a win-win option. It will gain if the conflict in the Middle East drags on, and will not lose if it ends. Investors just need to be patient for a little while. (FxPro)

News

Best Quotes

"A bet on yourself is the best investment" Greg Tingle, Founder, Media Man Group

"Everyone you meet knows something you don't" Fred Schebesta, Finder/Crypto Castle

"There's a customer born every minute" P.T. Barnum

"Everything is competition" Paul Levesque aka "Triple H", WWE

News

Awards

Roy Morgan wins Media Man 'Media Series Company Of The Month' award

The Australian Financial Review wins Media Man 'Newspaper Of The Month' award; Runner-up: The Australian

Google wins Media Man 'Search Engine Of The Month' award

Netflix wins Media Man 'Streaming Service Of The Month' award

WWE wins Media Man 'Wrestling Promotion Of The Month' award

UFC wins 'Combat Sports Brand Of The Month' award; Runner-ups: Most Valuable Promotions, Everlast, BKFC

Mack Trucks wins Media Man 'Truck Brand Of The Month' award

CAT wins Media Man 'Heavy Industry Brand Of The Month' award

Dynasty: The Murdochs wins 'Streaming Show Of The Month' award (Netflix)

Media Man

Australian Media

Overview:

The Australian media industry enjoys a history which is second to none.

Whether you take TV, radio or print, Australia has produced some of the best media, and on the rare occasion, the most controversial, media coverage on the globe.

Television has traditionally been the most “entertaining” of the three main mediums, or should that now be four, given the advent of the Internet, which originated in the United States.  Some may well argue that the Internet should not even be classified as a form of media, given its problems.

Television:

Australia’s first media broadcast was by way of a news broadcast presented by Bruce Gyngell on the 16th September 1956, when Bruce said “Hello everyone, and welcome to television”.

Interestingly, only 1% of Sydneysiders owned a TV set, while 5% of the Melbournites owned a “box”.

The first commercial television licences were issued to the Herald and Weekly Times (Melbourne), General Television Corporation (Melbourne), Amalgamated Television Services (Sydney), and Television Corporation (Sydney).

November 1956 saw TCN9 launch “Bandstand”, hosted by Brian Henderson, who went on to become a living legend in Australian television.

In the same year, TV Week launched its own annual TV Awards, and GTV9’s Graham Kennedy won the gold award for most popular TV personality.

1959 saw the Australian Broadcasting Service launch “Six O' clock” with Johnny O’Keefe.

1963 saw station affiliations change. GTV9 and TCN9 aligned to form the National Television Network, now known as the Nine Network, along with QTQ9 and NWS9; HS7 and ATN7 align to form the Australian Television Network, known the Seven Network, along with BTQ7 and ADS7.  TVW7, being the sole commercial television station in Perth, remains independent of network affiliation.

In the same year, the Australian Government invites applications for new commercial TV licences in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth.

In 1968 the Government elected that Australia would adopt the European standard, PAL, rather than the United States, NTSC system.

1971 proves to be a huge year, with the launch of Sesame Street, Young Talent Time,  Hey Hey It’s Saturday and A Current Affair, hosted by Mike Willesee, on Nine.

1973 saw Number 96 become the most popular programme on Australian television. It was seen all over Australia, and delivered a never before seen level of raunchiness and airing of honest concepts like homosexuality and explicit sex scenes. 

1975 saw Grundy Productions launch its first drama series, Class of ’74, later becoming Class of ’75, before it got the chop. The 19th of October saw test color transmissions by all networks, and November saw Countdown, with music legend, Molly Meldrum, begin its amazing 12 year run on the ABC.

A huge sports coup occurs in 1977 with Network Seven going to air with the VFL, and 1978 sees The Melbourne Cup screened live on Channel 10.

1979 sees SBS screen a series of multi-lingual programs on the ABC, and 60 Minutes commences, and goes on to become the most successful current affairs program in Australian history.

The 1980s were huge, with many new hit shows, and live television was elevated with telecasted of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and 1986 Commonwealth Games from England.

1990 saw Network Seven and Ten go into receivership, with both networks later being saved.

1991 sees massive coverage of the Gulf War, Glenn Ridge replace Tony Barber on Sale of the Century, and The Simpson’s premier on Channel 10.

Pay TV commences in 1995 with Galaxy, Foxtel and Optus Vision.

1999 sees Hey Hey its Saturday get the axe after 28 years on the air.

The 2000s sees Reality TV and games shows become all the rage with hits like Big Brother, Temptation Island, The Osborne’s and Who Wants to be a Millionaire break record numbers.

Radio:

Radio broadcasting in Australia officially commenced on evening of 13 November 1923, with a concert.

At 8.00pm on 1 July 1932, the Prime Minister Joseph Lyons inaugurated the ABC.

The ABC then controlled twelve stations – 2FC and 2BL in Sydney, 3AR and 3LO in Melbourne, 4QG in Brisbane, 5CL in Adelaide, 6WF in Perth, 7ZL in Hobart and the relay stations 2NC in Newcastle, 2CO at Corowa, 4RK in Rockhampton and 5CK at Crystal Brook.

Talkback radio started in 1967, with 3AW Melbourne hitting the airways.

Radio has even turned some journalists into broadcasting legends. Examples include “The Human Headline” himself, Derryn Hinch and Mike Carlton.

Australia's best known radio broadcasters are John “Golden Tonsils” Laws and Alan Jones.

For many years, the wireless was the most important and used form of broadcasting for news and entertainment, and a weekend sitting around the wireless was all the rage.

Newspapers:

The Sydney Gazette the first newspaper printed in Australia, one of the earliest pieces of printing in the colony.

The key players in Australia’s newspaper publishing industry were, and in many cases still are, Fairfax, Murdoch and Packer.

Today, Australia’s most popular newspapers include the Sydney Morning Herald, The Daily Telegraph, and The Herald Sun is the biggest selling daily, whilst the Sunday Telegraph is the biggest selling newspaper.

Independent newspapers are making a small dint in the market; however the big three will continue to dominate for decades to come.

Articles

Article: The Great Aussie Promoters, by Greg Tingle

Article: The Man They Call Harry M, by Greg Tingle

Article: Mr PR - Max Markson, by Greg Tingle

Interviews

Interview: Richard Cashman - Walla Walla Press

Interview: Doug Mulray - Broadcaster

Interview: Kevin Jacobsen - Promoter

History related links

History of the ABC

ABC: 75 Years of Australian Radio

Journal of Australian Studies

The Australian Rock N Roll Appreciation Society

Australian Newspaper History Group Newsletter (University of Queensland)

National Library of Australia

National Plan for Australian Newspapers Project - History

Personality websites

more personality websites